De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis

De Molen Hel & Verdoemenis

Style: Imperial Stout

Alcohol Content: 10%

From: Bodegraven, Netherlands

Purchased from: Beer Geek, Prague, Czech Republic

http://brouwerijdemolen.nl/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Craft Beer Rising 2015

Craft Beer Rising 2015

After two years of failing to attend Craft Beer Rising, I made it my mission to attend the 2015 event. So last Saturday both Emma and I rose early from our bed to make the fateful trip across London. As Brick lane is located in East London, we decided to purchase day event tickets which ran from 11am to 5pm. After a long train journey, we arrived just as the doors opened. After being handed our beautiful glassware, we firstly walked around the venue in order to get our bearings. After a quick scout to locate our favorite breweries, we settled down on one of the picnic benches in the main hall. We both decided that we would open the festival with a beer from one of London's finest breweries; Beavertown. 

Kevin: Beavertown Moose Fang Imperial Brown. Rating 8/10.

Emma: Beavertown Appleton Bramley Apple Saison. Rating 7/10.

After such a strong start to the day (both of Beavertown's beers where over 7 per cent ABV), we decided (rather foolishly) to continue in the same vein. Since we are going to States in April, we decided to visit some of favourite US breweries; Lagunitas and Founders respectively. 

Kevin: Lagunitas Brown Shugga. Rating 9/10.

Emma: Founders Backwoods Bastard Scotch Ale. Rating 9/10.

After such a high ABV start to the festival, I know we needed to stop for a bite to eat. Fancying a lighter bite, we both plumped for a couple of sausage rolls. Now, I don't normally eat sausage rolls, but oh my god, these were absolutely delicious!  The only thing stopping me buying any more was the sky high price of £4 a roll. That's more than most of the pints of beer on offer at the festival! Daylight robbery I say!!

Shifting gears, I fancied a fruit IPA whilst Emma liked the taste of my last beer so much, she treated herself to some.

Kevin: Bear Hug Hibernation White IPA. Rating 5/10.
Emma: Lagunitas Brown Shugga. Rating 8/10.

It was here that I realised that Emma was starting to get very sqiffy. She had just consumed three halfs of very strong beer in under an hour, so we agree to stop for lunch. Emma plumped for beef brisket sandwich whilst I stuck to one of my festival staples; Bratwurst. Wanting to try a new brewery, I popped over to the Kiwi craft collective stand to try a Earl Grey IPA, whilst Emma (obviously wanting pudding) tried a sticky toffee flavoured beer from Young's.

Kevin: Yeastie Boys Gunnamatta Earl Grey IPA. Rating 9/10 (Beer of the Day).
Emma: Youngs Sticky Toffee Pudding. Rating 7/10

It was at this point that Emma began feeling the effects of the alcohol churning through her system so she decided to skip the next couple of rounds.

Kevin: Glastonbury Ales Equinox Black IPA. Rating 7/10

Kevin: Hop Stuff Amarillo Mild. Rating 6/10. (Emma loved the fact that this brewery used a Arsenal style cannon in thier logo).

Finding a Second wind (or possibly fueled by more sausage rolls and beer sticks), Emma decided she was ready to try a few more brews. She plumbed for a Christmas Ale from Williams brothers, whilst I decided to try Vedett's new IPA.

Kevin: Vedett IPA. Rating 7/10.
Emma: Williams Brothers Sprue Nollaig. Rating 8/10.

Kevin: Saltaire South Pacific Pale. Rating 5/10.
Emma: The Wild Beer Co. Millionaire. Rating 7/10.

It was at this point I realised that Emma had had a little too much to drink and we decided to make for home. Needless to say, the journey home was very eventful and my shoes will never be the same again!

In summary, I really enjoyed Craft Beer Rising. The range of beers on offer was excellent and everyone attending the event was in excellent spirits. I do have a couple of niggling gripes however. Firstly, when we arrived we were told that we could pay in cash for beer rather than use the tokens. Whilst this held true to a few stands, some would only accept tokens. This would often lead to you leaving your pint at the bar and walking to the token booth. Secondly, at most stands you could buy bottles or cans to take away. Wanting to cash in on this opportunity, I asked a few of the bar tenders to sell me an unopened bottle. Some where more than happy to oblige, whilst others flatly told me no. All we ask for is a little bit of consistency guys. Who knows, we may even review the beers we take home......     

Camden Town Brewery Indian Hells Lager

Camden Town Brewery Indian Hells Lager

Style: Lager

Alcohol Content: 6.2%

From: Camden Town, London, England

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames

http://www.camdentownbrewery.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do believe the hype!

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

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

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

Mikkeller Mexas Ranger

Mikkeller Mexas Ranger

Style: Flavoured Porter

Alcohol Content: 6.6%

From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames

http://mikkeller.dk/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

London Fields Brewery Love Not War

London Fields Brewery Love Not War

Style: Red Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.2%

From: Hackney, London, United Kingdom

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

http://londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fourpure IPA

Fourpure IPA

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 6.5%

From: Bermondsey, London, United Kingdom

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Rebel Brewing Company Eighty Shilling

The Rebel Brewing Company Eighty Shilling

Style: Scotch Ale

Alcohol Content: 5%

From: Penryn, Cornwall, England

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pressure Drop Strictly Roots

Pressure Drop Strictly Roots
Style: Flavoured Porter

Alcohol Content: 6.5%

From: Hackney, London, United Kingdom 

Purchased From: Corbetts Real Ale Shop, Dorking, Surrey

http://pressuredropbrewing.co.uk/

Firstly happy new year to you all and all the best for 2015. Something tells me that this is going to be a vintage year. 

Like most people at this time of year, I have decided to make a few New Years resolutions. Whilst the majority of these will be familiar to most (lose weight, save more etc.), I have also decided on three beer related resolutions.

1. Attend more beer festivals and tastings, starting with Craft Beer Rising in February. 
2. Attend a craft brewing experience day at London Field brewery, (hopefully this should give me the confidence to try making beer at home.)
3. Read more about the beer style, the brewing process and breweries in general. (I'm already making headway on this by reading an excellent book by Joshua M. Bernstein called The Complete Beer Course).

So the question is, can I stick to these over the next twelve months? I bloody well hope so.

Pressure drop was founded in 2012, in Hackney, London. Similar to both the Kernel and Partizan breweries, Pressure Drop have chosen to set up shop under some disused railway arches (guess it's a London thing). The subject of this review is their limited release Strictly Roots Dandelion and Burdock Porter, which is brewed in collaboration with the legendary wild man of the Hackney marshes; John the Poacher. John has made a living out of poaching wild rabbits on the marshes, so one can only assume that he foraged the dandelion and burdock roots himself (lets hope no rabbits "accidentally" dropped into the brew kettle).

Colour: Pours a deep black topped with a on finger high tan coloured head. This head lingers for the duration of your drinking experience and laces the glass perfectly on every single sip.If you hold this beer up to the light, you can see just how thick this drink really is. Not one ray of light passes through this oil like liquid. 

Aroma: The roasted malt produce notes of chocolate and coffee, whilst the addition of Dandelion and Burdock produce a subtle sweetness to take the edge off the bitter notes. All of these aromas work in perfect harmony to produce a welcoming nose that needs to be savoured.  

Body: This beer drinks like a classic porter. Once in the mouth this you will notice that it feels just as thick as it looks. The mild carbonation tickles your throat, whilst the oily texture covers tongue. Once swallowed, this oily sensation lingers for a few seconds before fading away.   

Taste: Yummy, there are a lot of individual elements to this beer. As you would expect from a porter, big, bold notes of coffee and dark chocolate are present from the get go. Once you grow more accustomed to these bitter flavours, a layer of sweetness will begin to appear. These notes come from the addition of Dandelion and Burdock roots during the brewing process which imparts a flavour very similar to that of Sarsaparilla, sweet with hints of licorice. Although these flavours are not overly pronounced, these additional ingredients help to compliment the coffee and chocolate perfectly. The aftertaste follows in the same vein and is incredibly smooth.   

Can You Handle The Pressure 

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/meantime-coffee-porter.html

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

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

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

Green Flash West Coast IPA

Green Flash West Coast IPA
Style: Double IPA

Alcohol Content: 8.1%

From: San Diego, California, United States of America

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

http://www.greenflashbrew.com/home/

The Green Flash Brewing company was founded in 2002 by Mike and Lisa Hinkley. Originally based in Vista, California, the brewery soon out grew their premises and moved down to San Diego in 2011. Here the brewery has grown from strength to strength and now outputs circa 45,000 barrels per year. Always wanting to give a little back to the community, Green Flash are members of the “Brewing it Forward” campaign which encourages brewers to donate beer and merchandise to selected non-profit charities.  I always knew good beer can make a difference.

Earlier this year, Green Flash acquire the artisan Alpine Beer Company (whom are also based in San Diego). Commenting on the deal Mike Hinkley said “This partnership is win-win-win. Green Flash wins because we are teaming up with a truly iconic brewery. Alpine wins because they get to see their beers enjoyed by so many more of their adoring fans. But most of all, beer geeks everywhere win.” Sounds like good news all round then! The subject of this review is Green Flash’s flagship beer; West Coast Double IPA.

Colour: Pours a deep copper with a brilliant two finger deep white head. This soon dissipates down to a dusting of foam which laces the glass perfectly on every sip.

Aroma: Woho! A powerful hop howitzer will destroy your nasal passages as soon as you pop the cap. The perfect blending of five hops provides a myriad of different aromas. Pineapple, mango and citrus scents are provided by the use of Simcoe and Citra hops, whilst a delicate perfume of floral and pine notes are released from the Cascade and Centennial hops. Very powerful and extremely up lifting after a hard day at the office.

Body: A beautifully dense IPA that oozes quality from the first sip to the last. The denseness of  body followed by a subtle level of clogging ensures a very pleasurable drink experience that just begs you to drink more and more.

Taste: Now for the all important taste test. The base notes are full of biscuits and caramel flavours. This sweet underpinning becomes more pronounced as the drink warms and helps to add a real depth to this beer. This sweet base playful mixes with flavours of juicy grapefruit and mango and really elevates this beer onto another level. The finish is extremely dry with subtle hints of the resinous hops in the after-taste. My mouth feels like I have been licking my pet cat for days on end. Overall, I found this beer to be perfectly well balanced and I can certainly see why this is one of Mikkaller's favourite beers.

Flash Ahhhhh! Saviour of the Universe

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/oskar-blues-brewing-dales-pale-ale.html

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

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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

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Left Hand Brewing 400 Pound Monkey

Left Hand Brewing 400 Pound Monkey

Style: English IPA

Alcohol Content: 6.9%

From: Longmont, CO, USA

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

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

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

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

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

Cheeky Monkey!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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Fuller's Vintage 2012

Fuller's Vintage Ale 2012
Style: Barley Wine
Alcohol Content: 8.5%
From: Chiswick, London, United Kingdom
Purchased From: Noble Green Wines, Hampton Hill, United Kingdom

http://www.fullers.co.uk/

A little while back me and Kev attended the Great British Beer Festival, and some time that afternoon, twitter informed us that Fullers would be tapping their most recent vintage ale. I got all excited as my 3rd was poured and went into raptures as it slipped down a treat- a definite highlight of the day.
Today, as I was browsing in Hampton' Hill's Noble Green Wines, I was elated to spot this on the shelf: Fullers 2012 Vintage Ale. Judging by my previous experience at the festival I put it in my basket immediately! It's been brewed with three of 2012s finest hop varieties: goldings, sovereign and target, which have been combined with yeast and organic barley from Nelson Park Estate in Wiltshire.

And now for a description of a brewery that is very close to my heart; Fullers. Fullers reside in Chiswick, London (a mere fifteen minutes drive from my home) and have been brewing on the site of their Griffin brewery since the sixteenth century. Not only do they brew a fantastic range of beers, they also own 380 pubs with over 168 of these being located within the M25. In fact some of my earliest drinking memories involve drinking a pint of their London Pride in the Red Lion pub in Staines.

The Griffin Brewery now produces a range of 10 core beers which includes their flagship London Pride and their multi award winning ESB. As of 2013, the brewery produces 215,000 barrels of beer per annum and their biggest export market is Sweden (this is very interesting considering the Swedish Market is very heavily regulated).

Colour: Pours a clear deep amber, with low effervescence. The head quickly runs to the side of the glass. The bubbles emanate slowly from the bottom of the glass, and unless you looked for them, you'll think this beer had gone flat.

Aroma: Rum soaked raisins dominate the aroma, with a base of banana and walnut loaf. Smells like a rich fruit cake with a definite sweet edge. You can really get a good sense of the alcohol content from a good whiff too.

Body: Full bodied and clings to the back on the tongue- that low level of carbonation really tickles the mouth pleasantly. Lovely!

Taste: The smells translate in the taste. It's bold and rich, with a stodgy fruitiness, a bit like a dense stollen. Definite banana notes, and rum soaked raisins. The alcoholic content sits well within this beer, with its age coming through in whiskey tones. Notes of caramel and toffee are also present but come through more on the aftertaste: It's lovely and warming- a great one for bonfire night! The more I drink, the more my cockles warm, leaving a slight tingling behind on my lips. I have to admit that it does not live up to the 2014 vintage, but nor does it lag behind either. A solid effort, that is enjoyable in itself, especially on a winter's, blustery, dark nights.

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

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/sharps-quadrupel.html

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Brooklyn Brewery Summer Ale

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

http://brooklynbrewery.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Summertime in a Glass

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

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

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Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 5.2%

From: Newport, Oregon, United States of America

Purchased From: Beer Boutique, Putney, United Kingdom

http://rogue.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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