Two Cocks Brewery 1643 Leveller Bitter

Two Cocks Brewery 1643 Leveller Bitter
Style: Bitter

Alcohol Content: 3.8%

From: Enborne, West Berkshire, United Kingdom

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

http://www.twococksbrewery.com/

Have you ever got to that stage in life where you just want to stop what you’re doing and head to the countryside? Well, in January 2009 Michael Butcher and Paul Palmer did just that, leaving the West End of London behind for a taste of the “quiet life” in Enborne, Buckinghamshire. Here they set up a farm on 40 acres of lush English countryside, with the intention of selling provincial food stuffs primarily focusing on rare animal breeds. After stumbling across a rogue hop vine in October 2011, the pair decided to open a brewery. As the farm is based on an old English Civil war encampment, ‘Two Cocks’ decided to doff their cap to this historic period and label their beers accordingly. With names like Roundhead Bitter and Clavier Golden Ale, plus the addition of a real cockerel feather on the label of each bottle, the spirit of these times are forever remembered. The subject of this review is 1643 Leveller Bitter.

Colour: Pours a deep chestnut with a strange lemon yellow hue once settled in the glass. A thin, light brown head is also initially present but this quickly fades away after a few seconds in the glass.

Aroma: The first thing you will notice is that this bitter smells rather sweet. The malt provides a wholemeal bread sensation which is promptly followed by notes of sweet, slightly burnt caramel. This would suggest to me that Two Cocks have used a caramel malt which is just on the verge of becoming roasted/chocolate malt. As this drink settles, the aromas become slightly nutty and less sweeter than before.

Body: Rather surprisingly, this beer feels a lot thicker in the mouth than I was expecting it to. The rich stickiness coats every crease of mouth and lingers in the shadows for the duration of your pint. This helps to provide a clogging sensation on the back of your throat, causing you to drink more and more in order to refresh your palate.

Taste: As soon as you take a sip, you could be mistaken into thinking you’re eating a wholemeal roll smothered in dark treacle. Whilst this can be initially quite sickly, this feeling soon dies down as the bread notes begin to move to the fore. Although this beer is not extravagantly hopped, the hops used help to provide subtle notes of lemon which in turn loosens the sticky treacle taste. This citrus edge also helps to develop the flavour as the drink warms, revealing a strawberry jam like after-taste. In short, this is a lovely bitter that you should enjoy in a Ye Old English pub whilst catching up with the in-laws. If this was on cask in my local, I certainly would be ordering a few cheeky pints.

As 2014 draws to a close, I would like to say thank you all for taking your time to read my posts. Whilst I am not a professional beer writer by any stretch of the imagination, I have found everyone’s warmth and support overwhelming for my blog. Hopefully I have given some insight into the world of craft beer and potentially inspired some of you to follow in my footsteps. With that in mind, I came across this quote from Oliver Cromwell whilst researching this review:

“No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.”

Happy New Year to you all, and I hope to hear from you in 2015.

For Emma, my present and future.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/east-london-brewing-foundation-bitter.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/wild-beer-company-somerset-wild.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

Thornbridge Halcyon

Thornbridge Halcyon

Style: Imperial IPA

Alcohol Content: 7.4%

From: Bakewell, Derbyshire, England, UK

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney
http://www.thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/

The subject of this review is Thronbridge's Halcyon which first came to my attention via twitter earlier this year. Two beery twitter characters i follow,(@femtobrewster and @natedawg27) recently purchased a case direct from Thornbridge and raved about it for days. So to my shame i decided to jump on the bandwagon and try some for myself. Upon my visit to the Beer Boutique last week, i snapped up a bottle quicker that you can say "I love IPA". Its see if all the fuss was justified shall we.

The Thornbridge Brewery is an independent brewery formerly situated in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall near Bakewell, Derbyshire, England. Its first beers went on sale in February 2005. Thornbridge's beers were originally brewed by Martin Dickie, a graduate of the International Center for Distilling and Brewing at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, and Stefano Cossi, a graduate in Food Science and Technology at Udine University, Italy. In 2007, Dickie left to start Brew Dog however the brewery has not suffered from this loss.

More than 130 awards have been won by Thornbridge's brews since its opening, including the Silver Medal (Strong Ales) at the Great British Beer Festival (August 2006) for Jaipur IPA (and for Kipling in August 2009), the Gold Medal in August 2008 in the same category, and a Bronze Medal in the Bitters category in August 2009 also.

Colour: Pours a very, very pale yellow which is more reminiscent of a larger than an IPA. A thick brilliant white head tops this beer off perfectly and will stay with you throughout your drinking experience. A very sexy looking pint I must say.

Aroma: Like all good IPAs, this beer is heavily hopped which helps to produce an incredibly deep and complex nose. Big bold notes of tropical pineapple and mango are blended perfectly against a backdrop of oily, bitter orange hop aromas. Very inviting and in courageous you to sip more and more.

Body: Just like the colour, this drink is extremely light to drink which is incredible given the high ABV. This drink goes down a treat with a slight sweet clogging on the back of the throat.

Taste: A rich sweetness awaits you on every sip. Beautiful hints of sweet mango will fill your palate which will then give way to an unique blend of caramel and dry biscuit or hobnob. The finish is very long and complex. The high ABV warms the palate slowly melting the hop bitterness away to help return the original mango flavour rolled in juicy malt. A remarkable beer from one of the UK's leading craft breweries. I now understand what the fuss is all about, so if you see this beer for sale, buy it! Twitter will guide the way!! Follow the birdy.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/partizan-brewing-ipa-bobek-amarillo.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/flying-dog-gonzo-porter.html

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

Shepherds Neame Bishops Finger

Shepherds Neame Bishops Finger

Style: Strong Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.4%

From: Faversham, Kent, UK

Purchased from: Tesco, Ashford
http://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/

Shepherd Neame is an English regional brewery founded in 1698 in Faversham, Kent.  It is the oldest brewer in Great Britain and has been family-owned since 1864. The brewery produces a range of cask ales and filtered beers. Production is around 230,000 barrels a year. It owns around 360 pubs, predominantly in Kent, London and South East England. Whilst visiting Kent in January I couldn't help but notice that almost every other pub was own by Shepherds Neame. Now that's the way to dominate the market! The subject of this review is their Bishops Finger, a Kentish Strong ale which holds EU Protected Geographical Indication, recognising its unique provenance. It takes its name from the finger-shaped signposts which pointed pilgrims on their way to the tomb of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. Will the finger of fate fall kindly on this beer? Lets find out. 

Pointing the way?

Colour: Pours a deep chestnut brown combined with a light bubbly head. This drops down to form a light dusting of foam after a few minutes in the glass.

Aroma: Slight notes of burnt toffee and vinous autumn fruits such as plums, cherries and red grape. However, I must stress that all these notes are extremely faint but they are lurking in the background in the shadows of the malt. 

Body: Smooth and easy to drink. There is a slight clogging on the back of your throat due to the resiny hops. Definitely one to sip on a cold winters night.

Taste: A big sip will provide you with notes of your Nan's fruit cake. Hints of Sweet orange peel, currants and sultanas will fill your mouth and the quickly die away. The finish is long and interweaves between dried fruit, rich malt and a deep, dry hop bitterness. These flavours are not overly pronounced and for me, it is a classic example of a mass produced bitter that you can buy from any major supermarket. Great if you just starting out on your real ale journey, but it's not the one for me. Perhaps I have now become a craft beer snob. Gulp! I guess I have.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/brakspear-bitter.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/anchor-brewing-company-liberty-ale.html

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

Thwaites Crafty Dan Big Ben

Thwaites Crafty Dan Big Ben

Style: Brown Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.8%

From: Blackburn, England, United Kingdom

Purchased from: Wine Rack,Weybridge, UK

http://www.thwaites.co.uk/

This Sunday i headed into Putney to visit the gents at the Beer Boutique bottle shops. I was rather impressed by the variety of beers on offer and how the beers were arranged by style rather brewery. For a reviewer, this helps you balance out what you purchase ensuring that you can cover an array of styles. Needless to say, my wallet took a major hit as i came away with a staggering fifteen beers. Highlights include: Durham Brewery White Stout, Thornbridge Halcyon and Sharp's Quadruple Ale. Naturally all of these will appear on my blog at some point. So stayed tuned!

Thwaites Brewery is a regional brewery founded in 1807 by Daniel Thwaites in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. The firm still operates from its original town centre site. A variety of cask ales, draught beers, lagers and ciders are produced in Blackburn or imported from Europe by Thwaites. In 2011 the brewery opened a small Micro brewery called Crafty Dan and since 2013 they have been bottling three of their favorites. One of them is the subject of this review, Crafty Dan's Big Ben. 

That's really big!

Colour: Pours a dark brown with a light tan head. You could be mistaken in thinking you are about to sample a porter or an old school beamish given the slight red hue. The head does not stay around very long but a dusting of foam will follow you throughout the duration of this beer.

Aroma: Strong, spicy hops follow straight out of the bottle. This is promptly followed by citrus and freshly cut grass, wrapped in a sweet maltiness. Excellent stuff. The blending of six unique hops help to create this exciting bouquet. These are Fuggles, Goldings, Challenger, Citra, Chinook and Summit. How on earth did they fit all of that into the hopper?

Body: A lot lighter in your mouth than you would expect. This comes from the sweetness of the malt, which when combined with the six hops, creates a velvety smooth drink that does not clog your throat. Lovely stuff!

Taste: Notes of sweet toffee nut, which leads to a creamy bitter finish. It reminds me of a quality street chocolate called The Purple One (a hazelnut with caramel). The hops create a very long, bitter finish. I wasn't expecting too much from this beer but I was pleasantly surprised. It's certainly a beer that I would revisit and even recommend to my mum (see always raids the quality street tin for the Purple One at Christmas).

Porter in disguise?

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/founders-backwoods-bastard.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/partizan-brewing-pale-ale-cascade.html

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

Blanche De Bruxelles

Blanche De Bruxelles

Style: Wit Beer

Alcohol Content: 4.4%

From: Quenast, Rebecq, Belgium

Purchased from: Beer Wall, Bruges, Belgium
http://www.brasserielefebvre.be/en/page/3/home

If you live in the UK, no doubt that you would of heard that the river Thames broke its banks last night and flooded the surrounding area. Whilst this is no surprise given the amount of rain we have had over the previous months, it does however impact the lives of people living in the area. My office has been noticeably quieter today, as more and more employees choose to work from home. It times like these that make me feel grateful that my friends and family are safe. For those that know me well, I live close to Staines Upon Thames and my grandparents live in rural Somerset. Both these areas have been greatly affected by the recent floods, but luckily they are far enough away for the water to cause any meaningful damage. But with this in mind, I dedicate this blog entry to those that are not so fortunate. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

The origins of the Lefebvre brewery, located at Quenast (in the Brabant region of Wallonia, the French speaking district of Belgium) in the valley of the Senne, goes back to 1876. In this year, Jules Lefebvre, gamekeeper, farmer, inn keeper and brewer, inaugurated his new brewery. Pubs were opened around the neighbouring porphyry quarries so that the numerous workmen, made thirsty by stone working, could come to refresh themselves. Even in 2014, the brewery is still a family affair with no less than six generations have passed though the brewery over time. They have expanded and diversified to include lines such as Belgian Framboises and the subject of this review, the famous Blanche De Bruxelles.

Colour: Pours a bright yellow will a dense brilliant white head. The head will slowly dissipate down to a heavy dusting of foam in the glass. It looks like a Classic Belgian wit beer, good start!

Aroma: A beautifully sweet, lemon meringue like nose with underlying biscuit and a little floral touch from the Styrian Goldings and Hallertauer hops. Coriander and orange peel added during wort boiling lends a slight but unobtrusive spiced nose. As the drink warms, the tart lemon intensifies followed up by hints of creamed wheat.

Body: A smooth medium body that will slightly clog the back of your throat. This is due to the addition of wheat, curaçao orange peel and coriander during the creation of this beer. The mouthfeel is one of pure silk which leaves you wanting more and more.

Taste: The initial flavour is almost like lavender, until the citrus re-asserts itself. The flavours of tart lemon can initially overpower the palate until the creamed wheat finish silkily washes the mouth. The additional curaçao orange peel and coriander blends perfectly with the mild hops to round of this drink. Perfect for any fish much like these salmon noodles Emma cooked for me. Yum yum!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/nogne-o-blonde.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/tiny-rebel-full-nelson.html

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

Partizan Brewing Pale Ale Cascade Centennial

Partizan Brewing Pale Ale Cascade Centennial

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.8%

From: Bermondsey, London, England

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames
http://www.partizanbrewing.co.uk/

So it's that time of the year again where I get very excited about a bunch of bulky men chasing around after an egg shaped ball. Yes you guessed it, the rugby six nations is back! So I grab a craft beer and hit the sofa to watch England vs France. Unlike most years, I am full of expectations that England will do well in the tournament and carry that momentum onto the World Cup in 2015. Figures crossed! So the beer of choice for this game is Partizan Pale Ale Cascade and Centennial.

Update: Well England lost to France in the first game, but there were quite a few positives and I remain upbeat for the rest of the tournament.

Partizan brewing was founded by Andy Smith in 2006 originally as a way of getting cheap beer. He was frustrated that the majority of American IPA's were imported and thus were not enjoyed fresh as the brewery intended. In order to help him with this quest, Evin O'Riordain of the Kernel brewery gifted him a brew kit and he set up his brewery in Bermondsey, South London. He chose the name partizan as it symbolises lost cultures and more importantly, lost beer. Along with the vast array of beers on offer, this brewery is also famed for their label designs. These labels are crafted by an artist called Alec Doherty, who also lives in London. Now this brewery is quite small and have a limited output. So catch their beers while you can.

Colour: Pours a hazy yellow with a brilliantly fluffy white head. This head is awe inspiring and will stay with you throughout the duration of the drink.

Aroma: As soon you pop the cap, huge notes of tropical fruit such as pineapple and grapefruit will wash over your nostrils. This comes from the perfect blending of cascade and centennial hops used in the production process.

Body: Feels rather creamy in the mouth which causes a mild clogging on the back of your throat. As the beer warms, it will become smooth and juice like. Lovely stuff!

Taste: First you will be presented with the taste of fresh grapefruit which is then promptly followed by hints of malted grain or cereal. Very different to the pale ales I have tried previously. However, that being said, it works amazingly well as it gives a raw, rugged taste to the beer. The finish is mildly bitter with hints of fresh fruit juices and hop resins. This is now the second Partizan beer I have tried and so far they have come up trumps each time.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rogue-juniper-pale-ale.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/by-horns-diamond-geezer.html

If you are interested in Alec Doherty's work click on this link: http://www.alecdoherty.com/

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

Titanic Plum Porter

Titanic Plum Porter

Style: Porter

Alcohol Content: 4.9%

From: Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, UK

Purchased From: Utobeer, London Borough Market, UK

http://www.titanicbrewery.co.uk/

As its still dark, wet and windy in the UK, I like nothing more than putting on the fire (well central heating) and curling up with a fine porter. There is something about this style that just oozes winter. The dark malts provide comforting chocolate notes and the high alcohol content warms you up after being outside. And it also seems that you guys like them too, as my review of Meantime’s Chocolate Porter currently holds the accolade of being my most viewed post. So let’s take a look at  Titanic’s Plum Porter. Will it sink or swim?

The brewery was founded in Burslem Stoke-on-Trent in 1985 by Brothers Dave and Keith Bott and takes its name from the ill-fated steam liner Titanic. The brothers decided to name the brewery in honour of its captain Edward Smith who lived just down the road in a town called Etruria. The brewery also owns seven pubs around their area, including the flagship The Bulls Head. See what i did there?

A simply beautiful label

Colour: This beer pours an intriguing black with a slight purple hue. This is topped with a light tan head that dissipates after a few minutes in the glass to leave a minimal dusting of foam.

Aroma: I'm always skeptical of drinks that have been flavoured with fruit. For me, they can be really hit and miss. However, I a extremely pleased to say that this beer does not disappoint. This drink is stacked full of juicy, autumn sweet plums on the nose. It's almost like you are walking the orchard during the harvest. Lovely stuff!

Body: The fruity plums help to create the illusion of a lighter body when compared to most porters. The fruity almost juice like body coupled with ultra low carbonation, easily makes this one of the most enjoyable porters I have drank in a while.

Taste: If you are new to the porter style, then you should try this as your first port of call. It is quite frankly amazing! Juicy plum notes play with roasted malts to create an extremely smooth beer, that is expertly finished with a mild bitterness from the late addition of Goldings hops. One of this beers key features is that the taste will linger in your mouth in-between sips. It's freshness will draw you and keep you wanting more. How I have never drunk this before I will know. It forces it's way into my top ten list and it will certainly be served at my upcoming craft beer night.

You can just see the purple hue in this picture

As a modern history buff, I was slightly shocked to read that an Australian business man plans to build a life size replica of the Titanic and name it (rather ably) Titanic 2. Let’s hope it’s dedicated to the memories of those who lost their lives back on that fateful day, rather than being a lucrative money spinner. Here is the link if you want to read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic_II

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/meantime-chocolate-porter.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/bear-republic-racer-5-ipa.html

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

Wild Beer Company Scarlet Fever

Wild Beer Company Scarlet Fever
Style: Amber Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.8%

From: Westcombe, Somerset, United Kingdom

Purchased From: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames

http://wildbeerco.com/

So for Christmas my girlfriend went above and beyond to get me the perfect gift. Firstly was a trip to the Duck and Waffle. If you are not familiar with this establishment, it is a 24 hour restaurant located on the 40^th floor of Heron Tower, London. Whilst there, we enjoyed a slap up meal and a cocktails to boot. The second gift meant even more to me. After talking on and on about taking my first official steps into becoming a qualified beer sommelier, Emma paid for me to attend the foundation course at London’s prestigious Beer Academy. To say I am excited is an understatement and I cannot wait to get started on the 18^th of March.  In the meantime, I will be continuing to write these blogs as a “novice”.

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! The subject of this review is Wild Beer Company’s Scarlet Fever.

Got the Fever??

Colour: This drink pours a thick, rich, ruby red with a slightly tan coloured foam. Now, it took me almost five minutes to fully pour this beer as the head just kept coming and coming.  Don't be fooled into thinking that its due to heavy carbonation, as it was certainly due to multiple opening and closing of my fridge door during the festive season. The thick layer of foam will linger around for duration of the beer.  

Aroma: Although this is not the most potent smelling beer, citrus notes mixed with grass or a bouquet of freshly cut flowers are present in the nose. Sometimes it pays to have a little instead of a lot.

Body: This beer has a very refined, polished body which makes it easily accessible to all comers. The medium mouth-feel helps to create a  slight clogging effect on the back of your throat with every sip.

Taste: Tangy citrus and floral notes, slowly melt into a smooth caramel and a bready sweetness due to the use of English malts, slight reminiscent of a robust, earthy English Porter. The end is very crisp and dry, with a mild bitterness provided by the floral hops. Whilst not being the most flavoursome beer on the market, it would certainly go very nicely with the Sunday roast due to its perfect balancing of flavours. I will certainly be going back to this beer next time I visit my parents. 

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/brakspear-bitter.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/samuel-adams-noble-pils.html

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

Siren Craft Brewing Liquid Mistress Red IPA

Siren Craft Brewing Liquid Mistress Red IPA
Style: Red IPA

Alcohol Content: 5.8%

From: Finchampstead, Wokingham, UK

Purchased From: Utobeer, London Borough Market, UK

http://www.sirencraftbrew.com/

Siren Craft Brewery is a relatively new comer to the beer industry. Set up in 2012 and named after characters in Homer’s (not Simpson) Odyssey, the brewery currently produces four core beers alongside seasonal specials. Based out of Finchampstead near Reading, the brewery is already planning for the future by brewing an Anniversary beer (barrel aged in 7 different oak barrels)  and a stout involving meal worms (not sure how much I enjoy that idea). Since Siren’s launch, there has been a great deal of buzz amongst the beer blogging community due to the quality of their output. After reading several articles, I was rather pleased to find my girlfriend had brought me Siren’s Liquid Mistress for Christmas.  With great excitement, I transferred the bottle straight to the fridge to have it later that night. So let’s see if I have found my next mistress.

Looking very tempting

Colour: Like a witches potion, this beer pours a murky dark red with a dusting of fizzy foam. The yeast from the bottle conditioning helps to add lighter red swirls to this thick, magical brew. It’s almost like the liquid mistress is beckoning  me into her lair of sin.  Could this be the Jessica Rabbit of craft beer?

Aroma: Big bold tropical notes of passion fruit mixed with subtle hints of peach. These are playfully mixed with a heady blend of sweet sugary caramel and dry German rye bread.

Body: Medium body with a slight clogging on the back of the throat on each gulp. The carbonation is very soft and reminds me of a fine champagne.

Taste: A delightful blend of invigorating pink grapefruit and lychee with after notes of biscuit and rum soaked raisins. These distinct flavour profiles juxtapose each other brilliantly. The citrus fruit will cleanse your palate before the malty depth of the biscuits comes into play.  All these flavours mellow as the beer warms, causing a sensation of honey tinted bitterness to reveal itself from the depths of the glass. Quite frankly, this drink is magical and could topple Meantime’s Yakima Red as my favourite beer. Well done Siren, Well done indeed.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/stone-brewing-company-levitation-ale.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/goose-island-honkers-ale.html

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

Arbor Ale Monsoon Saison

Arbor Ale's Monsoon Saison
Style: Saison

Alcohol Content: 6.4%

From: Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Purchased From: Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond-Upon-Thames

http://www.arborales.co.uk/

So last week i had the dreaded man flu and IRS in my right hand, so unfortunately i was unable to blog. Doctor/Emma's orders! However, I'm now full fit and ready to taste some beer.

Arbor Ales began brewing in March 2007 on a 2.5 BBL plant in a small outbuilding at the back of the Old Tavern in Stapleton. When the pub closed in June 2008 they moved to a unit in Kingswood and upgraded to a 5.5 BBL plant. Arbor moved again in early 2012 to their current location in Lawrence Hill and upgraded to a 12 BBL plant. They are now producing around 25-30 BBLs a week. In March 2009 Arbor took on their first pub, the Old Stillage in Redfield, which they purchased from Punch Taverns a year later. In October 2010 Arbor signed the lease on their second pub, the Three Tuns in Hotwells.

So here we have a review of their Monsoon Saison. This beer was created on a freestyle Friday, were the brewers stop making their traditional lines and start experimenting with recipes and ingredients. So lets see what they have for us?

Colour: On the pour, you will presented with a straw yellow liquid with a bright, bubbly white head. There is plenty of carbonation in the bottle to keep this head going throughout the life cycle of this drink. As you slowly pour, you will notice that he drink is clear. To create an authentic Saison, stop the pour near the top and swish the remaining liquid around the bottle to pick up the yeast. Drop this into the glass to create a beautiful Saison fit for a king.

Aroma: There is a heady mix of freshly cut hay and rich autumn plums on the nose. As the drink matures, you will be able to pick out the hints of coriander and cardamom which have been added during the brewing process.

Body: Without the yeast the drink is quite light to drink. The carbonation can be hard to handle at first so I would recommend adding the yeast into your glass, as this helps to take this beer to another level. The drink will become thicker, almost like a Weiss beer and leave a rich creamy coating on the back of your throat. Divine!

Taste: On the first sip you will taste notes of straw and steeped summer fruits such as plums and strawberries. Then suddenly the added cardamom and coriander will burst though and play with your tongue. This leads to a bitterly, crisp and dry after taste that reminds me that Christmas is just around the corner and my bank account is already empty. I am rather new to this style of beer and I am shocked I never came across it sooner. For me, Arbour Ales Monsoon Saison can give the French and Belgium’s a run for their money any day of the week. An excellent beer!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/ommegang-hennepin.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/stone-brewing-company-levitation-ale.html

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Partizan Brewing IPA Bobek Amarillo

Partizan Brewing IPA Bobek Amarillo

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 7%

From: Bermondsey, London, England

Purchased from: Utobeer, London Borough Market
http://www.partizanbrewing.co.uk/

Partizan brewing was founded by Andy Smith in 2006 originally as a way of getting cheap beer. He was frustrated that the majority of American IPA's were imported and thus were not enjoyed fresh as the brewery intended. In order to help him with this quest, Evin O'Riordain of the Kernel brewery gifted him a brew kit and he set up his brewery in Bermondsey, South London. He chose the name partizan as it symbolises lost cultures and more importantly, lost beer. Along with the vast array of beers on offer, this brewery is also famed for their label designs. These labels are crafted by an artist called Alec Doherty, who also lives in London. Now this brewery is quite small and have a limited output. So catch their beers while you can.

Sexy labels!

Colour: This drink pours a light, bright orange. This is quite different to the majority of IPA's on the market which poor ever a light brown, or (if it's an English style IPA) a dark brown. This drink looks more like a lager in the glass rather than an IPA. There is a small white head in the glass which will stay around for the duration of this beer.

Aroma: The aroma profile of this beer is extremely interesting. The first notes I could pick out notes of sweet mango's which have been ever so slightly smoked (weird combo hey?). There are also notes of spun caramel and herbs such as thyme and rosemary.

Body: The ABV of this drink is 7 percent and you can really feel this when you take a sip of this beer. It really knocks you sideways and takes quite a while to adjust to. Once this shock dies down the drink becomes very smooth to drink (due to the low level of carbonation) and leaves no sticky resin in the back of your throat.

Taste: The first sip of this brew was very bitter. Once this initial bitterness dies down you can taste fresh grape fruit, peaches and mangoes all held together with sweet spun caramel. The more I thought about the flavours of this beer, the more I realised that it reminded me of a sweet from childhood. The good old fashioned Rhubarb custard and creams brought from the ye olde sweet shop. The aftertaste unfortunately leaves little to be desired. It's quite acidic and metallic. Luckily the up front flavours will keep you wanting more.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/bear-republic-racer-5-ipa.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/by-horns-diamond-geezer.html

If you are interested in Alec Doherty's work click on this link: http://www.alecdoherty.com/

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Meantime Raspberry Wheat

Meantime Raspberry Wheat

Style: Flavoured Wheat Ale

Alcohol Content: 4%

From: Greenwich, London, England

Purchased from: Hog's Back Brew Shop
http://www.meantimebrewing.com

Meantime Brewery was founded by Alastair Hook in 2000. The originally Greenwich brewery was originally located 0° 2' 12" east of the Greenwich Meridian, moving to a site on nearby Blackwall Lane in 2010. This mission driven company aims to help the consumer rediscover their cultural and culinary beer heritage, which it believes has, in the UK at least, largely been lost as beer manufacture has been concentrated in the hands of a smaller number of ever bigger brewers, who do not wish the consumer to have any great understanding or appreciation of beer. Since opening the brewery has gone from strength to strength and their Coffee Porter won a gold medal at the world beer cup in 2008.

I will be honest with you, i am a big fan of the Meantime Brewery. I have already reviewed two of their beers on this site; the Chocolate Porter and their London Stout. Both of these drink are amazing and are among my most popular posts so far. So as a semi Londoner, i am pleased that to see that a number of Youngs pubs in Greater london and Surrey, now carry Meantime beer on draft. These are normally their crisp London Lager and their mildly hoppy London Pale Ale. However, the focus of this post will be something completely different; their Raspberry Wheat beer.

Colour: Once poured, you are presented with a drink that looks like cloudy cranberry juice. This cloudy colour comes from the style of beer (wheat beer). A nice bubbly white head is also present but this dissipates very quickly and leaves nothing in the glass.

Aroma: As you would assume, there are very strong notes of Raspberry smothered in sugar which ooze out of the glass like a waterfall down a cliff face. You can also pick out notes of creamed wheat mixed with slight hints of banana and cloves. These latter aromas are very reminiscent of the style, but seem a little out of place against the raspberry back drop.

Body: Seeing as this is a wheat beer, the drink is quite heavy in the mouth. This is not a drink that you can rush. There is a slight acidic/metallic after taste which clings to the back of your mouth after every sip. This drink has a very low level of carbonation and is almost flat after 5 minutes in the glass.

Taste: As you expect from a raspberry beer, the predominant flavour are raspberries. These are a little tart and slightly overpowering for my palate. There are faint hints of banana and cloves but these are subtly hidden by the raspberries. The more you accustom yourself with this beer, the more the raspberry flavour dissipates. It's becomes rather jam like as the beer warms. The aftertaste has a mineral water finish to it. It's as almost as if you can taste the fluoride in the London water. I must admit that this is not my favourite Meantime beer I've tried, but its always good to try something different. One thing i know for sure is that my girlfriend would love this.

I really love the champagne style bottles 

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

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

Brewdog International Arms Race

Brewdog International Arms Race

Style: Zero IBU IPA Or Gruit

Alcohol Content: 

From: Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

Purchased From: Rays Wines, Ashford

Brewdog was founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie. The brewery at the Kessock Industrial Estate in Fraserburgh produced its first brew in April 2007. It claims to be Scotland's largest independently owned brewery producing about 120,000 bottles per month for export all over the world. The company moved premises to nearby Ellon in the Autumn of 2012, however it as been announced that the Fraserburgh site will be used as a brewing laboratory for experimental beers.

Brewdog's provocative marketing has been a key aspect of the business, and has gained them substantial international coverage.

Last year Flying Dog issued a challenge to Brewdog for battle collaboration entitled International Arms Race - Both beers are dubbed 'Zero IBU IPA' and the challenge was to brew an IPA style beer using no hops: the hops are replaced with berries, herbs and roots. Now, I have tried Flying Dogs version and it reminds me a lot of scrumpy cider from Somerset. I was not to keen on that but lets see how Brewdog's version measures up.

Colour: On the pour, you a presented with a bright red ale that reminds me of a very old school beamish that my old man used to drink. As the beer settles, a sheen of copper appears in the glass. The head starts off a brilliant white colour and slowly dissipates down to a small amount of foam. 

Aroma: To be honest this has to be the strangest beer I have ever smelt so far. There are so many new and interesting smells rising from the glass, its actually quite hard to know where to start from. Here goes. The first thing you will notice is that this beer smells quite sour. This can be a sign that the beer is off so I had a look at the expiration date on the bottle. To my surprise I had been sold a kipper. The beer had an expiration date of May. However, I decided to pull up my socks and carry on regardless. You are instantly bombarded with notes of cherry, blackberry and mint. There is also a few herbal notes such as thyme and rosemary. Something tells me that this is going to taste funky.

Body: There is a very low/ if any carbonation in this beer. This gives the body the feel of cherry juice that you can buy from the supermarket. This body helps to mask the ABV of this beer making this an extremely dangerous beer to enjoy on a session. 

Taste: On your first sip you will notice hints of gin and tonic mixed with pine and grassy notes. This is undercut with gritty earth notes. Upon the second sip, you can start to pick our herbal notes like rosemary and thyme and a orange peel. To be honest, this drink tastes a bit like a Ricola cough drop. These flavours make sense given that there is no hops in this beer and the herbs have been added to this brew to add flavour and aroma. I have to say I personally did not enjoy this beer very much. It’s an interesting concept by I will not be going back for more.

Similar to: Umm Nothing I've ever tasted or reviewed.
Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/erdinger-uriweisser.html

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

Lovibonds Dark Porter

Lovibonds Dark
Style: Porter
Alcohol content: 4.8%
From: Henley Upon Thames, England, UK
Purchased from: Waitrose, Windsor
http://www.lovibonds.co.uk/

The brewing bug bit Jeff Rosenmeier in 1994 after tasting a friend's home made stout. Jeff couldn't believe the result and bought brewing equipment, soon discovering a hidden passion. Jeff moved to Henley-on-Thames in 1996 and fell in love with the beauty of the area. He continued to develop his brewing skills while taking a keen interest in the town's rich brewing tradition and the up and coming craft brewing movement.

In June 2005, Jeff decided to make his passion his day job, leaving behind a successful career in software engineering. He set up a small brew plant on his property and began piloting his flagship beers on a small scale. Jeff said, "I started delivering beer in small quantities to a few free houses in Henley and Reading and I was really encouraged by the response of our first customers".

The inspiration for the Lovibonds name came when Jeff was viewing a site in Henley for the brewery, which had previously been home to John Lovibond and Sons, Brewers and Merchants. Jeff said, "We were discussing the uses of the building through its history and the existing tenant handed me a lovely antique Lovibonds bottle. I loved the name and was impressed by the respect that the brand had locally, and so Lovibonds Brewery was formed."

Colour: Dark as the night sky with a thick white or slightly tanned head on the pour. Like all good porters, this head stays with you thought out the life time of this beer.

Aroma: On the nose you are all most over whelmed by notes of rich Arabica coffee mixed with rich hints of dark chocolate. If you really get your nose in the glass you can pick out very faint hints of liquorice. Personally I really dislike liquorice as it reminds me of the black jack sweets I used to get given at school. Oh those painful memories! Hopefully the beer won't taste lie them otherwise its going straight down the sink.

Body: As with most porters, this drink is quite heavy and thick. It certainly is a very slow sipper. Rather oddly, this beer leaves no stickiness as on the that after its drunk.

Taste: Due to the heavy use of dark malts in the making of this beer, rich smoky coffee flavours are abundant. It is almost like some one has lit a fire and the smoke has permeated into the drink itself. This has produced a very robust taste which may put off someone who is new to this style of drink. There are also faint hints of dark chocolate with a slight acidic or mineral aftertaste. This mineral quality comes from the hard water that can be found in the area around Henley upon Thames. This beer would be the perfect accompaniment to a rich creamy British Stilton. Lordy my mouth is watering already.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/left-hand-brewery-black-jack-porter.html
Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/brewdog-dead-pony-club.html

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

By The Horns Diamond Geezer

By The Horns Diamond Geezer

Style: Red Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.9%

From: Wandsworth, London, England, UK

Purchased From: Odd Bins, London Bridge

http://www.bythehorns.co.uk/index.html

By the Horns brewery was founded in 2011 by Chris Mills and Alex Bull. Originally two cheap lager drinkers the two gents soon discovered the varied and curious world of craft beer. The two twenty something lads had developed a love of proper beer and decent boozers and decided to link this love with London life into building an independent craft brewery in the Capital. After much travelling, meetings, tastings and a good deal of graft; we are now proud owners and operators of our own 5.5 barrel brewery in South London. After doing some research i actually found out that their brewery is not to far away from my girlfriends house. Sorry Emma, but i think we may have to take a little detour on the way home one day.

Before i start this review i must admit i am very, very fond of the label of this beer. It looks quite plain to start with red and white writing on a chalk board black background. But if you turn the bottle to the side you will be greeted by a Del boy esc. character. You plonker Rodney!!

Colour: As the beer leaves the bottle you are presented with a beer that is ruby red in colour. The beer will then settle down to a warm chestnut brown. There is a gorgeous amount of foam on the pour which then leaves after five minutes.

Aroma: Very warm and spicy on the nose. It reminds me of pepper mixed with spiced winter fruits or mulled wine. There is also a slight acidic note rising from the glass which cuts though the spice very well.  

Body: This beer is actually quite think and leaves a lovely sticky coating around your throat. There is a very low carbonation on this beer which helps it slip down a treat.

Taste: On the first sip you will notice that this beer is actually quite hoppy and it can be a bit bitter at first. This bitterness comes from the Willamette hops used in the making of this beer. Tasting deeper you can pick out notes of sweet molasses and chewy caramel. You may also be able to pick up notes of hazelnuts and hints of vanilla spicing. This drink reminds me a bit of Christmas around the Parsons household; Spicy pudding with a bitter bother due to getting pants and socks from the parents.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/windsor-and-eton-brewery-canberra.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/brooklyn-brewery-lager.html



This time next year we will be millionaires!

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

Hogs Back HOP Garden Gold

Hogs Back HOP Garden Gold

Style: English Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.4%

From: Tongham, Surrey, England, UK

Purchased From: Waitrose
http://www.hogsback.co.uk/

Hogs Back Brewery is a brewery in Tongham, Surrey, England, and named after the nearby Hog's Back ridge. The brewery started in 1992 as a joint venture between two friends, Martin Zillwood-Hunt and Anthony Stanton-Precious. Growing rapidly since then, it now produces 40,000 pints per week and supplies over 500 outlets.

A couple of weeks ago me and my old man paid a visit to the Hogs back brewery. We where the first to arrive so popped into the shop. Walking up the stairs I said to my dad, "oh we should pick up a case of their beers". I was left to eat my words as not only did they sell there own stock, but a truly amazing selection of world beers. I quickly made a list and then headed on the tour. The brewery is located in some old farm house so all the equipment has been packed into a relatively small area. The tour takes around an hour and a half and at a mere 12 pounds was well worth the money. We also got to sample (and I use this term very loosely as I think I drank around four pints worth) some of there beers. We tried their new Summer Ale, their stable TEA, HBB (hogs back bitter) and the subject of this review HOP Garden Gold.

Colour: When you pour this beer into a glass, you are presented with a pale brown liquid with no head. Now I always enjoy a nice head on a beer due to the fact that this is where the aromas are stored. So I'm quite disappointed that there is not one present in my glass. The beer is slightly hazy in the glass but you can still see though it.

Aroma: As there is no head, it's actually quite hard to work out what this drink smells of. You really have to get your head fully in the glass to work out what's in there. Sniffing deeply you can pick up notes of sweet molasses cut though with sharp lemon zest. There are also very, very faint floral notes.


Body: Being as the UK is experiencing temperatures of 32 degrees at the moment, this beer will slip down a treat after a stick day in the office. Very light and extremely refreshing which makes it a perfect drink for the summer time. There is a slight sticky mouth feel after each gulp.

Taste: Fresh from the fridge you are bombarded with fresh lemonade and lime notes. As the beer warms, these settle down to reveal deep rich sticky caramel notes mixed with crushed hob nobs. I'm always amazed as to how flavours develop as beer warms. There is also a slight acidic after taste which helps cleanse the palate after each sip.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/robinsons-dizzy-blonde.html
Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/skinners-heligan-honey.html

 

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