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

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

Thornbridge Wild Swan

Thornbridge Wild Swan

Style: White Gold Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 3.5%

From: Bakewell, Derbyshire, England, UK

Purchased from: Waitrose

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. As of July 2010, Jaipur held 70 industry awards after only 5 years of production. 2010 also saw a prestigious World Beer Cup medal added to the cabinet for the limited release Chestnut Honey ale, Bracia. High praise indeed. For this review i will be looking at their White Gold Pale Ale called Wild Swan.

Colour: Very pale in colour so much so It's almost transparent. Like the name of this beer, the colour is almost like gold. As the drink warms, the colour will darken slightly adding a slight brown hue to the beer. On the pour you get a lovely thick white head and you will also notice that this beer is very heavily carbonated. After a minute or two in the glass this will die down and the brew becomes almost flat.

Aroma: On the nose, you will be bombarded with beautifully ripe citrus notes. It's almost like a glass of cloudy lemonade with hints of freshly cut grass. If you get close enough you can also pick out hints of grapefruit. Like all beers of high quality, the smell will stay with you though out the pint.

Body: This beer is extremely light and refreshing. Like the smell, the body is like a glass of cloudy lemonade. Once the carbonation dies down, the flat beer really hits the spot. Its a lovely easy drinking beer that can be enjoyed in a beer garden. I can just imagine myself enjoying this beer with my friends in Kingston upon Thames on a long hot summers day. Ah bliss! Now this next statement may be a bit controversial but I really believe that this beer as the potential to covert those pesky flavored cider drinkers over to the craft revolution.

Taste: On my first sip, this beer reminds me of a gin and tonic. You get heavy notes of Juniper berries and bitter lemon. It is almost like a adult lemonade with a hint of bitterness. Think hooch with a twist. As the beer warms, the flavors dull slightly. Now I'm not sure if this is because I was getting use to the beer or that the flavors where not to intense, but either way the flavors were not smacking me in the chops like before. It's a shame really as its the only negative part of this beer.

I Heard you where a Wild One!

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