Fox Brewery

scrapes in   decent   good   excellent   sublime

Fox Brewery, Branthill Best (England) This bottle-conditioned beer comes from a small, five-barrel brewery in Heacham, Norfolk. It pours a deep hazy bronze colour with a huge, high-rise off-white head. It has a really attractive nose, with soft, floral notes, exotic spices and a toasty background. On the palate there's a very definite burnt edge: a toasted, cracked-wheat quality with quite a full, high-foaming character and a refreshing, juicy fruit beneath. It has lovely balance, with a great bite of hop bitterness on the finish, in a stylish, easy to drink beer. 3.8% ABV, 50cl, ?2.50, brewery website, Realaleshop.

Fox Brewery, Branthill Pioneer (England) This bottle-conditioned beer was very lively when opened, pouring a rich amber colour with a huge, pillowing cream-coloured head. The nose is nutty and fudgy, with a note like macaroon, and a herbal edge. On the palate it is medium-bodied, but has a full, foamy texture, and a bitter palate of earthy, herb and dry, nutty flavours. There's a soft malt character throughout, though the finish does start to grip, with good acidity and a bit of hoppy presence. This is another fine beer from Fox. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, ?2.39, brewery website, Beersofeurope, Realaleshop.

Fox Brewery, Cerberus Norfolk Stout (England) This live beer pours a very dark, opaque brown/black with a good, coffee-coloured head. The nose here is all about nutty, burnt toast and roasted chestnut aromas with chocolate, a touch of soy sauce and a core of intense, sweet raisined fruit. On the palate It is medium-bodied, and that toasty, burnt caramel flavour continues, with quite a sweetness too, and a dry, clean finish where the hops and acidity add some crispness. An outstanding beer from Fox's very good range. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, ?2.60, Realaleshop.

Fox Brewery, Norfolk Nectar (England) This beer pours a dark golden colour with a high-rise cream coloured head. The nose has plenty of sweet malt and a tiny hint of acetone, with quite a deep background of figgy, raisiny fruit. On the palate it is smooth and full bodied, and there's a really nutty flavour that dominates at first, before more of that fruitiness and a nice leafy hop edge that adds a bitter twist into the finish. There's a slightly burnt,charry note too, in a beer that dies away slightly more rapidly than I'd hope, but is nonetheless extremely enjoyable. 4.3% ABV, 50cl, ?2.50, Realaleshop.