home   about         Protz   features   A-Z      books         



  

Latest beer tastings

beer tasting notes are added to individual country files, but a running "latest additions" is maintained here, so regular visitors can see at a glance what we've been drinking.

scrapes in   decent   good   excellent   sublime

St Peter's, Winter Ale (England)
This strong, dark ale from St Peter's pours a mahogany brown with a thin, quickly dissipating cream-coloured head. On the nose, chocolate, caramel and toasty malt aromas abound, with a suggestion of mulled wine and plummy fruit sweetness. On the palate this is medium-bodied and surprisingly clean and light, but a whole barrage of burnt toffee, smoke and slightly acrid flavours emerge. There's a liquoricy edge to the beer in a bittersweet finish, with a hint of something herbal adding a nice twist as well as smokiness and a grippy finish. 6.5% ABV, 50cl, �2.00, brewery website, Beerritz.
BrewDog, Atlantic IPA (Scotland)
The beer pours a deep amber colour with a hint of ruby at its core. The head is thick and almost tan-coloured. The nose has plenty of toast, with a burnt grain and caramel character, a dark, Seville orange note and a hint of something resinous and herbal. On the palate there is a massive attack of hop bitterness, a real endive bite, with more of that roasted, grainy character and only the sweetness of the alcohol steeping in to relieve the full-on attack of the beer. An outstanding brew this, and one to contemplate the meaning of life as you sip it. 8.0% ABV, 33cl, �10.00, brewery website, Cornelius (Edinburgh), realale.com, Beerritz, Utobeer.
Batemans, Valiant (England)
(RP) A gold/bronze beer brewed with Maris Otter pale malt and crystal malt. The hops are Challenger and Goldings with American Liberty. The hops combine to give a tart and peppery aroma with tangy citrus fruit. There's nutty malt in the mouth to balance the spicy and citrus hop notes while the finish is malty, fruity, bitter and refreshing. 4.2% ABV, 50cl, brewery pubs.
Greene King, Suffolk Springer (England)
(RP) Greene King, based in Suffolk, is close Newmarket. Suffolk Springer commemorates the home of horse racing, taking its name from a 'springer', a horse whose odds shorten dramatically before a race. The beer follows the ancient tradition of 'country ales': it�s a blend of two beers, one of them strong. A substantial proportion of Springer is made up of Greene King�s legendary Old 5X, the beer that matures for up to two years in unlined wooden tuns in the brewery. In this case, the Old 5X is fresh and not matured but it still imparts a woody note to the finished beer though it lacks the sour character that results from wood-ageing. The beer is russet coloured with an intensely complex nose: woody, with powerful hints of toffee, vanilla, chocolate and burnt fruit. There�s sweet malt, roasted grain, sultana fruit, caramel and spicy hops in the mouth while the finish has chocolate, ripe grain, peppery hops and a distinctive woody note from the Old 5X. The beer is made with pale Tipple malt and crystal malt: Tipple is Suffolk barley grown just a few miles from the brewery. The hops content is remarkably complex: Admiral, Boadicea, Challenger, First Gold, Pilgrim and Target. Malt: high. Hops: high. Fruit: medium 6.0% ABV, 50cl, �1.99, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Waitrose.
Butts, Barbus Barbus (England)
(RP) You will go on a magical mystery tour for this beer. Chris Butt opened his brewery in Hungerford in Berkshire in 1994 and now brews only organic beers with a Soil Association certificate. Chris is also a keen coarse fisherman, which shows in the name Barbus Barbus, Latin for the barbel fish: if Chris isn�t at the brewery, you�ll find him fishing the nearest river. He�s also wary of giving away too much information about his beers. He says he used three organic hops in the beer but won�t name them on the grounds they change regularly according to availability. As there are only a few English organic hops, there�s a good chance you may find some First Gold or Target in the brew. Organic malt comes from Warminster Maltings in Wiltshire. Barbus Barbus is bottle conditioned - there was a rim of yeast inside the neck of my bottle to prove the point - and is straw coloured with juicy malt, hop resins and a powerful hint of freshly-peeled apples on the nose. Hops - peppery and spicy - burst across the tongue, balanced by rich grain, tart fruit and a hint of ginger. The finish is intensely bitter and hoppy but it�s also spicy, fruity and wonderfully refreshing. Malt: medium. Hops: high. Fruit: high 4.6% ABV, 50cl, �2.29, Able and Cole, brewery website, Local Waitrose.
Hawkshead, Lakeland Gold (England)
Lakeland Gold is a pale bronze colour, brewed with Maris Otter pale and crystal malts and hopped with American Cascade hops and First Gold, the English hedgerow variety. The beer has an enticing and entrancing aroma of hop resins, wholemeal biscuits and citrus fruit. Sharp, tangy fruit and bitter hops dominate the mouth but there is a good balance of grain. The finish is long, intensely bitter, with big contributions from tart citrus fruit and hop resins with a gentle underpinning of biscuity malt. Malt: light. Hops: high. Fruit: high. Lakeland Gold is available in Booth�s supermarkets at �1.60 a bottle or from the brewery at �20 a case or �2 a bottle. Contact [email protected] or 01539 822644. 4.4% ABV, 50cl, �1.60, Booth's, brewery website.
Hepworth & Co, Prospect (England)
(RP) Bottle-conditioned Prospect is brewed with Sussex pale malt with a touch of crystal malt. The hops are Admiral and Goldings. The beer has a burnished bronze colour and a complex aroma of leafy hops, woody notes, tart lemon fruit and cracker-like malt. It�s intensely bitter and hoppy in the mouth with tangy fruit and juicy malt. The finish is long, dry, bitter, hoppy and fruity. A note on availability: Hepworth & Co only deliver in their immediate area. The beer is available in specialist beer shops in Surrey and Sussex and also in branches of Waitrose in those two counties. It is available by mail order from Abel & Cole, specialist organic food and drink suppliers. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, 1.95, Able and Cole, selected Waitrose.
Thwaites, Flying Shuttle (England)
(RP) This deep russet/brown beer is a strong mild, the type of beer that once refreshed mill workers in Lancashire who made cotton and cloth with the aid of a shuttle. It�s brewed with Pearl pale malt and dark malt and hopped with Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings and WGV. It has a big roasted grain, burnt fruit, brown sugar and liquorice aroma with sweet, dark chewy malt, toffee, burnt fruit, molasses and gentle peppery hops in the mouth. The finish is surprisingly dry, the sweetness fading and overtaken by dark fruit and light hops. 4.9% ABV, 50cl, �1.89, brewery website, Beersofeurope, independents.
Thwaites, Lancaster Bomber (England)
(RP) �Bomber� is Thwaites� flagship brand, a chestnut-coloured beer brewed with Maris Otter and Pearl pale and roasted malts and hopped with Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings and WGV (30 bitterness units). It has a big burnt fruit note � raisins and sultanas � on the nose with malt loaf and peppery hops. Bitter, spicy hops, burnt fruit and toasted malt dominate the palate followed by a bittersweet finish with rich malt, spicy hops and dark fruit. 4.4% ABV, 50cl, �1.79, brewery website, Beersofeurope, independents.
Thwaites, Thoroughbred Gold (England)
(RP) A pale gold beer brewed with Maris Otter and Pearl malts and hopped with Fuggles and Goldings. It has a rich toasted malt and spicy hop aroma with a hint of lemon fruit. Tangy fruit, juicy malt and bitter hop resins fill the mouth. The finish is long and refreshing, with rich malt, tart fruit and peppery hops. 4.0% ABV, 50cl, �1.69, brewery website, Beersofeurope, independents.
Thwaites, Wainwright (England)
(RP) This entrancing golden beer commemorates the remarkable Alfred Wainwright, author of the celebrated mountain walks in Cumbria. It�s made with Maris Otter pale malt and hopped with Hersbrucker and Magnum varieties, with a late addition of Styrian Goldings (25 bitterness units). It has a fruity pear drops aroma with lightly toasted malt and hop resins. There�s Weetabix-style grain in the mouth, tart fruit and spicy hops, followed by a long, quenching finish with sappy malt and fruit balanced by gentle but persistent hop bitterness. It finally becomes dry. 4.1% ABV, 50cl, �1.79, brewery website, Beersofeurope, independents.
Duvel, Vedett Extra Blond (Belgium)
The little brother of Duvel, brewed at the Moortgat brewery, this is a pale gold beer that retains its thin, white head to the bottom of the glass. There's a little clove-like, spicy, wheat beer aroma, but otherwise it is fresh lemon and some crunchy apple fruit that dominates, with a higher note of hoppiness kicking in. On the palate this has quite a thick, rich texture, a certain sweetness of the malt and plentiful fruit character nicely offset by a big, tangy lemon acidity and a good level of hopping. Not so complex as Duvel, but at a moderate 5.2% ABV this is both refreshingly easy to drink and tasty. Mostly in the on-trade - pubs and restaurants. 5.2% ABV, 33cl, On-trade only..
Badger Brewery, Hopping Hare (England)
(RP) The beer is hopped in the copper with Admiral and Boadicea varieties and then �late hopped� at the end of the boil with Styrian Goldings. The hops create 30 units of bitterness. The beer has an inviting gold colour, a good head of foam, and a complex aroma of light butterscotch, lemon fruit, grassy hop resins and a cracker wheat grain note. Bitter hops are balanced in the mouth by juicy malt and tangy lemon fruit. The finish is dry, bitter, fruity and malty and is wonderfully crisp and quenching. The brewery recommends it as a good companion for Thai green curry or lamb shank. I think it would go equally well with fish and pasta dishes. Further information from www.badgerdirect.com. Malt: medium. Hops: high. Fruit: high 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.79, Sainsbury's, Tesco.
BrewDog, Trashy Blonde (Scotland)
If the BrewDogs know one thing, it is how to brew a tasty beer. This blonde ale delivers a modest 4.1% ABV, but a bucket-full of decisive hop flavour and fruitiness, making it a wonderful summer beer. It pours a golden colour with a thinnish, white head. Dry-hopped for extra aromatics, fruit dominates the nose, with orange and passionfruit notes and a touch of leafy greens. In the mouth this is fairly crisp and medium-weight, with a low carbonation. The immediate impression is of those dry, chicory-edged hops, but the fruitiness rolls back on the mid-palate, with masses of citrus and a very crisp, mouth-watering edginess. There is a hint of malt sweetness in there, but it is under the thumb of the hops leaving this savoury and very moreish. 4.1% ABV, 33cl, �1.29, Asda, Tesco.
Thwaites, Double Century (England)
(RP) The beer was brewed to mark both the brewery�s anniversary in 2007 and its commitment to cricket in the north. It�s brewed with Pearl pale malt and crystal malt and has a complex hop recipe with Bramling Cross, Cascade, Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings and WGV � Whitbread Goldings Variety (30 units of bitterness). The bronze beer has a big citrus fruit � oranges and lemons � nose with spicy hops and nutty malt. Hops resins, tangy fruit and rich malt dominate the palate, with a lingering finish finely balanced between malt, hops and fruit. 5.2% ABV, 50cl, �1.99, brewery website, Beersofeurope, independents.
Blue Moon Brewing, Blue Moon (USA)
(RP) Blue Moon brewery is based in Denver, Colorado, but the beer makes a deep, long bow in the direction of the spiced �white beers� of Belgium, of which Hoegaarden is the best-known brand. As well as barley malt and hops, Blue Moon has the added attractions of oats for creaminess and orange peel and coriander for fruity and spicy notes. The brewery recommends serving the beer with an orange slice or wedge to bring out the subtle flavours of the fruit and spice. It is a good companion for grilled prawns, lemon chicken, dressed crab and white fish. The beer is exceptionally spicy and tart with pronounced hop bitterness for the style. Creamy oats fill the mouth but are well balanced by orange fruit and spices. The finish is long, quenching, spicy and fruity with a good hop attack. Malt: high. Fruit: high. Hops: moderate. 5.4% ABV, 35.5cl, �1.99, Sainsbury's.
Guinness, Foreign Extra Stout (Ireland)
This version of Guinness may be called �export� but it�s often difficult to find in Britain. It�s currently available in Sainsbury�s so my advice would be to buy several bottles and lay some down for future enjoyment. Foreign Extra Stout (FES) is a palpable link with brewing practice in the 19th century. One beer destined for blending is matured in the Dublin brewery for up to three months. During that period it picks up a slightly sour and lactic character. It�s then blended with fresh young stout and the bottles are held in the brewery for a further month to allow the flavours to meld. FES is brewed with pale malt, 25% flaked barley and 10% roasted barley. Galena, Nugget and Target hop varieties create a mighty 60 units of bitterness. The finished beer has the slightly sour and musty aroma that brewers call �horse blanket� and is the result of action by the yeast during the long maturation of the older beer. The aroma is complex, with bitter roasted grain, a woody and vinous note and spicy hop resins. The palate is bitter from roasted grain and hops, balanced by dark fruit, with a long, dry and bitter finish with hints of liquorice and dark mysterious fruits, including something akin to sour bananas. FES is the base for the strong versions of Guinness brewed for the Belgian market and for Africa. For Africa, a dehydrated hopped wort is sent from Dublin and is blended with a pale beer made from barley malt and sorghum. 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of Guinness brewery in Dublin and there is no better way to salute Arthur Guinness than raising a glass of FES. Malt: high. Hops: high. Fruit:high. 7.5% ABV, 33cl, �1.49, Sainsbury's.
Daas, Blond (Belgium)
Daas' organic blond beer is brewed from all-barley malt, and is a live beer that pours a pale, hazy golden colour with a thinnish white head. It has a nicely aromatic hint of toffee and honey on the nose, with a touch of spice and lively banana fruit esters. On the palate it is quite full and richly-textured, with coriander spice and cool lemony fruit. It seems to have a lot of wheat beer character, with freshness and a bit of dry, hoppy bite in the finish. 6.5% ABV, 33cl, Fabulouslygreen.
Cerveza Patagonia, Imported Blonde Ale (Argentina)
Brewed under Bavarian purity laws from "100% pure malted barley, hops, yeast, and water," Patagonia's blonde beer pours a pale gold with a good, persistent white head. On the nose there's a touch of toffee and puffed candy, before quite clean, light, citrus and hop notes. In the mouth this is fairly rich and full, with a hint of sweetness and then the cool., lemony character and modest hops leave the finish quite refreshing. 4.5% ABV, 35.5cl, �1.50, pampasplains.co.uk, .
Innis & Gunn, Triple Matured Oak Aged Beer (Scotland)
The beer has been matured in 150 selected oak barrels and it has been aged for a total of 99 days. It's brewed from Optic malt and chocolate malt made from barley grown in the Scottish borders with Goldings hops from the fields of Kent. At the end of the brewing process, the beer is run into American white oak barrels and left to mature. When the beer has absorbed sufficient oak character from the wood, it's transferred to a marrying tun and left for further maturation. Beers from different barrels are then blended. The beer has an appealing chestnut colour with a massive nose of oak, chocolate, rich malt and peppery hops. The palate is complex with juicy malt, oak, chocolate, slightly sour fruit and hop resins. The finish bittersweet with oak, honey, spicy hops and sour fruit � the slight hint of sourness will appeal to lovers of Belgian beer while the oak character with naturally please whisky drinkers. Malt: high. Fruit: high. Hops: moderate. Triple Matured is available, while stocks last, in Sainsbury's stores. 7.2% ABV, 33cl, �2.19, Sainsbury's.
Kross, Pisner Lager (Chile)
Kross beers are recent arrivals from Chile onto Uk shores, thanks to the adventurous portfolio of importer Pierhead Purchasing. Kross is a German-owned, independent microbrewery, and this lager-style beer pours a fairly deep golden colour with a fluffy white head. On the nose there are pretty inviting notes of barley sugar, orange and some malty depth, along with a nicely aromatic twist of hops. On the palate the grassy, slightly nettly hop quality is good, giving this a dry, savoury appeal, with hints of that sweet malt, but a balanced, lingering finish. 4.9% ABV, 33cl, �1.25, .
Le Brasseurs de Gayant, La Goudale (France)
Made with hops from Flanders and based on an original medieval recipe, Goudale is a pale-to-medium golden beer, that pours with quite a creamy white head. The nose is powerful with a whiff of cloves and wheat-beer like fruit of lemons and apples, but all supercharged and deep. On the palate that clove and slightly medicinal quality continues, with a creaminess to the texture and biscuity malt coming through to pad out the mid-palate. The acidity is good and there's a hit of pepper and spice in the finish of a, quite complex but then fairly straight-shooting strong beer. Enjoyable to be sure. 7.2% ABV, 33cl, .
Purity Brewing Co., Mad Goose Pale Ale (England)
This beer from Purity brewery in Warwickshire is brewed with Maris Otter, Caragold and Wheat malts, and hopped with Hallertau hops for bittering and Cascade and Willamette for aroma. It pours a medium, burnished gold colour with a fairly thin off-white head. The nose is juicy and tangy, with a vibrant orange fruitiness and a nicely leafy, nettly background as a well as a cushion of malt. In the mouth it is medium-bodied and has a sense of depth and richness, even though the chicory bite of the hops and that citrussy character also keeps it lively and racy. Long, with a dry, crisp finish, this is delicious and beautifully made stuff. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, �1.85, brewery website, Local Tesco.
Daleside, Blonde Lager Ale (England)
'Is it an ale, or is it a lager?' asks the merchandising material for Daleside's new blonde ale. In fact it is in the category of 'golden ales' I suppose, being brewed with Pale Ale malts and whole-leaf hops, First Gold and Fuggles from England, Hallertau from Germany and Centennial from the USA. It pours a barley-sugar gold, with a thin white head. The nose has a nice aromatic hoppiness, with subtle herb and floral notes and a biscuity background. On the palate the bitterness is good, with lots of chicory and bitter leaf bite, and a zingy lemony core. There's enough smoky, dry malt in the finish to add a bit of weight and tangy depth, in a very drinkable beer. 4.3% ABV, 50cl, �1.85, Local Co-op stores.
Daleside, Old Leg-Over (England)
Daleside's 'Old Leg-Over', which reputedly takes its name from fell-runners who have to put one leg over thousands of stiles, stone walls and streams in pursuing their sport, pours a dark golden brown with a fairly thin off-white head. The beer is driven by malt aromas, with toffee and a hint of burnt orange and a dry, walnut-shell nuttiness. On the palate that same dry, nutty character continues, though the beer is fairly light - perhaps verging on too light - through the mid-palate, with a zesty lemon acidity before the malt shores up the finish. A tasty beer, and it's nimble character and modest alcohol would make it a good session choice. 4.1% ABV, 50cl, �1.85, Local Co-op stores.
Freeminer, The Best (England)
(RP) This remarkable beer, exclusive to Morrison's stores, is rich, intensely bitter and hoppy and yet has a fruity and almost wine-like balance. It's brewed with Optic pale malt and darker malts by the Freeminer Brewery based in Gloucestershire's Forest of Dean. Freeminer has brewed several beers for the Co-op and has now spread its wings to another supermarket chain. The red colour suggests crystal, amber and even a touch of roasted malt may be used alongside the pale. The hops are all English � First Gold, Fuggles and Goldings. It has a big spicy and peppery hop aroma with grassy and floral notes, biscuity malt and a hint of butterscotch. There's a rich and succulent vinous note on the palate though the fruitiness has a slight sour, lactic note from the darker malts. Peppery hop resins add balance. The finish has a creamy malt note that balances tart, burnt fruit and bitter, spicy hops. This complex and rewarding beer is excellent value. Malt: high. Fruit: high. Hops: high. 6.0% ABV, 50cl, �1.69, Morrisons.
Cheddar Ales, Gorge Best (England)
(RP) As well as a brilliant pun in the name, this is a superb russet-coloured beer brewed with Maris Otter pale malt and crystal malt, and hopped with Challenger and Goldings varieties. It has a fluffy white head and a grainy, Weetabix aroma with strong hints of sour plums and peppery hops. There is ripe, dark fruit, chewy grain and tangy hop resins in the mouth, with bitter hops dominating the finish but balanced by tart fruit and cracker-like grain. A wonderfully refreshing beer. 4.2% ABV, 50cl, 12 @ �20, brewery website.
Cheddar Ales, Potholer (England)
(RP) Brewed with Maris Otter pale malt, crystal malt and wheat malt, and hopped with Challenger, First Gold and Styrian Goldings, this pale bronze beer has a dense collar of foam and an enticing aroma of orange and lemon peel balanced by biscuity malt and spicy hops. Tart citrus fruits and bitter hop resins dominate the palate. The finish is dry with rich grain balancing the tangy hops and tart fruit. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, 12 @ �20, brewery website.
Cheddar Ales, Totty Pot (England)
(RP) A deep brown/black beer with a ruby edge is brewed with Maris Otter pale malt, wheat and dark roasted malts, and hopped with Goldings and Northdown English varieties. It has a dense barley white head and a superb aroma of roasted grain, burnt fruit and espresso coffee. Bitter hops break through in the mouth balancing the roasted grain and coffee notes. Creamy malt in the finish is balanced by spicy hops, bitter, roasted fruit and a lingering hint of coffee. A superb Porter. 4.7% ABV, 50cl, 12 @ �20, brewery website.
North Cotswold Brewery, Global Arctic Warmer (England)
(RP) Arctic Warmer is a strong, dark beer that threatens to blow the brewing Richter scale. It's based on a 19th century Bass recipe, which has been tweaked. Several brewers, including Allsopps, another Burton brewer, produced Arctic Ales in Victorian times to aid explorations in the snowy wastes. Beers of such strength not only kept the cold out but were also a useful supply of protein and, with large amounts of B vitamins, kept explorers free from scurvy. This version is made from Maris Otter malt, crystal malt, wheat malt, chocolate malt and roasted barley. The hops are Northdown and Bramling Cross. It uses a secret yeast for both primary fermentation and bottle fermentation:possibly a wine or champagne yeast, as brewer's yeast is unable to work at more than 12% alcohol. Brewer Jon Pilling has to rouse the yeast twice during fermentation, to stop it �going to sleep� as a result of the high level of alcohol it has produced. The beer has a dark brown/black colour with a massive aroma of bitter chocolate, espresso coffee, roasted grain and burnt fruit on the nose. The palate is rich and velvet-smooth, with raisin and sultana fruit, chocolate, coffee and a solid underpinning of peppery hops. The finish starts sweet but dryness and hop bitterness develop with further notes of roast grain, coffee and burnt fruit. Malt: high. Fruit: high. Hops: moderate. NOTE: The label has an erratum: Arctic is spelt �Artic�. This will be corrected but bottles with the misspelling could become a collectors' item. 15.0% ABV, 50cl, �7.00, brewery website.
Marstons, Hoggy's Night Watchman (England)
(RP) Matthew Hoggard is a keen ale drinker. The beer that carries both his nickname and his image is brewed from Maris Otter pale malt and is hopped with Fuggles and Goldings � in other words, it's a beer as traditional as the three or five-day versions of the game. It's a straw-coloured beer with a lively head of foam and superb aroma of spicy and resinous hops, tart citrus fruit and biscuity malt. Tart hops, tangy fruit and juicy malt fill the mouth while the finish is long, fruity and hoppy, with a deep bitterness and a final dry note. It's available in Asda for �1.57 a 500ml bottle or �4 for three bottles. Malt: medium. Fruit: medium. Hops: high. 3.8% ABV, 50cl, �1.57, Asda.
Cervecer�a Mexicana, Special Dark Beer (Mexico)
Basically a dark lager, this pours a treacle brown colour with a moderate, fast-dissipating off-white head. Aromas are of malt and toasted grains, with a bit of burnt toffee and not much in the way of hops. On the palate there's quite an orangy tang to the flavour, but it is mostly about those toasty, roasted flavours playing against an inherent sweetness in the beer. Though it doesn't really power through to the finish, this has decent balance and though a tad too sweet for my taste, is not a bad drop. 5.0% ABV, 35.5cl, �1.25, Beersofeurope, .
Young's, Kew Gold (England)
(RP) Hops grown at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London, are the inspiration for the beer. Kew doesn't produce sufficient hops for commercial use so Young's, now part of Wells & Young's in Bedford, matches them with Styrian Goldings from Slovenia. A contribution from the sale of the beer goes to Kew to help the gardens in its work to secure species and habits that are risk of being lost forever. The bottle-conditioned beer is brewed with lager malt and a small amount of crystal malt. It lives up to its name with a dazzling gold colour. The aroma has spicy hops, a light herbal note and gently-toasted malt. Tart citrus fruit, juicy malt and hop resins vie for attention in the mouth while the superb, quenching finish has rich malt, peppery hops and tangy fruit. Also available in Young's pubs and other good cask beer pubs. Malt: moderate. Fruit: moderate. Hops: high. 4.8% ABV, 50cl, �1.75, Booth's, Sainsbury's, Local Tesco, Waitrose, Wholefoods.
Genesee, Cream Ale (USA)
Genesee is actually a brand of the upstate New York High Falls brewing company, and is a creamy lager-like beer that is 'krauesened' - a brewing process in which an additional touch of fermenting beer is added to the storage tank. It pours a medium gold colour with plenty of carbonation, and has a fluffy white head that dissipates fairly quickly. The nose offers malty aromas with a touch of toffee and brown bread, and some fruitiness. On the palate this does have a certain creaminess to the texture, and although the flavours are fairly innocuous and straightforward, there's a nip of hoppy bitterness as well as the cushioning malt to make for a pleasing drink. 5.1% ABV, 35.5cl, �1.59, Onlyfinebeer, .
Grolsch, Premium Weizen (Holland)
Grolsch's wheat beer is available in Asda stores from 13th May 2008, but expect much wider availability before too long. Brewed from 60% wheat and 40% barley malt, it pours a cloudy, pale yellow colour with quite a fluffy and persistent white head. It has an attractively spicy and clove-like nose, with hints of Bazooka Joe bubblegum and coriander. On the palate it is clean and crisp, with a little bit of that herby bite, but mostly a medium-bodied layering of lemony fruit and more spicy undertones. There's just about enough bitterness, in a very drinkable and good quality wheat beer. 5.3% ABV, 50cl, �1.98, Asda, Asda.
Lucky Drink Co, Lucky Beer (Australia)
Lucky Beer is a very strange hybrid, being brewed in Australia, yet adorned with Chinese characters and a novelty bottle in the shape of the Buddah. Unfortunately the picture once opened is just as confused, with a yellowish colour and thin white head the beer goes on to reveal very metallic and slightly dirty aromatics, with sweet corn and other unappetising aromas. On the palate it fairs little better. It has some lemony crispness and I guess has just enough freshening bite to match with some spicy Oriental foods. Is that the point? Not sure. 4.8% ABV, 33cl, .
Shongweni Brewery, Strawberry Fruit Beer (South Africa)
Brewed with fresh, seasonal strawberries, this beer from Robson's is a subtle one, with a whiff of ripe, summery strawberry as it is opened, but then the aroma proving fairly elusive once this hazy, pale yellow/orange beer is poured. There is a fruitiness, and warming, creamy malt. On the palate the strawberry comes through once more, but not in the sweet, jammy style of some Belgian fruit beers. Here the fruit is slightly lost beneath a reasonably bitter finish and malty mid-palate. 4.0% ABV, 34cl, �1.75, Beersofeurope, .
Shongweni Brewery, Wheat Beer (South Africa)
Robson's wheat beer uses unmalted wheat as well as malted barley, Hallertau and Saaz hops and German yeast in a heavily cloudy beer (like all in Robson's bottle-conditioned range). It pours quite a dark, caramel colour with a thinnish off-white head. The nose has decent amounts of clove and spice, as well as a deal of caramel that makes it peachier, if less citrussy than some wheats. On the palate lovers of the striking, almost antiseptic quality of some really clove-like wheat beers might be disappointed, as this presents a fairly straightforward, if enjoyable palate of lemon and orange fruit with a modest hop presence. 5.0% ABV, 34cl, �1.75, Beersofeurope, .
Kazbegi, Gold (Georgia)
This pours a pale gold colour, with a fairly fluffy and moderately persistent white head. The nose is really fragrant and limey � almost as if it has some lime or even Tequilla splashed in. On the palate it si light and racy, and that citrus character continues. It tastes a tiny bit shandy-like, with lime and only very gentle hops and malt in the background. This is not a great beer, but it is crisp enough and has a bit of pithy bite in the finish. Stop press: having found out a bit more, the beer is indeed brewed with 'natural lemon flavour', and brewed with barley and rice. 4.7% ABV, 50cl, 70p, UK retailer not known.
Kazbegi, Lager Beer (Georgia)
The strongest of the three Kazbegi beers pours a deep amber/gold colour with a moderate white head. It is the maltiest of the three, with again a hint of lemon zest or orange peel. On the palate this is pretty standard, decent lager, with a bit of extra biscuit malt adding some richness on the mid-palate, and otherwise clean, fairly low-hopped character with a touch of sweetness. Possibly the least interesting of the three beers too, but well enough made of its unexceptional style. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, 60p, UK retailer not known.
Kazbegi, Platimum (Georgia)
Strikingly packaged in a trendy aluminium canister, this lager-style beer from Kazbegi is flavoured with Tequila. It pours a moderately deep amber/gold with a thinnish white head. The nose has lots of sweet notes, with a sugary malt character and touches of lemon. On the palate this is decidedly sweet and slightly artificial in flavour, with the Tequila definitely there, but a slightly saccharin quality too. There is some decent hop presence here, with a bit of bite in the finish, but something about this beer just doesn�t satisfy, with a slightly cloying finish that lacks grown-up appeal 4.0% ABV, 50cl, 70p, No known UK stockists.
Kazbegi, Tbilisi Beer (Georgia)
This lager-style beer pours a nicely deep golden colour with a moderate white head. It has sweet, biscuity malt and bready aromas, with a little hints of something herbal. On the palate it is quite rich and smooth, with a good bite of bitter hops and some crisp lemony fruit. The malt comes through a little more in the finish of this powerful beer, but a pretty good effort this whilst perhaps lacking a bit of crispness and clarity. 4.8% ABV, 50cl, 60p, UK retailer not known.
Castel-Sakartvelo, Argo Beer (Georgia)
This beer from Castel-Sakartvelo, founded in 1997 after Georgian inependence, is named after the legend of Jason and the Argonauts, whose story is set in ancient Georgia. Unfortunately the beer doesn't quite live up to the romance, pouring a dullish yellow/brassy colour with a fairly thin white head. There's something vegetal about the nose, along with a sweet maltiness but little in the way of hops or more interesting character. The palate is much the same, with a slightly muddy flavour not disturbed too much by any hop or depth of malt character. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, 70p, UK retailer not known.
Fischer, Tradition Blonde (France)
This Pilsener-style beer from Fischer brewery of Alsace comes in a swing-top bottle, and weighs in with 6.0% ABV. It pours a medium- to deep, lightly hazy golden colour, with a fairly thick white head that dissipates fairly rapidly. The nose has a pleasantly biscuity malt character, with a touch sweetcorn and background, citrussy fruit notes. On the palate there's just a slightly metallic, bitter edge to this, although some leafy, chicory-like hop comes through too. The beer is slightly lighter in both texture and flavour than I'd have hoped for, but is reasonably fresh and crisp in the finish. 6.0% ABV, 35.5cl, �1.89, Beersofeurope, .
Shongweni Brewery, Mango Fruit Beer (South Africa)
This bottle-conditioned, unpasteurised beer from South Africa is brewed with barley and wheat, and brewed with fresh local mango. It is said to be 'strongly influenced by the monastic brewers from Belgium,' and the brewery employs only locally-grown fruits with Hallertau and Saaz hops. It pours a very hazy pale yellow, with a thick, fluffy head. There's a delightful hint - but only a hint - of mango on the nose, which is otherwise dominated by yeasty, clove and bubblegum aromas. On the palate this is nicely understated again, with the fresh, lemony bite of the beer and nicely bittering hops just sweetened and layered with juicy, ripe mango. Gentle and lovely stuff. 4.0% ABV, 34cl, �1.75, Beersofeurope, .
Shongweni Brewery, Pineapple Fruit Beer (South Africa)
Like all the Fruit beers in Robson's range, the pineapple used to flavour this bottle-conditioned ale is grown locally. It pours a pale, very cloudy yellow, with a thick, foamy white head. Once again it is the faintly medicinal, clove-like spice of the wheat that comes through most strongly, with the slightly luscious note of pineapple and a deal of grassy hop behind. On the palate this is dry, lemony and very grown-up, with a big cutting, pithy character and just hints of the pineapple that are soon overtaken by the hops and acids of the finish. 4.0% ABV, 34cl, �1.75, Beersofeurope, .
Sharp's, Honey-Spice Wheat Beer (England)
The fast-growing Sharp's Brewery at Rock in Cornwall has built its success on cask-conditioned beers. But it has now moved into the packaged sector with three bottle-conditioned beers: Single Brew Vintage (4.5%), Honey-Spice Wheat Beer and Massive Ale (10%). All three are excellent but I have chosen the wheat beer as the pick of the bunch. It's brewed with Bobek and Goldings hop, wheat and barley malts, fermented with local Cornish honey and conditioned with spices � cinnamon, coriander and mixed peel -- for more than six months. It has a hazy straw colour with a big fluffy head and spices, citrus fruit and honey on the nose. Honey comes through strongly in the mouth with a good balance of hops, tart fruit and juicy malt. The finish is dry, tart and tangy with honey, citrus fruit, spices and bitter hops dominating. It's spritzy and wonderfully refreshing. A 660ml bottle costs �5 from the brewery or four bottles for �30. 01208 862121; [email protected]. Malt: high. Fruit: high. Hops: low 6.4% ABV, 66cl, �5, brewery website.
Williams Bros, Seven Giraffes (Scotland)
(RP) The beer's curious name stems from the fact that the beer is brewed using seven different malts and Scott William's daughter thought the number seven looked like a giraffe. So the brewery got a brilliant name that didn't cost them a penny from a smart PR or marketing company. The malts in question are lager, Maris Otter pale, wheat, Vienna, pale rye, pale crystal and Munich. The hops are Cascade, First Gold, and Styrian Goldings. The beer is dry hopped before bottling with Cascade and Styrians. Elderflowers are also added during the copper boil with hops and the beer also receives a squeeze of lemon juice, which, says Scott, enhances the hop character. The beer has a superb aroma and palate of rich malt, elderflower and citrus fruit, with notes of chocolate, rye, coffee and tart hops. The finish is long, complex and lingering, dominated by tart citrus fruit, spicy hops, creamy malt, light chocolate and elderflowers. Malt: high. Fruit: high. Hops: high 5.1% ABV, 50cl, �1.59, Tesco.
Athenian Brewery, Marathon Greek Lager (Greece)
This lager pours a medium, slightly dull gold with a thinnish white head. The nose suggests some creamy sweetness, with a slightly starchy quality and some background fruitiness. On the palate this is indeed rather sweet, with no discernible hop presence, though a bit of lemony tang lifts the finish slightly. Pretty standard stuff. 5.0% ABV, 33cl, �0.99, Beersofeurope, .
Bucanero, Cubanero Fuerte (Cuba)
Known elsewhere simply as Bucanero Fuerte, the Bucanero brewery has launched this beer in the UK as Cubanero to trademark difficulties. It is a golden coloured beer with a thin white head that offers slightly starchy aromas, but with a nice floral hoppiness and some lemon fruit. On the palate there's a bit of body, with fairly clean, if rather non-descript palate, with a soft mealy character, some citrus zest and modest hops. 5.4% ABV, 33cl, �1.20, thedrinkshop.com, Beersofeurope, .


next

   

 home   about         Protz   features   A-Z      books         


Copyright | 2021 | beer-pages.com