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 scrapes in  decent  good  excellent  sublime
There are 8 beers from retailer 'Marks & Spencer'.
Broughton Ales, (for Marks & Spencer) Organic Ale (Scotland) 
Brewed for Marks & Spencer by Broughton Ales in the Scottish borders, I'm not sure if this is the same beers as broughton's fine 'Organic Gold' (also 6.0% ABV) repacked, but it is certainly very similar. It pours a burnished gold colour with a thick off-white head that disippates fairly quickly. On the nose there's a sweet and orangy aroma, with plenty of caramel malt notes, herby, nettle aromas and a little earthy whiff of silage. On the palate it has a fine, chewy, creamy texture and plenty of malty character. The hops are there, adding a bitter twist to the finish, and that earthy, quite rich quality extends through the finish. Border Gold is cheaper, so better value, but I have to rate these equally. 6.0% ABV, 50cl, �1.89, Marks & Spencer.  |  |
Dublin Brewing, (for Marks & Spencer) Irish Stout (Ireland)
Brewed for M&S; by the Dublin Brewing Company, this is a midnight-black beer that pours with a dense, cappuccino-coloured head. The nose is classic Irish stout, with burnt toast, notes of roasted coffee and malt, an ede of liquorice and suggestion of plump, dark raisins. In the mouth it is full-bodied, smooth and rich with a very nice bitter hop character giving a real edge to dark, sumptuous roasted, nutty flavours and chocolaty depth. A fine stout by any standards. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.99, Marks & Spencer. |  |
Haacht, (for Marks & Spencer) Etoile d'Or (Belgium)
Brewed for M&S; by the Haacht brewery in Belgium, this is a premium lager that pours a bright, quite light gold, with a moderate white head that is quite lacy on the glass. The nose is quite clean and lemony, with just a touch of starchy character and a nice note of green, leafy hops. On the palate this is a rich, full, and really quite sweet beer, with a mouthfilling fruitiness that for me is just a touch cloying. The finish does have a little bite of hop bitterness and quite clean acidity, but the mid-palate is just a touch too sweet. Decent stuff, and some may like it more than me. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, 12 @ �9.99, Marks & Spencer.  |  |
Marstons, (for Marks & Spencer) India Pale Ale (England)
Brewed for M&S; by marstons of Burton-on-Trent using Optic pale malt and Fuggles, Goldings and Cascade hops. It pours a rich toffee colour with a thick, creamy and persistent head. On the nose it is very appealing, with caramel and nutty notes, but plenty of zesty grapefruit, orange and leafy, hoppy notes. On the palate it is rich and smooth, with a full-bodied, creamy and warming cappuccino texture, and nice balance between quite bitter, punchy hop flavours and racy, citrussy fruit. The malt is subtle and just fills out the finish, in a lovely, quite complex beer. Almost worth four stars. 5.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.99, Marks & Spencer.  | |
Menabrea, (for Marks & Spencer) Birra d'Oro (Italy)
Brewed for M&S; by Birra Menabrea in Piedmont, this beer appears under the Birra d'Ora trade name. It is a strong lager that pours a medium gold with quite a thick white head. The nose is malty and orangy, with a touch of starchy corn aromas, but it is fresh and quite appealing. On the palate there's a decent attack of bitter, herbal hoppy flavours, with some citrussy fruit through the mid-palate, before that warming malt softens the finish. A nice lager with a bit of personality. 5.0% ABV, 66cl, �1.99, Marks & Spencer. |  |
Riva, (for Marks & Spencer) Biere Blanche (Belgium)
Brewed by Riva for M&S; (Riva is the parent company of brands like Liefmans). This white beer pours in a swirling pale lemon cloud, with a thick, fluffy, persistent head. The nose is quite mild, with a definite spiciness and lemon aroma, and something nutty and appley too. On the palate there is a real ginger beer quality to this, with plenty of Christmassy spice, that core of quite fine lemon fruit, and a sweetning lick of malt that builds in the finish. A touch too sweet perhaps, but very drinkable. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, �1.99, Marks & Spencer. |  |
Weston's, (for Marks & Spencer) Organic Cider (England)
Brewed by Hereford cider producer Weston's for M&S;, this cider pours a bright, medium gold, with a thin white head that disippates rapidly. On teh nose it is quite sharp and tangy, with a sweaty note that suggests a touch of Brettanomyces (yeast) character. On the palate it is sweet and sharp, with plenty of vivid apple fruit, a nice tangy lemon acidity and reasonable body. An interesting and quite complex cider. 6.6% ABV, 50cl, �1.89, Marks & Spencer. |  |
Weston's, (for Marks & Spencer) Vintage Cider (England)
Brewed for M&S; by Weston's, a highly-regarded Herefordshire producer. I confess to not being a cider fan, but this has to rank as one of the best I've tasted. It pours a light gold colour with moderate white head that dissipates quite quickly. The nose is immediately complex, with nutty apple aromas, but also a cedary quality and a honey or toffee background. There's a real suggestion of ripe fruit here, but it is quite sharp and high-toned. On the palate there's a massive presence of bittersweet apple fruit, with powerful, almost Cognac-like body, but that tugging fruit sweetness. Acidity dries the mouth, with a lemon pith quality. What a striking cider. 7.2% ABV, 50cl, �1.99, Marks & Spencer. |  |
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