De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis

De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis

Style: Imperial Stout

Alcohol Content: 10%

From: Bodegraven, Netherlands

Purchased from: Beer Geek, Prague, Czech Republic

http://brouwerijdemolen.nl/

Brouwerij De Molen is a small craft brewery, distillery and restaurant located in Bodegraven, the Netherlands.The brewery, whose name means "The Mill", is located inside a historic windmill building called De Arkduif, which was built in 1697. Having started out as a homebrewer, and after stints at several small breweries, head brewer Menno Olivier worked professionally at Stadtsbrouwerij De Pelgrim in Rotterdam prior to founding De Molen in 2004. The capacity of the brewing system is 500 liters per batch, with annual production averaging a total of 500 hectoliters.The subject of this review is their Imperial Stout, aptly named Hel & Verdoemenis (Hell and Damnation). Lets hope I survive to tell the tale. 

Colour: Pours a thick, oily black topped beautifully by a thin layer of tan coloured foam. Once settled, this foam soon disappears into the murky depths below. 

Aroma: Most imperial stouts ozees notes of dark chocolate and bitter dark chocolate. Whilst the dark chocolate notes are definitely present, Hel & Verdoemenis presents not one single note of coffee. This surprises me greatly as I love the blending of those two elements in an imperial stout. Oh well you can't have it all! After a few minutes in the glass, the chocolate notes begin to fade and hints of smoky peat and sweet molasses begin to appear. This drink smells divine! I can not wait to jump in and try this beer!   

Body: As you would expect, this Hel & Verdoemenis is extremely viscous. It's almost like drinking a pint of silky chocolate sauce. This thickness encourages you to drink this stout very slowly and ensures you savor every last sip.

Taste: Well, this has to be the most rounded Imperial stout that I have ever drunk. The nose translates into the taste with the dark chocolate notes blending perfectly with hints of rich, sweet molasses. Here the coffee notes finally make an appearance, offering a mellow bitterness to help cut through the sweetness slightly. The aftertaste reminds me slightly of oak aged Bourbon as its quite warming on the tongue. That being said, the high ABV is very well hidden and it could be quite deadly given the size of the bottle (750ml). Perhaps I should of shared this bottle with Emma (or perhaps not as its far too nice to share). A lovely drink that I will return to again and again.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/harveys-imperial-extra-double-stout.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/camden-town-brewery-indian-hells-lager.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery

Camden Town Brewery Indian Hells Lager

Camden Town Brewery Indian Hells Lager

Style: Lager

Alcohol Content: 6.2%

From: Camden Town, London, England

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames

http://www.camdentownbrewery.com/

To reference a piece of cocky rhyming slag, I am cream crackered. Work has been tough since the turn of the year. Perhaps it's just the growing pains of a new role, but my real job has forced me to (temporarily) cut back on writing this blog. Personally, this pains me greatly as I find writing very therapeutic and extremely tasty.

Time; where does it go? It feels like only yesterday I was telling you all about my three beer resolutions. This weekend, Emma and I plan to make good on one of these resolutions by attending Craft Beer Rising this Saturday. Currently in its third year, CBR is considered to be one of London's premier craft beer festivals. However, after reading though the excellent list of breweries showcasing at this event, I can't help but notice some notable absentees. London based Kernel and Partizan are no where to be seen along with one of my favourite breweries Siren. Whilst I am naturally disappointed by their absenteeism, I have a plethora of new and exciting breweries to explore. Names such as Bear Hug Brewing and Saltaire wet my taste buds the most. Naturally, I will try an remember what I had and give you all a little write up next week.

Now onto this weeks tasting, Camden Town Brewing Indian Hells Lager or IHL for short. This beer appears to of taken the London Craft beer scene by storm. Every blogger worth their salt seems to be raving about its hop heavy drink-ability. Should I believe the hype? Let's find out.

A little bit of the back story behind the brewer: Jasper Cuppaidge is the grandson of Laurie McLaughlin, who ran the McLaughlin’s Brewery (Mac’s) in Rockhampton, Australia between 1910 to 1960. When Laurie past away he past on all his recipes to his daughter Patricia, who in turn then passed them onto Jasper. On Patricia's 50th birthday, Jasper decided to try and recreate one of Laurie's beers in the cellar of Horseshoe and that’s when it all started… Eventually the brewery moved from the cellar into several converted railway arches in Camden town and they opened for business in the summer of 2010. Camden Town are now considered to be one of London's premier craft beer breweries offering a range eight core beers and a range of seasonal offerings.

Colour: Pours a bright copper/orange topped with a tightly packed, pure white tight head. After a few minutes in the glass this reduces down to a heavy dusting of foam which laces the glass perfectly on every sip you take. Initially Indian Hells looked slightly cloudy once settled. However, I would attribute this to chill hazy as I drank this straight from the fridge. Looks like a lager so far!

Aroma: As soon as you open the can, your nostrils will be bombarded by notes of fresh pineapple and lychees. It's like a big tropical hop bomb has just exploded in my nose (just a lot less painful). There is so much sweetness rising from the depth that you will forget that this is meant to be a lager.

Body: One of the remarkable features of this beer is ability to trick your palate. Whilst the nose suggests a thick, sweet IPA style body, Indian Hells drinks almost like a soft german Pilsner. The delicate body tickles your taste buds before the resinous hop notes clog you throat and slow your drinking pace. What a pleasurable drinking experience!

Taste: Indian Hells' nose successfully translates into the taste. The juicy pineapple and lychee notes return but this time bring some back up in the form of a delicately tart lemon. This rich sweetness playfully mixes with a crisp malt base to help bring this drink to a beautiful crescendo. This beautiful beer hides its ABV extremely well, so be careful it doesn't creep up on you. Truthfully, this drinks more like a pale ale than a lager (or perhaps all this style blending has eroded all of my senses, I'm not sure). To paraphrase the immortal rap group Public Emeny, Do Believe The Hype!

Do believe the hype!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/sly-fox-brewing-pikeland-pils.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/stone-and-wood-pacific-ale.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery

Mikkeller Mexas Ranger

Mikkeller Mexas Ranger

Style: Flavoured Porter

Alcohol Content: 6.6%

From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames

http://mikkeller.dk/

Mikkeller is a so-called "phantom" or "gypsy" microbrewery founded in 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The brewery was founded by two homebrewers, a high school teacher Mikkel Borg Bjergsø and a journalist Kristian Klarup Keller, with the intention of bringing their home-brewed beer into public awareness, and to "challenge their beer friends with intense new tastes". The two also found some inspiration for their widely-varied, edgy brewing approach from the American breweries that "aren't afraid to play and break all the rules". In craft beer circles, the Mikkeller brewery is considered to be one of the innovative and well thought of breweries in the world. During its history, unlike many other microbreweries, Mikkeller has brewed over 600 different beers in a wide variety of styles.  As of 2013, their annual output is 8,500 hectolitres of beer. This is a review of Mikkeller's Mexas Ranger. A porter made with a whole host of additional ingredients including Almond Milk, Chillies and Avocado leaves.

Colour: This porter pours ink black topped with a dark tan coloured head. Like a black hole, no light can penetrate thought this temptingly thick beer. Truth be told, this has to be the most beautiful looking porter I have ever seen before. I cannot wait to dive into its mucky depths!

Aroma: Just like its appearance, the bouquet of this beer also oozes quality. Served in two halves, bold notes of cocoa and coffee dominate before giving way to a combination of sweet lactose and a subtle smokiness mixed with a warming chilli spice. This beer is literally begging me to have a sip, so what's the point in waiting any longer.

Body: The thick and smoky body will wash over your palate like a tidal wave. As the swell dies down, a slightly odd drying sensation will remove all the moisture from your mouth. This will naturally force you to have another sip as the feeling can be a little unpleasant.

Taste: Finally the Pièce de résistance, the tasting! Upfront notes of dark chocolate playful mix with the additional almond milk. This milky sweetness soon gives way to hints of bitter coffee and a slight herbal flavouring. It climaxes with a finish that is very dry yet slight warming due to the addition of chillies (cascabel, de arbol, guajilo, mulato and pasilla to be more precise) to the brew kettle. Whilst these chillies will not blow your head off, you certainly know they are there. Personally, I feel that the chillies help to dial down the sweetness and help to round out the beers flavour profile perfectly. In summary, this is an excellent porter that blends the traditional Fab Four ingredients with some playful new additions. You can certainly never say Mikkeller's beer are boring!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/titanic-plum-porter.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-lost-abbey-saison-blanc.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery 

London Fields Brewery Love Not War

London Fields Brewery Love Not War

Style: Red Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.2%

From: Hackney, London, United Kingdom

Purchased from: Nobel Green Wines, Hampton Hill, United Kingdom

http://londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk/

London Fields brewery is a brewery based in the London Fields area of Hackney East London. The brewery was founded by Julian de Vere Whiteway Wilkinson (longest name ever!) and Ian Burgess around the same time of the devastating London Riots of 2011. Like most London based craft breweries, they set up home in some railway arches (either these arches are extremely cheap to rent or the brewers are secret train spotters I can't tell). The brewery has flourished during the past four years thanks to the success of their six core beers and array of seasonal offerings. However, clouds seem to be gathering on the horizon as in late 2014, co-owner Julian was arrested for suspected tax evasion. Fingers crossed this all gets straighten out and the brewery can look forward to a bright future. 

Here I will review one of London Fields Core beers called Love Not War. This beverage has an interesting story behind it as it was initially first brewed whilst the brewers where barricaded in due to the London riots. With those steamy, danger driven days behind them, the team at London Fields emerged with a peace offering to the people of Hackney. A hoppy red ale which they aptly named Love Not War. Let's see if it will calm my nerves after a difficult day at work shall we?

Colour: Pours a warming reddish brown topped off with a off white head. The head soon dies down to a generous dusting of foam that lingers for the duration of this beer. 

Aroma: As soon as you pop the cap your nostrils will be bombarded with heady notes of pine and sweet caramel toast. As the aromas settle, hints of summer fruits and crush hob nob biscuit begin to shine though. All smells very tempting I must admit.

Body: This beer is surprisingly deceptive. The level of sweetness provided by the taste should translate to a relatively thick mouthfeel. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Love Not War feels rather thin in the mouth and is more thirst quenching rather than full bodied. Perfect, after a long summers day at work, but not one for those short, cold nights in January. 

Taste: As soon as this beer hits your tongue, the upfront notes of caramel malts will provide a moorish sweetness which begs you to drink more. As the beer slides towards the back of your palate, hints of pine, grass and pineapple begin to shine though eventually leaving you with a finish that is oily on the tongue and mildly bitter. As a fan of Meantime's Yakima Red, I was hoping this beer would match the perfect blend of malts and hops that Yakima Red provides. Sadly, this beer does not quite meet these standards as I personally feel it's a little to thin on mouthfeel. However, that being said the low ABV allows Love Not War to fall into the category of a session beer which I would certainly return to before the next Arsenal game. 

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/wild-beer-company-scarlet-fever.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/anderson-valley-barney-flats-oatmeal.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery 

The Lost Abbey Saison Blanc

The Lost Abbey Saison Blanc

Style: Saison

Alcohol Content: 5.5%

From: San Marcos, California, USA

Purchased from: Beer Geek, Prague, Czech Republic

http://lostabbey.com/

Some men dream, whilst others just brew.

A few years ago Vince Marsaglia (co founder of Pizza Port) dreamt of a brewery producing a range of authentic abbey style beers. That dream became a reality when Tomme Arthur was hired to brew a Belgian Dubbel called Overhead Abbey ale.

After many years of small scale brewing at Pizza port, the dynamic duo began formulating a plan to bring abbey style beers to the masses. As luck would have it, Stone Brewing Company announced that it was moving away from its old facility in San Marcos, California to a larger premises. Taking this as a sign from a higher power, the newly formed Port Brewing Company moved into this facility and split production between Port and the Belgium beer specialist Lost Abbey. The brewery finally opened its doors to the public in 2006 and now produce a range of six core beers and a plethora of seasonal specials including the subject of this review; Saison Blanc.

Colour: Pours a bright, straw yellow with a thin white head which lingers for the duration of the beer. As with many Saisons, a heft lump of yeast is present in the bottle. Feeling darling, I added some into my glass. The yeast not only helps to cloud the beer, but in my opinion it helps to lift the flavours of the beer onto a higher plane.

Aroma: What a bobby dazzler of a nose. Big bold notes of yeast and straw are promptly followed by notes of plums, grapes and perhaps a little pineapple. Very fruity and not what I have come to expect from a Saison.

Body: The additional yeast really helps to fill out the body because I fear that without the yeast, this beer would actually taste rather thin and lifeless. The yeast adds a slight creamy sensation that mixes very playfully with the incredibly complex flavour profile.

Taste: As I eluded to above, this beer has a complex flavour profile which I will now attempt to summarise. Rather like a glass of Chardonnay, this beer drinks dry from beginning to the end. Notes of straw, coriander, pepper and sweet raisins shine though before the alcohol rains on their parade. This strong alcohol taste is rather surprising given the low ABV. As the beer warms, hints of fresh lemons appear to add a real zing to the finish which remains warming and dry complimented with a slight hint of hop bitterness. A very well rounded package that needs a little more body thickness in order to be truly exceptional.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/ikley-brewing-siberia-rhubarb-saison.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/anchor-brewing-old-foghorn.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery 

Fourpure IPA

Fourpure IPA

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 6.5%

From: Bermondsey, London, United Kingdom

Purchased from: Corbetts Real Ale Shop, Dorking, Surrey
http://www.fourpure.com/

As time goes by I have learnt that life is full of ups and downs. After finally booking our holiday to Chicago, Emma and I decided to watch the Oscar nominated; The Theory of Everything. After being blown away by Eddie Redmond's performance as the Stephen Hawkings, I was promptly brought down to earth by the news that my beloved Nan had past away. Saddened, I shut myself away for a few days to mourn and reflect on her truly remarkable life. If I'm being honest with myself, she was one of the main drivers of me writing this blog. She could see the passion in my eyes when it came to all things craft and she encouraged me to keep on writing even when I didn't feel like it. I certainly owe a lot to that beautiful women, so I dedicate this blog to her. Cheers Nan. Gone but never forgotten.

Fourpure is a London (Bermondsey) based family brewery founded in 2013 by brother Dan and Tom Lowe (no relation to Rob Lowe I hasten to add). They currently offer a range of six core beers including an Oatmeal Stout and a session IPA. As of 2014 they were the first UK based craft brewery to start canning their core range. Fourpure cites the enhanced protection from light, superior seal and lower environmental impact as the reason for this decision. Personally, I feel that canning helps to keep the beer fresher for longer, ensuring you get brewery fresh beer wherever you are. The subject of this review is this canned IPA.

Colour: Pours a light copper or light orange colour complete with a bubbly white head that's around three finger digits deep. As the beer settles, the remaining foam lingers and clings to the glass perfectly.

Aroma: Imagine, walking though a Scandinavian pine forest after a spring shower. Now if you could bottle those aromas, you would not be to far away from the perfume this beer provides. Heady notes of pine and freshly cut grass dominate. These notes blend perfectly to ensure the nose is extremely well balance.

Body: For me this beer verges on becoming a double IPA due to its alcohol content and its sweetness. This sugariness helps to add a real depth to the mouthfeel, coating your tongue with sweet resin on every sip. From start to finish this IPA drinks incredibly smoothly. Tip top stuff.

Taste: Your first sip will reveal notes of juicy pineapple and mango, promptly followed by a rich, sticky caramel that lingers from start to finish. As the drink warms, hints of tart blackberries begin to appear, which helps to cut though the caramel sweetness. The finish is very dry and you can really taste the hop oils from the Cascade, Chinook and Centennial hops. Personally, this IPA verges to close to the sweet side for my taste. Perhaps the addition of a the Citra hop might cut though the sweetness but that's just my opinion.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/the-celt-brewing-experience-seven.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/pressure-drop-strictly-roots.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery 

The Rebel Brewing Company Eighty Shilling

The Rebel Brewing Company Eighty Shilling

Style: Scotch Ale

Alcohol Content: 5%

From: Penryn, Cornwall, England

Purchased from: Noble Green Wines, Hampton Hill
http://www.rebelbrewing.co.uk/

"I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly..." Ron Burgundy

The Rebel Brewing Company is a multi-award winning independent craft brewery based in Penryn, Cornwall. The brewery currently produces a range of six core beers and a craft range consisting of five rotating lines (their Chocolate Vanilla Stout, Mexi Coco was the recipient of Carma's prestigious Champion Beer of Cornwall in 2013). Currently Rebel supply over 500 outlets in Cornwall, Devon and the rest of the U.K. This number is growing very quick as their reputation continues to grow.

They also offer a brewery tour for a meager £12, where the designated driver receives a gift pack of beers to take away. Now everyone can go home happy. The subject of this review is their Eighty Shilling Scotch ale. Now if you are a fan of scotch style ales, you will no doubt notice that a large number of them are labeled as Eighty Shilling. But what does this term actually mean? We the name Eighty Shilling refers to the name of a tax charged on a 54 gallon hogshead for beer between 4-5.5% alcohol in 19th century Scotland. So onto the review.

Colour: Pours a dark chestnut neatly topped with a light tan coloured head. This head lingers for the duration of the beer and laces the glass perfectly. If you hold this beer up to the light you will notice a red hue resonating from the bottom of the glass.

Aroma: This malty bomb sings to notes of sweet caramel, dried fruit and currents. As the drink warms, hints of smoke and dark chocolate begin to resonate though the aroma profile. This drink actually smells like a high quality single malt and hopefully, it will drink like one too (especially after the week I have had).

Body: What a beautifully silky mouthfeel! This drink covers every single part of your mouth with a feeling of rich velvet and slips down the throat with an easy of a lazy sunday morning. The incredibly low carbonation ensures that this sensation stays with you sip after sip.

Taste: Very rich and incredibly sweet. The dried fruit and molasses present in the perfume return with avengeance leading a full scale assault on your tastes buds. Luckily, this onslaught of sweetness never becomes too sickly and is playfully cut though with a delicate peaty smokiness. As the drink warms, its characteristics change slightly to real notes of coffee and yeasty marmite. This is definitely not a drink to be rushed, so stoke the fire, sit back in your favorite leather armchair and relax.    

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/gordon-finest-scotch-ale.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/redchurch-brewery-soreditch-blonde.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Moor Beer Company Illusion

Moor Beer Company Illusion

Style: Black IPA

Alcohol content: 4.7%

From: Pitney, Somerset, England

Purchased from: Cost cutters, Somerton
http://moorbeer.co.uk/

As you may be aware from reading my previous blogs, I am a big fan of the West county. My father grew up not far from Yeovil, so the culture and history of the glorious west has always been in my blood. As some of you may be aware, Yeovil town recently played Manchester United in the FA cup. Whilst they may of lost by an incredibly fine margin, the match has been able to showcase the best parts of Somerset culture; warmth and pure determination. As the area continues to recover from the horrendous floods of 2014, I truly hope that Yeovil's showing has helped brighten some very dark days. But what has this got to do with beer I hear you cry? Well this particular beer is brewed in one of the areas most affected areas.

The Moor Beer Company was formed in 1996 on a small dairy farm in Somerset. They originality started brewing beers that matched the local heritage of Somerset, but soon branched out upon the arrival of Justin and Maryann Hawke. Justin is a Californian native, and brought with him a tendency of fusing real ales with more aggressively flavoured beers from the United States. This has lead to an amazingly diverse range of mind boggling creations. As I always say, change is a good thing! Here is a review of their Black IPA aptly named Illusion.

Colour: This beer pours a midnight black complete with a one finger high, tan coloured head. Head is tightly packed but not creamy looking. Holding the glass up to the light, you will notice a warming red run to the beer. Looks very inviting I must say.

Aroma: As soon as you pop the cap, a floral perfume of pine and a grapefruit citrus will rise to greet you from the bottle. The use of roasted malts help to add very subtle hints of chocolate and coffee. You can smell they're present, but it does not overpower the citrus notes.

Body: On your first sip you will feel a grainy texture. Personally, it's been a very long time since I have felt such a sensation so I was rather surprised by the mouth feel. Upon further investigation, I discovered that the Moor Beer company do not use finings to clarify their beers. By shunning the use of isinglass, all Moor beer are served with a hazy/unfiltered complexion, hence the gritty residuals left behind on my tongue. Naturally, this helps to add a depth to the mouth feel which you would not normally associate with a black IPA. Not the smoothest drinker on the planet but  you will get used to it.          

Taste: On your first sip bold notes of juicy grapefruit and grapes dominate from the get go. These flavours dull over time to reveal a middle fuelled by delicate notes of coffee and milk chocolate. The finish is dry and in my opinion a little rough. Here the grainy mouth feel kicks and blends a little awkwardly with the sticky, resinous hops for my tastes. Would I drink it again? Certainly, but perhaps on draft rather than in the bottle.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/windsor-and-eton-conqueror-black-ipa.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/williams-bros-fraoch-heather-ale.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock
Style: Doppelbock

Alcohol Content: 6.7%

From: Aying, Germany

Purchased From: Noble Green Wines, Hampton Hill, United Kingdom

http://en.ayinger-bier.de

Recently, feeling in the festive spirit, Kevin and I decided to re-home a stray cat that had crossed our paths. Due to his ragged appearance, we decided to re name him Scrappy. After an emotional couple of weeks of caring and feeding the little chap, it was time for him to be rehomed in leafy Bury St.Edmunds. Feeling sad about his departure, we both decided we deserved a little treat, so we popped down to Hampton Hill Noble Green Wines (quickly becoming our favourite bottle shop) and picked up our Christmas beers. Whilst browsing the shelves, I came across a beer which was aptly named Celebrator. After buying a few bottles, we soon made for home to celebrate Scrappy's successful rehoming.

Personally, I'm very excited about this beer. So as I sat down with some delicious festive nibbles (Brie and Cranberry parcels from Marks and Spencers in particular), I began researching to help 'prep my palate'. Ratebeer.com suggests that; "Celebrator has a creamy head of tight bubbles contrasting beautifully with its profound dark robe.". A dark robe I ask you; perhaps this is an academic master in disguise?

Intrigued, i decided to perform a little more research on the Brewery. Ayinger is a is a medium-sized German brewery located in Aying, Bavaria, about 25 km outside of Munich. Founded in 1876 by Johann Liebhard, the brewery struggled during the Great Depression and almost closed it door due to the hyperinflation and falling property prices. However, as the economy stabilized, the brewery was also able to restructure its debts and slowly develop into the brewery we know today. 

Colour: Pours a deep, mocha brown, with a foamy  tan head that later clings to the edge of the glass. When I hold this bock up to the light, hardly any light penetrates through this dark, mysterious liquid.

Aroma: Surprisely, this beer smells like a blend of alpine apple strudel, Christmas cake and sweet custard. Once warmed, the drink slowly develops subtle hint of smokiness, cocoa nibs and dry fruit.

Body: A beautifully fully body, complete with a delicate carbonation that coats your mouth on every sip. Now I'm beginning to understand the what the "Dark Robe" is all about, it's just so silky in the mouth. Personally I am surprised how full bodied it actually felt. Despite having a relatively low alcohol content, the sweet caramel sweetness adds a thick denseness that i would normally associated with my beloved Barley Wines. Amazing stuff.

Taste: Very, very fruity. This beer is bursting bold flavours of rich, spiced fruit cake. The use of caramel malts help to deposit notes of sweet, sticky molasses and hints of chocolate and coffee. Yum! Yum! This is a drink that you could easily ruin if you try and coif too soon, so its worth sipping slowly and really savouring that fruit cake taste. This beer really is a pudding in a glass. P.s. Each bottle comes with a collectible goat trinket. Since we brought quite a few of these beers, I'm beginning to build quite a collection!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/paulaner-salvator.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/brooklyn-brewery-summer-ale.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Wild Beer Company Somerset Wild

Wild Beer Company Somerset Wild
Style: Wild Ale

Alcohol Content: 5%

From: Westcombe, Somerset, United Kingdom

Purchased from: Sante Wine Imports, Wells, Somerset

http://wildbeerco.com/

"And now for something completely different" Monty Python

The subject of this review is Wild Beer Company’s Somerset Wild. A self styled wild ale, which is not too dissimilar to the more commonly know Lambic beer style. Personally, I have an extremely chequered past with this style. Every single time I have tried one of these beers I have instantly regretted my decision. My last encounter was in 2013's Great British Beer Festival. After a few sips I had to pour the rest away. The vinegar like taste was far too sour for me to enjoy. However, being a glutton for punishment and a lover of the Wild Beer Company, I decided to this this beer a chance. Can i become a convert? Lets find out.

The idea for Wild Beer came to the founders Andrew and Brett during the Great British Beer festival. Disappointed by the lack of breweries producing ales with natural flavourings, the duo approached Arbor Ales to help them realise their vision. A few months later, a dark, barrel-aged beer cultivated with wild yeasts appeared under the name Modus Operandi (a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "method of operation"). Due to the beers success, they moved to their own brewery based on Lower Westcombe Farm in Somerset to continue their metamorphic rise. And it’s paid off, with the brewery winning the New Business of the Year Award at the Somerset Business Awards. Well done guys!

Let's get wild!

Colour: Unlike most beers i review, this little gem pours a bright, lemon yellow. At a glance, you could be mistaken in thinking you have poured yourself a glass of cloudy lemonade complete with a light frizzy head. This head soon dies down to reveal a rather flat and docile looking beer.

Aroma: As soon as you pop the cap you are overloaded with notes of tart lemon and delicate hints of yeast. After a few minutes in the glass, the lemon sensation begins to subside and notes of apple begin to take over. Pure bliss! These aromas really remind me of my idyllic summer holidays down in somerset, where i would often walk through field upon field of crab apple trees with the hot summer sun beating down on  my neck. Ah how i miss those simple days of my youth!

Body: For a beer that appears rather dense, this drink is actually rather thin in the mouth. I actually thought that the bucket load of yeast used in this beer would help the beer feel thicker (rather like a Saison) but unfortunately this is not the case. The sour edge to this beer actually reminds me of an alcopop called Hooch (remember that!). Very thirst quenching and yet devilishly tart!

Taste: Blimey this drink is so, so sour! It takes quite awhile to get use to. The tart lemons dominate the palate from beginning to the end. As the drink warms, notes of apple begin to come to the fore and the beer begins to resemble a somerset scrumpy (cloudy cider). If you have ever tasted a cider called Old Rosie you will know what I'm getting at here. The wild yeast helps to add a subtle hint of straw or hay. The finish is mouth watering dry and tart with not a hint of bitterness at all. This is actually the first Lambic style beer that i have actually enjoyed and would want to revisit. Yet another winner from Wild Beer Company!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/st-bernardus-wit.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/bristol-beer-factory-milk-stout.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Left Hand Brewing 400 Pound Monkey

Left Hand Brewing 400 Pound Monkey

Style: English IPA

Alcohol Content: 6.9%

From: Longmont, CO, USA

Purchased From: Corbetts Real Ale, Dorking, Surrey
http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/

Ever wondered what a 400 pound monkey looks like? Read on to reveal all

Left Hand began in December 1990 with a home-brewing kit founder Dick Doore received from his brother. According to Dick, "it was all downhill from there." By 1993, Dick had teamed up with college buddy Eric Wallace and they resolved to start a brewery.

On September 21, 1993, they incorporated as Indian Peaks Brewing Company, and purchased a former meat-packing plant next to the St. Vrain River outside downtown Longmont, Colorado. A few weeks after beginning production, it was discovered that the name Indian Peaks was already in use by another Brewery, so the name was changed to Left Hand, in honor of Chief Niwot (the Arapahoe word for "left hand") whose tribe wintered in the local area. Left Hand's doors opened for business on January 22, 1994. Their first batch of beer was Sawtooth Ale, which has since become their most popular brew. In October of that year, Left Hand took home two medals at the Great American Beer Festival, a Gold Medal in the bitter category for Sawtooth Ale, and a Bronze Medal in the Robust Porter category for Black Jack Porter.

In recent years, the brewery is prospering and growing like never before! Beginning with over 30% growth in 2010, Left Hand is breaking barrelage records each year, even making the Brewers Association’s Top 50 Craft Breweries list in 2012. What started as a humble brew house extension in 2008, has turned into a 5 year $9 million expansion, as the brewery sprints to keep up with thirsty fans.

Cheeky Monkey!

Colour: Pours a light, copper colour that's not too dissimilar to the colour of a good Czech Pilsner. There is a very small amount of foam present in glass which then lingers for the duration of the beer.

Aroma: As soon as you pop the cap you will think you have walked into a bakery. Wholemeal bread rises like a bakers dozen to great your nostrils. This sensation soon dies down to reveal delicate notes of elderflower and sweet caramel. Lovely stuff!

Body: Medium bodied with just a slight tickle of carbonation. Very easy to drink that reminds me of one of my favourite pub pints; St Austell's Tribute.

Taste: Everything about this beer is subtle. All the flavour blend perfectly to produce a very inoffensive beer that would not be out of place in many in many UK pubs. Notes of sweet wholemeal bread dominate. The use of Magnum hops help to provide a slight citrus edge which helps to cut through the sweetness. The high alcohol content is very well hidden by the underlying sweetness of this beer. Absolutely glorious! After drinking so many heavily hopped IPA's recently, this beer makes a welcome change to the norm. Definitely a beer worth revisiting again and again!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/brewdog-old-world-india-pale-ale.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/adnams-southwold-spindrift.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery 

Brooklyn Brewery Summer Ale

Brooklyn Brewery Summer Ale
Style: Summer Ale
Alcohol Content: 5%
From: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York USA
Purchased From: Ray's Wine, Ashford, United Kingdom

http://brooklynbrewery.com/

Recently, the weather has been unseasonably warm and my mind can't help but wonder back to those sunny warm days of August past spent relaxing at Hampton Lido, and coming home to a refreshing Pale Ale. With this in mind, and after a beautiful stroll around hampton court palace grounds, a portion of beer battered fish and chips, and a little touch of sunburn, I am really up for this Brooklyn summer ale this evening!

Brooklyn Brewery was started in 1987 by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter. Hindy learned to brew beer during a six-year stay in various Middle Eastern nations such as Saudi Arabia and Syria. Upon his return to his home in Brooklyn in 1984, he and Potter, his downstairs neighbour from Park Slope, quit their jobs and founded the brewery. The pair hired graphic designer Milton Glaser, best known as the creator of the logo for the I Love New York campaign, to create the company logo and identity.

Originally all their beer was brewed by contract by Matt Brewing Company, and the pair started their own distribution company and personally transported and marketed their beer to bars and retailers around New York City. In 1996, they acquired a former matzo factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and converted it into a functional brewery.

Although the brewery looked to expand its brewing capacity in the City, originally most of the production, including all Brooklyn Lager and all bottled products, were brewed by contract in the upstate New York city of Utica, due to the limited ability to meet demand at the Williamsburg brewery, its lack of a bottling line, and the cost benefits of contract brewing. The company later sought to expand its facilities in Brooklyn, but had difficulty finding a suitable site within the borough. However, an economic recession allowed them to remain in Williamsburg and undertake a $6.5 million expansion of the brewery in 2009.

Colour: Pours a bright sun yellow and with a head that fades quickly. Once settled this beer is crystal clear and reminds me of marbles I played with as a kid. Beautiful!

Aroma: Smells like summer, or is it that it smells like the memories of summer? I don't know but I like it! Citrus and watermelon notes steam out of the glass. This is promptly followed by undertones of wet freshly cut grass. Definitely has an outdoorsy vibe to it minus the sunscreen.

Body: Similar to a common lager (though I won't hold it against it) and is rather watery and thin. Doesn't really linger on the tongue but it washes back very quickly. Definitely easy to drink!

Taste: As somebody who is still learning about beer, the first taste reminds me of a Corona.Very refreshing! However, it does have a lot more depth and I can definitely taste a doughy, bread like quality - rather stodgy.  To counter this, the beer has a very clean refreshing edge to it, not too dissimilar to watermelon. It would cut through a smoky BBQ Burger very well! As this beers warms, the flavours get rather more roasted and bread like but the light carbonation and hints of lime promptly clear this away with ease. This is not the kind of beer that I usually go for, but I am really enjoying it. The clean freshness really appeals to me and I would really recommend it as an 'easy' beer.

Summertime in a Glass

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/gambrinus-excellent-11.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/weird-beard-and-electric-nurse-bearded.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.2%

From: Newport, Oregon, United States of America

Purchased From: Beer Boutique, Putney, United Kingdom

http://rogue.com/

It rarely snows here in the UK, so when it does everyone will be out making snowmen or sledging. Once the melt begins to start, strange yellow snow begins to appear. Being a playful little scamp, I would often enjoyed winding my mum up by pretending to eat the yellow snow. Once, the snow got rather to close for comfort and ended up with a small, gritty chunk in my mouth. Quite frankly, it tasted disgusting and I finally understood why my mum was so freaked out every time I tested her. So forever scarred from this memory, I really hope this beer does not taste like the real thing.

Rogue Ales is an American craft brewery founded in 1988 in Ashland, Oregon. The following year the company opened their second brewpub in Newport, Oregon where they are now headquartered. They operate brewpubs in Oregon, Washington, and California. Rogue exports throughout the US and internationally. Rogue Ales have been described as "invariably fun and full flavored". The company's offerings are popular with critics and craft beer aficionados and have been major award winners in worldwide competitions.

Colour: pours a bright straw yellow complete with a brilliant, snow bite head. It really looks like yellow snow has been melted down and bottled (let's hope it does not taste like it!). As I drunk this beer straight from the fridge, a slight bit of chill hazing in, is also present in the glass.

Aroma: The nose is Full of tart gooseberries and juicy clementines notes to start. As the drink warms these fruity note being to dwindle to slowly reveal notes of slightly burnt sugar or caramel. Certainly a nose of two halves.

Body: Surprisingly dense for an IPA. This beer will flood your taste buds and clog the back of the throat. The surprising level of bitterness ensures that this clogging sensation endures during your entire drinking experience.

Taste: The nose translates into the taste. The aforementioned juicy clementines and tart gooseberries dominate the palate. The dryness of the gooseberries are complemented by the hop acid to help produce an unbelievably dry, slightly herbal finish. It feels as if a shot of Jagermeister has been added to this beer. As this IPA warms, the characteristics change dramatically. The caramel notes from the nose being to appear along with a subtle hits of wood. Delicious! For me this is another case of ensuring you drink a beer at the correct temperature. Take this beer out of the fridge and leave it on the side for fifteen minutes. This will ensure all the flavours are present in every sip, helping to increase your enjoyment.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/kona-brewing-company-castaway-ipa.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/anchor-brewing-old-foghorn.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Ilkley Brewing Siberia Rhubarb Saison

Ilkley Brewing Siberia Rhubarb Saison
Style: Rhubarb Saison 

Alcohol Content: 5.9%

From: Ikley, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Purchased from: Trickling Tap, Grantham, United Kingdom

http://www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk/

Many moons ago, when I was new to blogging and the craft beer I decided to buy a few books in order to fully understand all the beer styles out there. One of these was by a female writer named Melissa Cole. Inspired by her passion and her eloquent explanations, I digested her book within one day (that's extremely quick for me). During my studies I read that Melissa had collaborated with Ilkley Brewing in Leeds to create a Rhubarb Saison named Siberia. Desperate to find one, I searched high and low  but to no avail. Deflated, I gave up. Clearly this beer was never destined to touch my lips. After a trip to Grantham to see my uncle, I stumbled across the Trickling Tap bottle shop. To my amazement and sheer delight, I found one bottle of the fabled Serbia lurking on the back of the shelves. Naturally I snapped it up and gleefully drove back home with my bounty.

The original Ilkley brewery was founded in 1873 and soon became on of West Yorkshires leading beverage producers. Ultimately this success wouldn't last and the brewery was soon swallowed up by Hammonds Bradford Brewing Co. and consequently Bass. In 2009 the brewery was resurrected and now produces up to 40,000 pints a week. The brewery currently offers a range of seven core beers including the subject of this review; Siberia.

Colour: Pours a hazy, straw yellow with a slight reddish hue. A small amount of foam is present but this soon disappears after a few seconds in the glass. I'm must admit, I'm slightly disappointed to find that this beer is not red in colour. Given the extensive use of rhubarb to flavour this beer, I thought some of the deep red colouration would of filtered into the brew itself. Oh well, you can't have it all!

Aroma: The nose is perfumed with hints of tart rhubarb and raspberries. These aromas are held together by a straw/hay like quality that you would expect from a classic Saison. It's rather like sleeping in a barn. Subtle hints of warming cloves and sweet vanilla round out the nose beautifully.

Body: As drank this beer straight from the fridge, the mouth feel felt rather thin to start with. As the drink warms, the beer gets denser with the lack of carbonation helping you think that you are drinking straight from the cask. Perfect stuff!

Taste: As a general rule of thumb, I find Saisons are rather spicy, dry affair. However, this Saison is packed full of fruity notes that will quite frankly, blow your mind. You can instantly taste notes of the sweet yet slightly tart rhubarb. The use of traditional Saison yeast help to add notes of wheat and cloves. Once warmed, subtle notes of caramel being to come to the fore. Over time this helps to mute the tartness of the rhubarb. The finish is long and dry with a slight juicy kick thanks to the rhubarb. I really enjoyed this beer as all the flavours are perfectly balanced and I felt as if I was drinking straight from a perfectly conditioned cask. Tip top!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/arbor-ale-monsoon-saison.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/gaffel-kolsch.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Beavertown Bloody 'Ell Blood Orange IPA

Beavertown Bloody 'Ell Blood Orange IPA

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 7.2%

From: Hackney, London, England

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney, London, England
http://www.beavertownbrewery.co.uk/

Beavertown was set up in December 2011 by Logan Plant and Byron Knight in the kitchen of Duke's Brew and Que, in De Beauvoir, Hackney, London. The brew house, situated opposite the two Smokers of the BBQ restaurant, runs at 4 BBL per brew (650 litres - 1150 pints). In March of 2013 they moved out of their home at Duke's Brew & Que and into their new brew site at Unit 4 Stour Road, Fish Island, London E3 2NT. Now with a little bit more space they can push the boundaries of brewing and get more amazing beers out to the thirsty masses. So, after a few long months of searching through bottle shop after bottle shop, i finally manage to obtain a bottle of Beavertown Bloody 'Ell Blood Orange IPA. I'm so excited to try it, that i think a small bit of wee may of come out. So with no delay it's onto the tasting!

Colour: Pours a dark orange with a slightly hazy reddish hue. This colour clearly comes from the use of fresh blood orange which are squeezed and zested into every boil. A brilliant white head is also present and lingers in your glass for the duration of the beer.

Aroma: Notes of juicy citrus fruits mixed with a subtle blend of pine, grass and mango. The aromas will slowly dissipate after a few moments in the glass so catch them while you can. To me this is quite disappointing as it smelt amazing when I popped the cap off the bottle and I would of loved the smells to of linger longer.

Body: The addition of blood orange to this brew really helps to add a juice like quality to the body. It seriously feels like you are drinking a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice with just a hint of carbonation. Weird I know, but it helps to make this IPA very easy to drink and potentially very dangerous given the relatively high ABV.

Taste: Über juicy. Notes of sweet blood orange and slightly sour lemons dominate the palate. The flavour soon mellows to become more vinous and reveals base notes of sweet caramel and crunchy biscuits. The finish is mildly bitter (partly from the hops and partly from the additional orange zest) and feels slightly juxtaposed against the juicy start. This is a perfect beer to enjoy with a spicy pepperoni pizza as it cools and cleanses the palate on every sip. Juicy, Juicy!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/beavertown-gamma-ray-pale-ale.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/schlenkerla-rauchbier-urbock.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout

Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout

Style: Milk Stout

Alcohol Content: 4.5%

From: Bristol, Avon, United Kingdom

Purchased From: Waitrose, Wells

http://www.bristolbeerfactory.co.uk/

Over the past few year year, the city of Bristol has been undergoing a renaissance. The bustling quay sides have swapped steamships full of tobacco for trendy wine bars and shopping centres. Just like the city it's self, Bristols brewing industry has been reborn partially due to the success of the Bristol Beer Factory. After finding a home in the old fermenting block of the former Ashton Gate brewery, the Bristol Beer factory started life as a 10 barrel micro brewery back in 2004. After originally brewing a small handful of cast conditioned ales, Bristol now offer a range of over eight different regular bottled ales, seven regular cask ales and five specials throughout the year. Cashing in on this success, the brewery now own three pubs in the area and hosts an annual beer festival named Factoberfest.

Colour: Pours a thick, deep coal black with a relatively small, yet tightly packed white head. This stout is so thick that not a speck of light can be seen through it. Tip top stuff!

Aroma: Hints of arabica coffee and cocoa nibs stream from the bottle as soon as you pop the cap. A rich sweetness is also present which invites you closer and closer, making you want to dive right in there and down the pint.

Body: Perhaps one of the smoothest drinks I have ever drunk. This sumptuous pint slides down like a pint of double cream. Every available crevasse of your mouth will be covered by this velvet delight. The use of lactose sugar in the brewing process helps to remove any hints of clogging from the aftertaste.

Taste: From your first sip, you will instantly taste notes of sultry dark chocolate and hot Java coffee. This is promptly followed by a flood of sweet, milky lactose sugar. It's almost as if you are drinking a high end mocha from The Ritz. The flavours are blended perfectly to ensure that no flavour overpowers another. From the moment this pint touched my lips, I was completely intoxicated. How can a brewery blend flavours so masterfully and leave me wanting more and more? Perhaps that's why this beer has won a gold medal at this year's SIBA awards and has previous been named as CAMRA National champion stout. Great work guys, keep up all the hard work!

Invigorating and Stimulating for the Workers

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/ska-brewing-steel-toe-milk-stout.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/redchurch-brewery-soreditch-blonde.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Weird Beard And Electric Nurse Bearded Nurse

Weird Beard And Electric Nurse Bearded Nurse
Style: Barley Wine

Alcohol Content: 10.2%

From: Hanwell, London, United Kingdom

Purchased From: Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Twickenham, United Kingdom

http://www.weirdbeardbrewco.com/

Barley wine is my favourite style of beer- it's rich, dark and nicely full-bodied. So when I was having a hunt around the Real Ale shop in Twickenham, I was dead chuffed to find this Barley Wine by a brewery I already know and love; Plus, I love the label with the little skull face and nurses' hat (such a girlish thing to say!).

Weird Beard hail from Hanwell in West London which makes them a local-ish Brewery- it was formed by two chaps with a passion for both beer and beards! The craft brewery is known for their experimental style and this Bearded Nurse is no exception. It is a collaboration with their friends at Electric Nurse, who had in their words "a malt bill for a killer Barley Wine" and then they threw in their favourite hops to boot; Pacific Gem and Amarillo. I like the sound of that! This is the kind of drink you know has to be sipped slowly at 10.2% volume, so i'll leave it out the fridge to warm up, and help myself to a slice of homemade Courgette cake.

Colour: This drink pours a reddish-brown, like that of a peach skin. When held up to the light you can see through it. Actually, it looks like I've just poured myself a massive glass of whiskey (especially as the head dissipates as quick as flash).

Aroma: Potent notes of whiskey, caramel and smoky peat dominate the nose. However on the second whiff, out come the smells of a gorgeous banoffee pie with a delicious buttery, biscuit base. Yum! My mouth is salivating!!

Body: I would describe this beer as medium to full bodied, as it coats the back of the tongue nicely. Due to the lack of carbonation, this slips down far too easy (need to watch out for that!). However, with each and every sip, the alcohol is becoming more and more overpowering.

Taste: To start with, it's like a boozy Banoffee pie - it's absolutely gorgeous. All the flavours come through at different times so that you can really appreciate them on the tongue. The flavours are bold and beautiful with a warming, spicy depth to them. The biscuity, malty favours then subside and as I keep sipping, the alcoholic content becomes slowly overwhelming. Towards the end of the bottle, I feel as though I am drinking a short and my tongue has gone dry. It's a real shame as the other flavours of this beer are not strong enough to hold up against its alcoholic volume. Quite frankly I'm struggling to finish it so I'll have to see if Kev fancies a sip!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/sambrooks-brewery-no5-barleywine.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/dark-star-espresso-beer.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery