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

New Belgium Brewing Company Snapshot

New Belgium Brewing Company Snapshot
Style: Wheat Beer

Alcohol Content: 5%

From: Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

Purchased From: Great British Beer Festival 2014, Olympia, United Kingdom

http://www.newbelgium.com/Home.aspx

New Belgium was established in 1991 after its founder, Jeff Lebesch, decided to take his homebrewing passion commercially. The name New Belgium originates from a bicycle trip the founders took through Belgium in the late 80's. They would cycle from brewery to brewery, sampling beer as they went (sounds like bliss to me). Almost every label has been designed by watercolourist Anne Fitch. Anne has often been credited with helping the brewery develop so quickly due to her eye catching designs. Infact this partnership has helped New Belgium become the third largest craft beer brewery in the United States.

Not resting on their laurels, in 2013 the brewery became completely owned by their employees through an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). The quirky corporate culture this generates helped New Belgium to be recognised as one of INC magazine's "25 Most Audacious Companies to work". The brewery is primarily based in Fort Collins where they produce over 700,000 barrels of beer each year.        

Colour: Pours a very pale straw yellow and is completely clear. Personally, I like to add the yeast into my wheat beers, so I naturally left a small amount of beer in my bottle and gave it a quickly swirl around. Normally this removes all the yeast that clings to the inside of the bottle, however, in the case of this beer, no yeast seems to be picked up and the drink remains crystal clear.

Aroma: Definitely not the most perfumed beer on the market, but you can pick up notes of zesty citrus fruits subtlety juxtaposed by the hints of creamed wheat. It certainly smells like a archetypal wheat beer. Perhaps this drink can now rise to the occasion.

Body: At first the body feels very rich and creamy. The incredibly low level of carbonation helps add to this depth. However, unlike the majority of the beers I review, this beer actually felt thinner in the mouth once it has warmed. It appears to become more watery as the temperature rises. The hints of citrus help to clear the slight clogging sensation on every sip. Mix this with the watery body and you have a real thirst quencher on your hands. Totally not what I was expecting from this beer.

Taste: To be honest, this is not the most flavoursome beer I have ever tasted. Sharp citrus notes completely dominate the subtle hints of creamed wheat and yeast. It all feels rather unbalanced much like the current Arsenal team. Lots of upfront zest, but no defensive body. The finish is slightly tart and ends incredibly dry. I hate to say it, but I think this beer is quite similar to Coors' Blue Moon. A thirst quenching wheat beer that has unfortunately failed to make its mark on me.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/blanche-de-bruxelles.html

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

Kona Brewing Company Castaway IPA

Kona Brewing Company Castaway IPA
Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 6%

From: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA

Purchased from: Great British Beer Festival

http://konabrewingco.com/

Well Aloha everybody and welcome to another review from Beefsbrewey. As you may of guessed, this week we are reviewing a beer from Hawaii called Castaway from the Kona Brewing company. The Company was founded in the spring of 1994 by father and son team Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa. Setting up shop on the "Big Island" in the outskirts of Kailua-Kona, the company now distributes to 36 states and 10 countries, with more than 220,000 barrels of beer sold in 2012. After three restaurants and a airport franchise later, Kona decided to install a 229 kW solar energy generating system capable of generating 60 percent of the breweries energy needs in early 2010. This soon turned out to be one of the final investments the family in made in the brewery before handing the keys over to Craft Brew Alliance later that same year.

Colour: Pours a bright copper with a slight yellow hue. As soon as the liquid hits the bottom of the glass a depth charge of brilliant white foam will rise from the depth and stay for the duration of your drinking experience. This drink is a thing of pure beauty!

Aroma: Just like an tropical Hawaiian beach, notes of delicate flowers mix with sweet, juicy pineapple. As the drink warms, subtle hints of sweet peach iced tea and crisp pine being to shine though. A lovely fresh nose, that's ever so sweet and inviting.

Body: Whilst on holiday, I always love to kick back with a light, refreshing beer whilst I watch the surfers wipe out in the waves. Castaway IPA is the perfect match for this scenario. Refreshingly crisp, with just a slight amount of clogging on the back of the throat to help ensure you savour every sip. The soft carbonation tickles the back of your throat all the way down to your stomach. Perfection!

Taste: The pineapple from the notes nose translate through to taste. The sumptuous pineapple notes soon give way to a dry, spicy and warming finish. The warming helps to round out the flavour and includes hints of the aforementioned peach notes. Considering that this IPA contains a "meagre" six percentage alcohol content, the ABV really powers through and is actually rather surprising. As the drink warms, the blending of Galaxy, Citra, Simcoe and Millennium hops seem to get more bitter as the drink progresses. A very lively beer that I would love to drink more and more of.

Wilson!!!

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

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/victory-prima-pils.html

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

Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn

Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn

Style: Barley Wine

Alcohol Content: 10%

From: San Francisco, California, USA

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney, United Kingdom
http://www.anchorbrewing.com/

A while back, me and Kevin decided to spend a lazy afternoon "researching" at one of our favourite pubs, The White Horse  in Parsons Green. After a few opening beers, he tried a cracking Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar and I indulged in a warming Anchor Brewing Old Foghorn Barleywine. Now there are not many beers that stick out in my mind that day (due to the quantity!), but this was one of them. Since that day, we have scoured each and every beer shop we've visited for it but to no avail, until last wednesday when Kev surprised me with a lovely bunch of flowers and- you've guessed it- the highly coveted Old Foghorn Barleywine. What a guy!

Upon researching this beauty, it transpires that Anchor Brewing comes from San Francisco and is apparently Old Foghorn is handmade in small batches, following a Ye Old English recipe. This was the very first Barleywine style beer to be brewed in the US which helps to make it a pretty appealing. According to their website, all three malt-mashes are needed to make just one barley wine brew, and they only use the "first wort" which is the 'first runnings' of said mash. I am intrigued to see if this beer still stands up to my fond first impressions of it- so lets have a try!

Colour: This beer pours a murky mahogany colour with a tan head. The head disappears quickly to the sides of the glass, and the cloudiness clears to a reveal a rich, ruby red depth.

Aroma: This beer smells like autumn and it takes me a few seconds to work why. It reminds me of Halloween Toffee Apples and the slight smokiness of Bonfire Night. Notes of spices, orange and rum soaked raisins emanate from its surface.

Body: It has a gentle level of carbonation which washes the flavours from the front to the back of the tongue pleasingly. You can feel it coat the roof of your mouth and warm your insides. The alcohol is not overwhelming despite its high content, and blends perfectly with the dry finish to this beer.

Taste: Spicy, sweet notes of cinnamon, toffee and rum-soaked raisins dominate the palate. This is a great after-dinner beer, or perhaps even a mid-afternoon beer, as I can see it going very well with a slice of carrot cake. The malty sweetness cuts through its dry edge and culminates in a beer thats very easy to drink indeed. The taste of the alcohol is still there, but just serves to give it an extra 'kick' in my opinion. By the end of the bottle I am smiling and remembering just why this beer has been on my wish list for some time now. If I was giving out gold stars then this would get one for sure!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/nogne-o-100.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

Renaissance Brewing Voyager

Renaissance Brewing Voyager
Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 6%

From: Blenheim, New Zealand

Purchased From: Purchased from: A birthday gift

http://www.renaissancebrewing.co.nz/

Renaissance brewing was founded in 2005 by Andy Deuchars and Brian Thiel. Andy and Brian, both natives of Southern California, decided to produce stunning beer in a region more renowned for wine, Marlborough New Zealand. After purchasing the lease on the historic Grove Mill in Blenheim and suffering a few teething problems (such as a delayed dispatch of their bottling machine due to Italy winning the World Cup in 2006), the brewery has grown into something of cult status in New Zealand. Scoping multiple awards over the past 9 years (including the prestigious champion New Zealand brewery in 2013), the brewery now produces a core range of 12 beers at their 400,000 litre bottling plant in Blenheim.

Colour: Pours a murky light brown with a dusting of foam which unfortunately does not linger around for very long in the glass (somewhat similar to the Brewdog Old World India Pale Ale I reviewed back in May). Not the best looking IPA, but looks can be deceiving.

Aroma: As soon as you pop the cap, a rich sweetness of honey will flood your nostrils. This only dissipates slightly once in the glass to help reveal notes of brown bread and perhaps sweet kiwi/mango/lychee (it's pretty hard to work out what it actually could be).

Body: The honey like sweetness also translates into the body of this beer. Unlike it's starship namesake, Voyager is not a drink to enjoy at "warp speed". The sticky body coats your tongue and your mouth so much you could be mistaken in thinking you are drinking a pint of honey. If slightly more carbonation was added to this beer, it would be a pleasure to drink, but quite frankly, I found this pint extremely hard work.

Taste: Very, very sweet for an IPA. The sweet honey dominates the palate with very subtle hints of mangos and kiwis lurking in the background. As the drink warms, the honey flavour dulls slightly allowing very delicate notes of burnt toffee to appear. With not a hint of bitterness in sight, I feel extremely let down by this IPA. It's sickly sweet and really lacks any depth of the flavour. At least I did not waste my own money on this beer.

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

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/sierra-nevada-brewing-narwhal-imperial.html

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

New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk

New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk
Style: Bourbon Barrel Stout 

Alcohol Content: 10%

From: Holland, Michigan, United States

Purchased from: Great British Beer Festival

http://newhollandbrew.com/

Being deeply in love with someone means that you take on a little bit of them, and in my case, their interests and love of craft beer. And this is how I now find myself, spending my rainy bank holiday Monday getting rather excited about cracking open a bottle of bourbon barrel stout. It's certainly not something that I would of caught myself doing a year ago, I can tell you!

Just over a week ago, we spent a boozy (yet well-paced) day at the Great British Beer Festival. We sampled many a delicious beverage and I decided to bring back little treat for myself for later. Having a particular penchant for the darker, more alcoholic varieties of beer, I settled on a bourbon aged stout called 'Dragons milk' from New Holland Brewing. I squeezed the little bottle into my purse and dreamed of day i would enjoy the beverage. Yum!

However, upon delving a little deeper into the secrets of this Dragons Milk- it turns out that I haven't brought back an authentic Dutch beer at all, but a US beer from Holland in Michigan State! Kevin always said I never was any good with geography! This little beauty has been brewed by a couple of American chaps who first met in college and had a passion for their own home-brewed beer. After graduating, they formulated a solid business plan which attached the attention of some investors which eventually led to the opening of New Holland Brewing in 1996. The site now includes the microbrewery, along with a distillery, speciality brew house, restaurant and a pub! Sounds like our kind of place Kev! Nudge nudge wink wink!

Colour: This drink pours jet black complete with a deep tan coloured head that dissipates in a flash. It's thick and dark, with deep claret shades when held up to the light.

Aroma: As a lady with a vast collection of perfumes, ill tackle this question like I would any scent. Top note: Cloves. Middle notes: Vanilla, milk, a tumbler full of grandad's scotch whiskey Christmas 2002. Base notes: Marmite.

Body: This beer is every bit as dark and delicious as I had hoped! Unlike other stouts, this one has a full bodied mouth feel and coats the back of the tongue nicely. Hmmmmm! A wave of alcohol comes through on the aftertaste, giving that warming feeling that is nice when you're tucked up indoors and its all grey and misty outside (like today). The beer has that pleasant champagne-like effervescence to it which helps it slide down nicely!

Taste: With a smoky and spicy depth to it, this beer is a real winner. Every sip should be savoured as to really appreciate that bourbon edge. Flavours of cloves and cinnamon combine with a more delicate and floral note when I swill it around my mouth. I couldn't help but think that this beer is a perfect match for GU chocolate soufflé - both of which would just melt in your mouth. Soon after polishing off about half the bottle, the marmitey richness tends to sharpen and the alcohol content becomes more apparent. This is a drink that you only need one bottle of, or maybe that's just me. It's density and richness puts it up there with one of the hits of this years Beer Festival! Fullers Vintage 2014.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/weird-beard-brewing-company-chinook.html

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

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

Sierra Nevada Brewing Narwhal Imperial Stout

Sierra Nevada Brewing Narwhal Imperial Stout

Style: Imperial Stout

Alcohol Content: 10.2%

From: Chico, California, USA

Purchased From: Beer Boutique, Putney
http://www.sierranevada.com/ 

Located in Chico, California, Sierra Nevada Brewing is one of the top craft breweries currently operating in the United States. Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is the second best-selling craft beer in the United States, behind the Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It is currently the sixth-largest brewing company in the United States.The brewery produced 786,000 barrels of beer in 2010.

The brewery was named "Green Business of the Year" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 for its practices in sustainability.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was founded in 1979, with founders Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi expanding their homebrewing hobby into a brewery in Chico, California. Along with the brewery's location, Grossman claims the company's name comes from his love of hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.With $50,000 in loans from friends and family, Grossman & Camusi rented a 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) warehouse and pieced together discarded dairy equipment and scrap yard metal to create their brewing equipment.They later were able to acquire second-hand copper brewing kettles from Germany before moving to their larger, current brewing facility in 1989.

Colour: Pours a jet fuel black with a densely packed, tan coloured foam. It looks so thick in the glass you could mistake it for tar. The head will slowly die away after a few minutes in the glass but what's left will cling to the glass as if it's life depends on it. So far, so good.

Aroma: Rich, dark cocoa notes present themselves as soon as you pop the cap. Subtle notes of yeast or beefy marmite are also present and add a real sense of depth to the aroma profile. You certainly will love or hate the perfume that's for sure.

Body: As I eluded to in my above colour description, this drink is as thick as Paris Hilton. As soon as you take a gulp, your mouth will be flooded like an oil slick. Every crevasse of your palate will be covered like a bird near the Exxon oil slip. Luckily, this sensation is surprisingly brief as due to the lack of bitterness and lack of any clogging sensation at all. Very smooth and a true pleasure to drink.

Taste: Subtlety is the name of the game with this beer. There are no big, bold flavours in this beer, just a subtle yet complex set of tastes that have been blended perfectly together. A real melting pot of coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice and marmite are all present. The ABV is masked beautifully by both these flavours and a pleasant sweetness I have yet to come across in an imperial stout. For me, this is one of the best imperial stouts I have ever tasted. A true sipper without a hint of bitterness in the aftertaste. Well worth a repeat visit.

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

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

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

Weird Beard Brewing Company Chinook

Weird Beard Brewing Company Chinook
Style: Barrel Aged Brown Ale

Alcohol Content: 7.4%

From: Hanwell, London, UK

Purchased From: Real Ale Shop, Richmond upon Thames, London, England

http://weirdbeardbrewco.com/

After another busy week at work I was really looking forward to attending Craft 100 this weekend. But alas, just like my attempt to visit craft beer rising, my hopes were dashed by illness yet again. This time it was myself who caught the dreaded bug, it was my long time drinking buddy Jon. After sulking for a couple of hours i decided to pick myself up and write a number blogs over the weekend. Here is one of them, Weird Beard Brewing Company Chinook. 

Weird Beard Brewing company is based in Hanwell, West London. Like most brewers, the company’s founders, Gregg and Bryan, first began brewing beers in their kitchen’s. After winning numerous home brewing awards, the dynamic duo decided to up the ante and turn their hobby into a business. And before you ask, yes, Gregg and Bryan do sport some very impressive facial hair (Daniel Bryan would be proud!). Now as my best friend is moving into this area later this year, no doubt I will be popping in to check the beard’s and beers out for myself.

Colour: Pours a thick, dark brown with minimal head. This head will lace your glass perfectly thought the duration of your drinking experience. The also opaque liquid helps to create a sense of mystery that will intoxicate you like young mistress in a summer dress. 

Aroma: Not the most perfumed beer in the world as it only uses the Chinook hop. This hop adds a slight pine and citrus note to the aroma profile. If you get your nose right in there you will be able to pick out notes of rich molasses mixed with smoky bourbon. Slight hints of warming, dry alcohol will also rise from the glass to sting your nostrils. Very subtle aromas that are perfectly blended to draw you further into this drink.

Body: On your first sip you could be forgiven in thinking that you are indeed drinking a bourbon. The beer feels very sticky and will clog the back of your throat on every single sip. The warming alcohol will burn slightly on the way down like a good whisky should. This is definitely not a beer to rush, so sit back and relax while drinking it.

Taste: As I eluded to before, this beer has been aged in bourbon barrels. The barrels have imparted notes of sweet, smoky bourbon combined with slight hints of oak. These flavours are beautifully juxtaposed by the use of the Chinook hop. The hop provides a citrus note which helps cut through the smokiness slight to refresh your palate.  The finish is beautifully sweet to start but is followed by an intensely bitter and warming alcohol finish. This is the second bourbon aged ale I have reviewed, (the first being Founders Backwoods Bastard). Between the two, I preferred the Founders as it was slightly sweeter than Weird Beards attempt but that’s down to personal taste as this is an excellent effort.   

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

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

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

East London Brewing Foundation Bitter

East London Brewing Foundation Bitter

Style: Bitter

Alcohol Content: 4.2%

From: Leyton, London, England, United Kingdom

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney 

http://eastlondonbrewing.com/

So it would appear that spring is here again. Kids in shorts and flip flops are now multiplying by the day and the clocks have finally “sprung” forward to herald the start of yet another great British summer. This spring is however different. This spring, brings the birth of the first baby among my close friends. Whilst I am over the moon about the upcoming arrive, I can’t help but think I'm getting older and moving into another stage in my life. Talk nappies and houses have replaced talk of ladies and shots. Our hair continues to thin and waists grow ever larger (no matter what products/diets we use to try and fight it). As my hairline recedes, one thing that has improved with age is our appreciation of good beer.

So whilst visiting a beer garden on Saturday, I took great joy in speaking to my oldest friend about the various beer styles and how they are created. He was shocked to hear that Budweiser actually use rice in their recipe. So as we washed down our splendid lunches with a few pints of Fuller’s ESB, I thought to myself how lucky we are to have such an amazing choice of beers right on our doorstep. With this in fresh in my mind, I decided to open a bottle of East London Brewing Foundation Bitter and reflect on my disappearing youth and look forward to all the changes ahead of me.

East London is a small independent brewery based in Leyton, London. After both deciding to give up their day jobs, Stuart Lascelles and Claire Ashbridge-Thomlinson set up their 10-barrel plant in February 2011. While for most people juggling a young family and an embryonic brewery would prove to be insurmountable task, the dynamic duo rose to the occasion and produced their  first batch of ELB pale ale six months later. Due to their tenacity the brewery was able to stay open and eventual expand into the unit opposite in May 2013. Its well documented that good things come in small  packages so let’s see how their Foundation Bitter tastes shall we.  

Colour: Pours a deep, rich chestnut brown with a small white head which will lace the glass beautifully on every sip. Personally I would prefer a larger head on my bitter but that could be down to my dodgy pouring.

Aroma: As soon as you pop the cap, you will feel like you have walked into a bakery just as the loaves are removed from the oven. A baker’s dozen of aromas will rise to meet your nostrils. Fresh baked brown bread and yeast are present from the outset. After a few minutes in the glass, slight hints of sweet citrus can be detected which helps to round out the aroma profile perfectly.

Body: This drink is remarkably light/thin for a bitter, which actually makes it very thirst quenching. However as soon as you swallow this beer you will notice a high amount of clogging on the back of your throat. Although this sensation is not unpleasant, it will certainly force you to slow down and enjoy your pint. For me this is a hallmark of how a good bitter should be drunk; slow and with great company.  

Taste: I always find the Bitter style very interesting. Although the name suggests the drink should be so overall bitter that you won't enjoy it , I personally find that most bitters have a relatively low IBU (International Bittering Units). So I was pleasantly surprised to find that my bottle of Foundation was actually rather bitter in the mouth.  Upfront notes of brown roasted malts provided a taste similar to that of brown bread or roasted hazelnuts. The finish of this beer is very intriguing, with a large amount of bitterness which is underpinned by a slight, sour lemon edge. I was rather taken aback by this a first and it did take quite some time to get used to. That being said, this sourness helps to create the “thirst quenching” edge which sets this bitter apart from the crowd.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/moor-beer-company-merlin-magic.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/urthel-hop-it.html

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

Sly Fox Brewing Pikeland Pils

Sly Fox Brewing Pikeland Pils

Style: Pilsner

Alcohol Content: 4.7%

From: Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney 

http://www.slyfoxbeer.com/

Finally after months of flooding it appears that the UK is finally drying out. Near tropical temperatures of 15 degrees centigrade have been recorded in London this week prompting the daffodils to awaken and bloom. To many daffodil sightings are the first signs of Spring and people begin planning for their summer holidays. I am no exception to this as I have recently booked a two week holiday to Croatia. The winter has however played havoc on my body and I am rather out off shape. So as the weathers improved, I have decided to start running again. After running just over three miles yesterday, I was in need of some light refreshment. I have often seen runners turn to beer after their gruelling exploits so I decided to do some research and find out more.

The answer is surprisingly uncomplicated. Beer is made up from 99.5% water with the rest being made up from malted barley, hops and yeast which are all rich in vitamins and minerals. Researchers suspect that sugar, salts and carbonation in beer combine to help people absorb the fluid more quickly. Faster hydration after exertion helps you to recover quicker. So next time you run home from work, grab a cheeky pint to recharge, doctors orders!

Sly Fox Brewery hails from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in December 1995 by the Giannopoulos family as the Sly Fox Brewhouse and Eatery. When off-premise sales increased beyond the Phoenixville location’s ability to keep up, Sly Fox opened a 20-barrel production brewery and accompanying restaurant in nearby Royersford, in November 2004. However this was not enough for Sly Fox as in 2012, they choose to open a third site in  Pottstown to take their annual production up to 3,600 barrels. The subject of this review is their Pikeland Pils, a Pilsner style lager.  

Colour: Pours a lemon yellow with a thick white head that reminds me more of a Weiss beer than a pilsner. It's so thick that you could mistake it for a Mr Whippy (minus the flake of course). This dies down after a few minutes but coats the side of the glass beautifully. Unlike every other pilsner I've ever drunk, the beer is very opaque. So much so, you almost can't see the bottom of the glass.

Aroma: Not the most perfumed beer in the world but you can certainly smell aromas of freshly cut grass and subtle hints of lemon.

Body: Very light and refreshing as every good pilsner should be. This beer will help refresh you after a hard day at work or a long run like the one I undertook earlier today. There is no clogging on the back of throat and sips down a treat.

Taste: On the first sip you will be presented with notes of freshly cut grass and subtle hints of lemon and honey in the background. As the drink warms slightly, a slight wheat note comes to the fore. This changes the character of the beer some what to become very reminiscent of a Weiss beer minus the banana and cloves. Very different to the soft perfumed pilsners from Czech Republic and Germany that I am used to but very nice all the same. A twist on a modern classic style some may say. The finish is mildly bitter but very crisp. The perfect refresher.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/victory-prima-pils.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/maui-brewing-company-aloha-baktun.html

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

Oskar Blues Brewing Dale's Pale Ale

Oskar Blues Brewing Dale's Pale Ale

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 6.5%

From: Longmont, Colorado, USA

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney 

http://brew.oskarblues.com/ob-beers/

For many years, the use of cans in the craft beer world has been a bit taboo subject. For many, beer cans are associated with dull, mass produced lagers that dominate every supermarket. Independent brewers generally tend to use glass bottles and shy away from their aluminium alternatives. However, a major sea change appear to be on the horizon. Last year, the worlds largest craft brewery, Sam Adams, announced their intention to sell their famous Boston lager in cans. To many this came as a shock, however over the past few months more and more breweries have been ditching the bottle and moving to the can. Recently, London based Beavertown announced their intention to can four of their product.

Look great don't they?

Its well documented that cans offer better protection against light and air damage and are cheaper to produce as they do not require a separate labelling machine. However, cans often have to bought in bulk and are more subject to ambient temperature fluctuations, so there are pros and cons. Personally, i have no preference as long as the beer tastes great. But wherever you stand on this debate, the rise of the can is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

So how does this relate to this review I hear you cry. Well my beery chums, Oskar Blues have been canning all their beers since 2002. In fact some go even further and credit Oskar with being the very first brewery to offer canned craft beer. Here is the result of that first; Dale's Pale Ale.

Oskar Blues hail from Longmont Colorado and began life as a basement brewery in the restaurant of the same name. A few years later owner Dick Dale Katechis decided it was time for the brewer to strike out on its own and move into a purpose built brewery. By 2012 Oskar Blues began experimenting with re-sealable aluminium containers for some of their larger cans. Personally, I would love to see how these work so if any knows where I can get one in the UK give me a shout. Producing on average 59,000 barrels per year, this is likely to keep rising and rising to cope with demand.

Colour: Pours a dark copper brown with a minimal head, which provides excellent lacing throughout the life of the beer. I must say this has to be the darkest pale ale I have ever seen. It reminds me more of an IPA to be honest.

Aroma: Beautiful aromas of freshly cut grass and dropped pine needles dominate the aroma profile. Very subtle hints of caramel follow but do not linger in the nostrils.

Body: Rather dense for a pale ale but it will certainly refresh you on every sip. Given the the can suggests that this beer is a"A huge voluminously hopped mutha of a pale ale", I am pleasantly surprised to find that their is hardly any clogging on the back of the thoart. I find beers that have been heavily hopped to have a extremely sticky resin quality which this drink lacks. Good stuff guys!

Taste: Just like the nose, the taste of big bold pine needles dominate followed by a light, zesty citrus note. The drink will then come alive revealing hints of sweet sugary molasses, finally finishing with refreshing dry bitterness from the hops. At a punchy 6.5% ABV, you maybe thinking that the alcohol will steal the show like Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania. Luckily for us Oskar have hidden the ABV so well that you are rewarded with an extremely pleasurable drinking experience.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/camden-brewery-pale-ale.html

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

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

Maui Brewing Company Aloha B'ak'tun

Maui Brewing Company Aloha B'ak'tun

Style: Belgian Stout

Alcohol Content: 7%

From: Lahaina, Hawaii

Purchased from: The Beer Bouquet, Putney
http://mauibrewingco.com/

At some point in life every man will get the dreaded "man flu". This week was my turn to get the bug. My symptoms are as follows; Arms as heavy as lead, a nose running like a tap and a live heavy metal band playing in my skull. Just what you want over the weekend. After being drugged up to the eyeballs, I some how managed to stumble into the office. Of course one of the worst parts of being ill is that you can't drink. So as I dry out for a few days, I have to dig deep into my little black book to bring you some reviews that I have yet to write up. Here is one of them, Maui Brewing Aloha B'ak'tun.

The Maui Brewing formed in 2005 on the Hawaiian Island of Lahaina. In their nine year existence, the brewery has won numinous awards and opened a successful brewpub. I have always wanted to try their coconut porter, but alas, I can never get hold of it. So when I saw a limited edition Belgian stout by Maui, I snapped it up immediately.

Oh Aloha!

Colour: Pours a dark, oily black with a fluffy tan coloured head. This dissipates down to a few clumps of foam after a few minutes.

Aroma: Big, bold coffee and cocoa note cascade out of the glass like Niagara Falls. This is complemented by mild notes of cloves, cinnamon and spicy pepper. It's all very Christmassy I must say.

Body: Thick and oily like a traditional stout should be. The mouthfeel is incredibly similar to that of the fantastic Kernel 1890 export stout recipe that I reviewed last month. The coffee notes blend perfectly with the oily texture to coat the back of your throat. This ensure a slow, lingering drinking experience. So take your time and unwind.

Taste: This drink has an incredibly complex palate. So here goes! Massive hints of coffee and bitter dark chocolate will fill swam you taste buds. This is then swiftly cut through by a peppery, smoke filled aftertaste. This sensation comes from the addition of the hops, cinnamon and chipotle chillies. These additional ingredients add a great depth to the flavour and help to reinforce the sear quality of this brew. The only slight negative thing I could say is that there seemed to be a slight metallic/acidic aftertaste to this beer. Perhaps this comes from the the use of a can instead of a bottle. That being said, it's very rich and extremely satisfying, a perfect winter warmer.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/ellezelloise-hercule-stout.html

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

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

The Celt Brewing Experience Seven Flowers

The Celt Brewing Experience Seven Flowers

Style: Double IPA

Alcohol Content: 5.4%

From: Caerphilly, Wales

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond upon Thames
http://celtexperience.com/

The Celt Brewing experience was founded 10 years ago by Tom Newman in the town of Caerphilly, Wales. In 2012 Tom developed the on-going Shapeshifter series of collaboration brews, with such names as Boxing Cat Brewery from Shanghai, Brasserie St Germain from France, beer blogger Simon Martin and beer writer & sommelier Melissa Cole to create exciting and innovative American, Belgian and German beers with a twist.

This is the first collaboration beer that I have reviewed. They seem to be very in-vogue at the moment so I'm certainly jumping on the bandwagon. This one is a true transatlantic collaboration bringing together three breweries from either side of the pond. Representing Wales we have the Celt Brewing experience and from the states we have Ale Syndicate and the Atlas brewing respectively. Both these fine breweries hail from from Chicago. Go Cubs! So before you post any jokes about the Cubs never winning the World Series, let's get on and review this beer.

Shall We Burn the Witch?

Colour: Pours a light copper brown with a slight reddish hue. A small layer of foam is present for you to play around with during the duration of the drink. This beer is also bottle conditioned and I accidentally poured some of the yeast into my glass. Pour it slowly people!

Aroma: Notes of freshly cut grass and newly fallen pine needles dominate the nose. This is swiftly followed by hints of sweet mango wrapped in toffee. Odd I know, but that's what you get when you hop a beer with seven hop flowers (hence the name). This little gem uses a blend of Citra, Simcoe, Hallertauer, Tomahawk, Cascade, Warrior and the old English faithful, Goldings hops.

Body: Quite dense for an IPA. The mouth feel is rather creamy and is actually more reminiscent of a stout. A beautiful drink to linger over on a cold winters night.

Taste: Just like the nose, you can pick up notes of grass and pine. After a big mouthful, you will receive a slight caramel and biscuit aftertaste in your mouth. This beer is amazingly fresh and the rather high ABV is extremely well hidden. The finish is dry, crisp and mildly bitter leaving you wanting more. Simply beautiful.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/beavertown-8-ball-rye-ipa.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/shepherds-neame-bishops-finger.html

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

Weird Beard Brewing Company Hit The Fairy Lights

Weird Beard Brewing Company Hit The Fairy Lights 
Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.6%

From: Hanwell, London, UK

Purchased From: Real Ale Shop, Richmond upon Thames, London, England

http://weirdbeardbrewco.com/

So, Christmas 2013 has come and gone faster than you can say Santa Claus. As per usual, I became a gluttonous monster, devouring cheese by the kilo and drinking wine by the gallon. Quite frankly, I was quite pleased to “halt the assault” on my bowel’s and take it easy. After a few days of “drying out”, my inner booze hound returned. After returning to my parents, my dad was kind enough to offer me his remaining Christmas ales. With glee I picked out a beer that I had never tried before; Weird Beard Brewing’s Hit the fairy Lights. Interestingly, this was a Pale ale rather than the generic (and somewhat boring) brown beer that is produced around the festive season. As this was slightly out of the ordinary, I decided to review it. But first a bit on the brewery.

Weird Beard Brewing company is based in Hanwell, West London. Like most brewers, the company’s founders, Gregg and Bryan, first began brewing beers in their kitchen’s. After winning numerous home brewing awards, the dynamic duo decided to up the ante and turn their hobby into a business. And before you ask, yes, Gregg and Bryan do sport some very impressive facial hair. Now as my best friend is moving into this area later this year, no doubt I will be popping in to check the beard’s and beers out for myself.

Colour: Pours a bright, marmalade orange toppled with a dusting of foam. As this drink is bottle conditioned, some yeast also dropped into the glass. Naturally, this caused the drink to become cloudy like a Belgian Wit beer, so it’s best to pour this drink slowly.

Aroma: Big, bold notes of bitter orange peel present themselves straight away. This dances playfully with peppery coriander, to fool you into thinking that it’s Christmas day all over again.  When these sensations die down, a very subtle sweetness will start to revel its self, which helps to take the edge off of the orange. A very well hopped beer in my opinion.

Body: Very Light and spritzy like a good pale ale should be. The zesty orange flavouring cleanses your palate on every sip, leaving a fresh, dry sensation in the mouth.  

Taste: During the boil, fresh oranges and star anise are added to the brew kettle, which helps to both perfume and flavour the beer. For the aroma, it works very well. However, for the taste, it misses the target slightly. Granted, there is a bitter orange taste, but it feels slightly watered down or manufactured. The use of star anise helps to create a warming spiciness which compliments the dry crisp finish. Although not without its faults, it’s a perfect refresher after a Christmas dinner  and makes a welcome change to the dull, brown ales normally drank at this time of year. With a little refinement, it would fit my palate perfectly. 

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/moa-brewery-blanc.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

Bad Seed Brewery South Pacific Pale Ale

Bad Seed Brewery South Pacific Pale Ale

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.8%

From: Malton, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Purchased From: Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond-Upon-Thames
http://badseedbrewery.com/

Bad Seed Brewery is based in Malton, North Yorkshire.Their motto is the following; "All great adventures start with a Bad Seed of an idea. Plant Bad Seeds. Go on an adventure. Drink good beer." Well lets see.

A few weeks ago, i convinced my friend Jon that we should pop down to the Real Ale Shop to stock up for the Christmas period. When we arrived we were certainly spoilt for choice and i did not know where to start. After previously buying a number of American beers, i decided that this time i would get a few more home grown, UK based brews. With its bright blue label, i was instantly drawn to Bad Seed Brewery's South Pacific Ale. After not have anything from this brewery before and the need for a pale ale, i pulled one off the shelf with a great sense of joy. So lets see what this has in store for me. 

Is this a bad Idea?

Colour: From the bottle, this beer looks like a flat, clear apple juice with barely a head to speak of. That being said, a light snow dusting will stay with you throughout the lifetime of this drink.

Aroma: Even without a sizeable head, you can pick up quite a fruity nose from this drink. Exotic Passion fruit and dragon fruit rise from the glass. These are mixed playfully with zesty lemon and lime notes to produce quite a pleasant bouquet. Unfortunately, these aroma die away extremely quick due to the lack of carbonation needed to refresh the head.

Body: As mention previously, this drink is almost flat with only a few bubbles rising to the surface. The drink goes down like a cold glass of Apple juice and due to the bitterness, this drink clings to the back of the throat. It would appear that I may have a bad bottle on my hands as it just does not seem right to me. It's lacking the zing that I expect from a South Pacific Pale ale.

Taste: There is an upfront bitterness which can be rather shocking at first, but once you get use to it, you will be able to taste what this drink has to offer. Hints of sweet lavender honey cut though with a slight sour lemon edge. The aftertaste is one of pure raw bitterness which you would normally associate with strong English bitter like Fullers' HSB. As the drink warms, the honey flavour gets deeper and you will begin to faintly taste oranges mixed with slight earthy notes. I must admit, I had high hopes for this beer but it appears that I picked up a bad bottle down at the shop. A real shame!

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

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/einstok-icelandic-white-ale.html

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

Stone Brewing Company Levitation Ale

Stone Brewing Company Levitation Ale

Style: Amber Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.4%

From: Escondido, California, United States

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames

http://www.stonebrew.com/

Stone Brewing Co. is a craft brewery headquartered in Escondido, California. Founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California, it is the largest brewery in Southern California. As of 2012, it was the 10th largest craft brewery in the United States and 17th largest brewery overall, based on sales volume.

Established in 1996, the brewery's first beer was Stone Pale Ale, which they consider to be its flagship ale.Most of their beers are characteristic of west-coast craft brews, meaning that they have a high hop content. Stone beers are bottled in 22 ounce bottles, 12 oz six packs, and occasionally 3 liter bottles (thats one big beer). The beers available in six-packs are the Stone Pale Ale, Stone IPA, Stone Levitation Ale, Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale, and Stone Ruination IPA. Stone uses 22 ounce bottles to feature their "bigger character" beers and Stone Special Releases. Compared to most brewers, many Stone brews feature alcohol percentages that are well above average. The alcohol-by-volume content of Stone brews ranges from 4.4% to well over 11%.

Is the devil in the glass?

Colour: Pours a rich chestnut brown. If you have tried Meantime's Yakima red, then you will be familiar with the colour. There's a dense white head which stays around for the duration of the drink. So far so good.

Aroma: Once poured, you can pick out notes of elderflower mixed with grapefruit cut with sweet lime. When you take your first sip, you are bombarded with fresh pine needles and gooseberries. As the drink warms you will be able to pick out hints of smoky peat which helps to add an earthy quality to this beer.

Body: Surprisingly light to drink with excellent lacing in the glass. Very smooth in the mouth and this liquid will leave a light coating on the back of your throat that will make you beg for more. Pure bliss!

Taste: This drink has a rather complex flavour profile. First, you will be presented with the tastes of sweetened citrus fruits such as lime, grapefruit and orange. These are then held together by a robust chestnut. As with most ales in this style, there is a very bitter finish with just an edge of sweetness and a hint of saltiness. This will help cleanse your palate after each sip. I really enjoyed this beer and will certainly be going back for more.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/brewdog-dead-pony-club.html

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

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