I do find Wetherspoons Beer Festivals frustrating at times. You get a list of 50 beers and usually there are only four or five available at any one time. You look down the list and spot a dozen or so you would like to try and then wait and wait. Sod's Law tells you the ones you really want to try will never appear when you are visiting. On the positive side where else can you buy ten pints of interesting beer and still get change from £20? I had ten 50p CAMRA vouchers to use and I managed to use them all in the past two weeks which brought the cost of each pint down to £1.99.
Given the beer list at the beginning of the festival the ten pints I tried were a mix of ones I was hoping to see and ones I tried because the ones I really wanted were not available at the time. Some you win and some you don't! However, here is a run-down of the beers I tried along with scores and comments for each. All of these beers were bought at the excellent Wetherspoons in Stratford-on-Avon, The Golden Bee. This pub always serves beers in perfect condition and those below could not be faulted for their presentation.
1) Elgood's Spring Gold (3.8% ABV)
This beer was very pale. The flavour was floral and hoppy and quite complex. The hops were dominating throughout and there was a lingering citrus taste. Certainly a refreshing pint. Score 7/10
2) Brains Willy Nilly (4.0% ABV)
This was was fruity and complex with an underlying malty base. Another complex beer with subtle hints of caramel and toffee too. I wasn't sure about it initially but it turned out to be quite satisfying. Score 7/10
3) Robinsons Hoptimus (4.1% ABV)
This was a delightful fruity golden bitter bursting with hoppiness but well balanced with a distinct malty base. This beer was definitely one of the highlights for me. Score 8/10 (Bronze award)
4) RCH Wheat Beer (4.4% ABV)
This was a pale wheat beer with a citrussy hoppiness. It had a bitter aftertaste but generally I found it to be lacking in flavour. A little disappointing. Score 6/10.
5) Corfu Ionian Coffee Porter (4.5% ABV)
This was brewed at Everards by one of the international brewers. It was a gorgeously smooth and well balanced porter. I was expecting a distinct coffee bitterness but it was actually quite subtle. It was jet black in colour and I loved it. Score 9/10 (Silver award)
6) Thwaites Daniel's Hammer (5.0% ABV)
This was a particularly pleasant balanced golden bitter. Plenty of sweet fruits on the palate leading to a dry bitter finish. Quite a traditional golden premium ale. Score 8/10 (Bronze award)
7) Wolf Tasmanian Wolf (5.0% ABV)
Another golden bitter described as a premium IPA. Strong on flavour with a powerful bitter finish. Quite a complex fruitiness to it too but the overriding characteristic was the strong bitterness. Score 8/10 (Bronze award)
8) Orkney 1878 Strong Ale (5.5% ABV)
Rich heavy fruits clash with an underlying bitterness in this exceptional beer. A little spiciness on the palate too creates a beer perfect for a cold winter evening. Score 9/10 (Silver award)
9) Yasileostrovsky Siberian Red (6.0% ABV)
My second beer from an international brewer. This Russian brewer visited Banks's Brewery in the West Midlands to brew this rich ruby coloured beer. Full of flavour it was sweet and malty with plenty of roasted malts to balance the sweetness. Score 9/10 (Silver award)
10) Central City Red Racer IPA (6.5% ABV)
Another of the international brewers. This Canadian brewer visited Shepherd Neame to brew this lovely IPA. It was very hoppy with a heavy citrus fruitiness balanced with a rich malt base. Score 8/10 (Bronze award)
It is unusual for me to drink ten beers and not give out top marks (a gold award). However, there were numerous near misses and I was probably being a bit harsh with the Siberian Red to not award it top marks. It was just about my beer of the festival though. The Orkney 1878 or the Ionian Coffee Porter might have sneaked the top award if they had been tried on a cold dark evening so they came in a close second.
Happy drinking.
Monday, 22 April 2013
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Wellington Arms, Birmingham
Last night I decided to visit Birmingham again. Specifically I wanted to visit the Wellington Arms, a pub located just off New Street. Black Country Ales have a number of pubs in and around the West Midlands and a few weeks ago I visited their latest acquisition, The Craven Arms. I was very impressed with this pub but after reading about the Wellington Arms I had to visit and compare.
Whereas the Craven Arms is a little out of town and has the feel of a local backstreet pub, the Wellington Arms is a more typical city centre pub. I arrived shortly after 7.00.pm and it was very busy. It was obvious the place was undergoing refurbishment with wires hanging down from the ceiling etc. Screens listing the available beers showed up to 16 handpumps being available and there were 4 empty ones. Three Black Country Ales beers were available (as with the Craven Arms) and in addition to these there were two beers from Oakham Ales (Citra and Hare and Hedgehog), Purity Mad Goose, Long Man Best, Long Itch Honey Trap, Wye Valley HPA, Derby Sharp as Ninepence, Titanic Mild and Nutbrook Mild Side. With such a selection it was always going to be difficult to choose but I opted for a Nutbrook Mild Side (3.6% ABV).
This beer was not your typical mild. It had a lovely chestnut colour and a very complex flavour. It was fruity with quite a distinct maltiness. It took a little getting used to and the students who came and sat near me did not help as they absolutely stank so I could not determine much from the aroma. Overall, it turned out to be a very satisfying pint though.
Finding a seat wasn't easy as the pub was busy with workers straight from the office (as well as smelly students). The pub was quite narrow with the bar running lengthwise down the right-hand side of the building. There was a seating area at the front of the pub. There was a standing area as well as stools at a few tall tables along the length of the bar and a larger seating area at the back. The refurbishments were ongoing and these will result in an upstairs bar as well as improved cellars to allow for more beers. Three screens listed the beers on numbered handpumps so I did not have to walk along the length of the bar to look at each pump clip. This was most welcome. The bar staff were friendly and helpful. With the reconstruction going on I was probably seeing the pub at its worst which speaks volumes for how good it will be once the work is done. The overall impression therefore was extremely favourable.
For a second pint I chose Right as Ninepence from the Derby Brewing Company (4.0% ABV). This had a lovely copper colour. It was quite malty but it had a gentle bitter finish. It was more to my taste than the first pint and it was a nice way to bring my visit to an end.
To round off the evening I paid a second visit to Post Office Vaults, a short walk from the Wellington Arms. This pub I loved on my first visit and entering from New Street I was somehow expecting a second bar but after going down a narrow staircase I found myself in the bar I was in last time (and the only one). I chose a pint of Plain Ales Inndulgence (5.2% ABV). Described as a ruby porter this rich heavy beer would have been perfect in the cold nights recently departed. It was far from disappointing last night. Plenty of maltiness fought with chocolate and coffee notes as well as a toffee sweetness. It was a lovely warming end to the evening.
The two pubs I visited last night, along with the Craven Arms, form a powerful trio of superb Birmingham pubs. They are all very different but together they provide the beer drinker with every indulgence they are likely to desire. I would not choose any of them ahead of the others. They are all ideal destinations for the lover of beer (and ciders).
Happy drinking.
Whereas the Craven Arms is a little out of town and has the feel of a local backstreet pub, the Wellington Arms is a more typical city centre pub. I arrived shortly after 7.00.pm and it was very busy. It was obvious the place was undergoing refurbishment with wires hanging down from the ceiling etc. Screens listing the available beers showed up to 16 handpumps being available and there were 4 empty ones. Three Black Country Ales beers were available (as with the Craven Arms) and in addition to these there were two beers from Oakham Ales (Citra and Hare and Hedgehog), Purity Mad Goose, Long Man Best, Long Itch Honey Trap, Wye Valley HPA, Derby Sharp as Ninepence, Titanic Mild and Nutbrook Mild Side. With such a selection it was always going to be difficult to choose but I opted for a Nutbrook Mild Side (3.6% ABV).
This beer was not your typical mild. It had a lovely chestnut colour and a very complex flavour. It was fruity with quite a distinct maltiness. It took a little getting used to and the students who came and sat near me did not help as they absolutely stank so I could not determine much from the aroma. Overall, it turned out to be a very satisfying pint though.
Finding a seat wasn't easy as the pub was busy with workers straight from the office (as well as smelly students). The pub was quite narrow with the bar running lengthwise down the right-hand side of the building. There was a seating area at the front of the pub. There was a standing area as well as stools at a few tall tables along the length of the bar and a larger seating area at the back. The refurbishments were ongoing and these will result in an upstairs bar as well as improved cellars to allow for more beers. Three screens listed the beers on numbered handpumps so I did not have to walk along the length of the bar to look at each pump clip. This was most welcome. The bar staff were friendly and helpful. With the reconstruction going on I was probably seeing the pub at its worst which speaks volumes for how good it will be once the work is done. The overall impression therefore was extremely favourable.
For a second pint I chose Right as Ninepence from the Derby Brewing Company (4.0% ABV). This had a lovely copper colour. It was quite malty but it had a gentle bitter finish. It was more to my taste than the first pint and it was a nice way to bring my visit to an end.
To round off the evening I paid a second visit to Post Office Vaults, a short walk from the Wellington Arms. This pub I loved on my first visit and entering from New Street I was somehow expecting a second bar but after going down a narrow staircase I found myself in the bar I was in last time (and the only one). I chose a pint of Plain Ales Inndulgence (5.2% ABV). Described as a ruby porter this rich heavy beer would have been perfect in the cold nights recently departed. It was far from disappointing last night. Plenty of maltiness fought with chocolate and coffee notes as well as a toffee sweetness. It was a lovely warming end to the evening.
The two pubs I visited last night, along with the Craven Arms, form a powerful trio of superb Birmingham pubs. They are all very different but together they provide the beer drinker with every indulgence they are likely to desire. I would not choose any of them ahead of the others. They are all ideal destinations for the lover of beer (and ciders).
Happy drinking.
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Memories of Norwich
This year the CAMRA AGM is being held in Norwich. For those of you who have never been to this 'fine city' you really need to make a point of going. I was lucky to be living in Norwich when the CAMRA AGM was last there in 1990. The venue is the magnificent St Andrews Hall, a venue that also houses the annual Norwich Beer Festival in late October. I lived in Norwich between 1989 and 1992 and I have returned there quite a few times since.
The first thing I learned about Norwich was it had a lot of pubs and a lot of churches. They say it once had a pub for every day of the year and a church for every Sunday of the year. A large number of pubs had obviously closed down when I arrived as the number was down to about 240 and it is probably reduced further by now. The churches largely remained intact but they had been put to many imaginative uses such as a magnificent puppet theatre.
One of my initial roles at work was to organise the Friday night pub crawl. Each week myself and a number of my colleagues would visit 5 or 6 pubs. We had our favourites during the week such as the Ribs of Beef, The Reindeer, St Andrews Tavern, The Jubilee and Micawbers to name a few. On Friday we would always try somewhere new.
When looking back at those days it is surprising to see so many of these pubs still mentioned as pubs to visit. I try and compartmentalise the city. Near the railway station there was The Jubilee, The Rosary Tavern, the Coach and Horses and Ketts Tavern. Heading towards the cathedral from the Ketts you could head towards the Adam and Eve. In Tombland, the other side side of the cathedral, you had Edith Cavell which was not far from St Andrews Hall with the St Andrews Tavern opposite. The Ribs of Beef was a magnificent pub down from Elm Hill and across the river towards Anglia Square you came across the Plasterers Arms. To the east of the city was the brewpub The Reindeer which wasn't far from the Micawbers or the Tap & Spile pub, The White Lion. Back in the city centre there was the pub with two names, The Murderers / The Gardeners Arms. Out towards the football ground were a couple of fine Adnams pubs, the Horse and Dray and the Rose. Round the corner from the Rose there was the Freemasons and the Kings Arms. Down the hill to the river there was the Ferry Boat. Over near the hospital was the superb Unthank Arms. I've missed off lots of pubs here but you probably get the picture of a city brimming with great places to drink.
When I returned to work in Norwich in 1998 many of these pubs were still there along with a few new ones. Wetherspoons had invaded with The Bell Hotel and out of town, past The Reindeer, was the magnificent Fat Cat. This is my first port of call when I go back to Norwich now. A small street corner pub with a beer list longer than any pub I have ever been in. It was usually standing room only but everything about this pub I absolutely loved.
Sadly, I cannot make it to the CAMRA AGM this year, so I have booked to visit Norwich towards the end of May when the City of Ale festival takes place. This is a 10-day celebration of local pubs and breweries. Many of these breweries were not around when I last visited Norwich so, as well as visiting some old favourites, I will be looking to sample many new beers and pubs. Three new breweries and pubs I am particularly looking forward to visiting are Bear Brewing (Ketts Tavern), Grain Brewery (The Plough) and Fat Cat (Fat Cat Brewery Tap). If anyone reading this can recommend any places I have not mentioned then please do so. I will try and fit it into what will be a busy couple of days.
Happy drinking.
The first thing I learned about Norwich was it had a lot of pubs and a lot of churches. They say it once had a pub for every day of the year and a church for every Sunday of the year. A large number of pubs had obviously closed down when I arrived as the number was down to about 240 and it is probably reduced further by now. The churches largely remained intact but they had been put to many imaginative uses such as a magnificent puppet theatre.
One of my initial roles at work was to organise the Friday night pub crawl. Each week myself and a number of my colleagues would visit 5 or 6 pubs. We had our favourites during the week such as the Ribs of Beef, The Reindeer, St Andrews Tavern, The Jubilee and Micawbers to name a few. On Friday we would always try somewhere new.
When looking back at those days it is surprising to see so many of these pubs still mentioned as pubs to visit. I try and compartmentalise the city. Near the railway station there was The Jubilee, The Rosary Tavern, the Coach and Horses and Ketts Tavern. Heading towards the cathedral from the Ketts you could head towards the Adam and Eve. In Tombland, the other side side of the cathedral, you had Edith Cavell which was not far from St Andrews Hall with the St Andrews Tavern opposite. The Ribs of Beef was a magnificent pub down from Elm Hill and across the river towards Anglia Square you came across the Plasterers Arms. To the east of the city was the brewpub The Reindeer which wasn't far from the Micawbers or the Tap & Spile pub, The White Lion. Back in the city centre there was the pub with two names, The Murderers / The Gardeners Arms. Out towards the football ground were a couple of fine Adnams pubs, the Horse and Dray and the Rose. Round the corner from the Rose there was the Freemasons and the Kings Arms. Down the hill to the river there was the Ferry Boat. Over near the hospital was the superb Unthank Arms. I've missed off lots of pubs here but you probably get the picture of a city brimming with great places to drink.
When I returned to work in Norwich in 1998 many of these pubs were still there along with a few new ones. Wetherspoons had invaded with The Bell Hotel and out of town, past The Reindeer, was the magnificent Fat Cat. This is my first port of call when I go back to Norwich now. A small street corner pub with a beer list longer than any pub I have ever been in. It was usually standing room only but everything about this pub I absolutely loved.
Sadly, I cannot make it to the CAMRA AGM this year, so I have booked to visit Norwich towards the end of May when the City of Ale festival takes place. This is a 10-day celebration of local pubs and breweries. Many of these breweries were not around when I last visited Norwich so, as well as visiting some old favourites, I will be looking to sample many new beers and pubs. Three new breweries and pubs I am particularly looking forward to visiting are Bear Brewing (Ketts Tavern), Grain Brewery (The Plough) and Fat Cat (Fat Cat Brewery Tap). If anyone reading this can recommend any places I have not mentioned then please do so. I will try and fit it into what will be a busy couple of days.
Happy drinking.
Monday, 25 March 2013
Durham Brewery - four classic beer styles.
The Durham Brewery began brewing nearly twenty years ago. Despite this long history it was not until about 7 years ago that I discovered their beers when I puchased a couple of their bottles at the Hogs Back Brewery bottle shop. I think the first two beers I bought at the time were St Cuthbert and Benedictus. They were both strong and full of flavour. More recent visits to the same shop were not so productive though and I had to wait until last year when I visited Cotteridge Wines in Birmingham to try more of their beers.
During my last visit to Cotteridge Wines I selected four of their beers to try over a single weekend. This is no easy task as the beers I chose were all very strong and my doctor may have been horrified at the 18 units of alcohol I consumed over the three nights. It was only four bottles of beer doc honestly!!
The Friday night beer, Bombay 106 (7.0% ABV), had the lowest strength. I really should have left this one for drinking with my Saturday night curry but next time I'll get it right. It was very lively when I poured it due to taking it straight from my cold garage when I should have let it warm up a little first. Despite these two errors I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a strong and full-flavoured traditional golden IPA made with traditional English hops. It was quite bitter with a subtle citrussy hoppiness. There was also a little spiciness to it initially before progressing to a lovely clean finish. All Indian restaurants should stock a beer like this. It would be a perfect accompaniment.
I was now left with three beers over two nights which I brought out of the garage on Saturday morning giving them time to warm up a little. I began my Saturday evening with Redemption (10.0% ABV), described as a ruby old ale. This is a classic old ale. Plenty of dark roasted malts with a nice thick hoppiness provided by the Fuggles hop. It is like a liquid Christmas cake. Plenty of rich fruits and it has a lovely smooth finish. This has to be one of my favourite winter beers ever. It is stunning.
It was my intention to just have the one beer and finish off the last two bottles on Sunday. However, after drinking the Redemption rather quickly (it goes down so easily) I decided to open the Bede's Chalice (9.0% ABV). Not a good idea really as they should probably not be consumed in the same session but hey ho. Bede's Chalice is described as a Belgian Tripel. It has that slight sourness common with the finest of Belgian beers and infused with coriander. It has plenty of sweet fruit flavours such as peach and it has a complex malt character. It is a magnificent example of this style of beer.
Sunday evening and a single bottle remains to be consumed. Temptation (10.0% ABV) is a classic Russian stout. It is jet black with a full aroma of roasted barley. It has a full thick sweet flavour once you get past the initial bitterness. It is a sensational beer and I took my time with it and savoured it for well over a hour. The aftertaste lingers forever and it complemented the strong cheddar cheese I was eating at the same time to perfection.
So four very different beers from a single brewery. Each beer is a stunning example of a classic beer style. Each beer comes highly recommended. My next task is to find a Durham Brewery beer in a pub. Something I am yet to do despite the brewery being around for nearly two decades. Perhaps a visit to Durham is in order.
Happy drinking.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
A celebratory pint
The hideous beer tax escalator is no more. Introduced in 2008 it has since killed off many pubs and has resulted in a massive loss of revenue to the government. This calls for a celebration.
Not one to change my plans I headed for the pub I intended to visit this evening, the Griffin Inn near Shustoke, a small village between Birmingham and Coventry. Approaching from the north you pass through the village of Shustoke and out the other side. When you go round a very sharp bend to the left the pub is on the immediate left.
Entering from the car park I had to bend down to get through the door and I immediately felt the warm glow from the ancient fireplace in front of me. The bar to the right has three handpumps but the beer board has an incredibly long list so there are plenty more handpumps along the remainder of the bar that stretches across the central heart of the pub. I was hoping for a beer from the Griffin Brewery next door but none were available. Such an occasion required a special beer though and I was delighted to see Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby (6.0% ABV) on their list.
The beer list included Jennings Dark Mild, Marstons Pedigree, RCH Pitchfork, Theakston Old Peculiar, Greene King Old Reserve, Everards Sunchaser and Dark Star Six Hop. Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby is a classic though. I rarely see it on the bar so there was no hesitation in selecting it and at just £3.40 for a pint it was very well priced too. It is a lovely dark ruby colour (as the name suggests). It is low hopped as you would expect from a mild and plenty of dark chocolate malt. It is incredibly smooth and absolutely delicious.
I headed into the other half of the pub where I found another lovely old fireplace. The low beams had old beermats affixed to them, some of which were ancient (Double Diamond and Eldridge Pope Royal Oak to name a couple). There were lots of nooks and crannies and a healthy crowd of locals chatting away. There were no noisy distractions from TVs or machines. It is an idyllic pub. Fresh local eggs were sitting on the bar for purchase, there was a conservatory at the back for children and the garden appeared to be a good size that would be popular in Summer. It is deservedly a GBG regular.
A lovely pint in an excellent pub. No better way to celebrate the death of a ridiculous tax. Let's hope we now see a decline in the number of pub closures. So, switch off the TV and get out there and find a local pub you are happy with and use it.
Happy drinking.
Not one to change my plans I headed for the pub I intended to visit this evening, the Griffin Inn near Shustoke, a small village between Birmingham and Coventry. Approaching from the north you pass through the village of Shustoke and out the other side. When you go round a very sharp bend to the left the pub is on the immediate left.
Entering from the car park I had to bend down to get through the door and I immediately felt the warm glow from the ancient fireplace in front of me. The bar to the right has three handpumps but the beer board has an incredibly long list so there are plenty more handpumps along the remainder of the bar that stretches across the central heart of the pub. I was hoping for a beer from the Griffin Brewery next door but none were available. Such an occasion required a special beer though and I was delighted to see Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby (6.0% ABV) on their list.
The beer list included Jennings Dark Mild, Marstons Pedigree, RCH Pitchfork, Theakston Old Peculiar, Greene King Old Reserve, Everards Sunchaser and Dark Star Six Hop. Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby is a classic though. I rarely see it on the bar so there was no hesitation in selecting it and at just £3.40 for a pint it was very well priced too. It is a lovely dark ruby colour (as the name suggests). It is low hopped as you would expect from a mild and plenty of dark chocolate malt. It is incredibly smooth and absolutely delicious.
I headed into the other half of the pub where I found another lovely old fireplace. The low beams had old beermats affixed to them, some of which were ancient (Double Diamond and Eldridge Pope Royal Oak to name a couple). There were lots of nooks and crannies and a healthy crowd of locals chatting away. There were no noisy distractions from TVs or machines. It is an idyllic pub. Fresh local eggs were sitting on the bar for purchase, there was a conservatory at the back for children and the garden appeared to be a good size that would be popular in Summer. It is deservedly a GBG regular.
A lovely pint in an excellent pub. No better way to celebrate the death of a ridiculous tax. Let's hope we now see a decline in the number of pub closures. So, switch off the TV and get out there and find a local pub you are happy with and use it.
Happy drinking.
Monday, 18 March 2013
IPA - insipid no more
When I was younger an IPA (India Pale Ale) was something I usually avoided. The only IPAs available that I was aware of were Charrington IPA and Greene King IPA so I can be excused for thinking the 'I' meant insipid. They were quite low in both alcohol and taste. I remember that the Charrington IPA particularly had very little hoppiness or bitterness.
When I started to travel to the USA I began to enjoy their versions of the IPA. It is probably fair to say that many US brewers now produce at least one IPA in their range. One of the first I remember is Shipyard Fuggles IPA. At 5.8% ABV and using the English fuggles hop it is an excellent attempt at producing an authentic IPA. Of course, many US micros have americanised the IPA by using American hops. These hops are becoming more widely used by UK micros too and are proving exceptionally popular.
UK micros are now catching up with their American counterparts and there are now a large number of IPAs to choose from. Last week I managed to try a number of these in various formats so here is my appraisal of, what I can only assume, are some of the best available. The reason I say this is that they were all superb.
Brewdog Punk IPA (5.6% ABV) - Fraserburgh, Scotland
I tried a pint of this beer at the Brewdog bar in Birmingham. It is only available as a keg beer or in bottles. I found it to be too cold and too fizzy but the delicious hoppy aroma and taste still found a way through. Tonight I bought a bottle to try it at a proper temperature and I am drinking it as I type. It is described as a trans-atlantic fusion although the New Zeland hops are not as powerful as some of the American versions. It has a full fruity taste which did not appear in the keg version. The finish is bitter and crisp.
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA (5.9% ABV) - Bakewell, Derbyshire
I tried a pint of the cask version of this classic IPA at the Shakespeare Inn, Birmingham. A more subtle fruitiness is finely balanced with a full hop aroma. It is very smooth and the sweetness gives way to a superb hoppy, bitter finish. This beer has quite rightly won many awards including the gold medal in the strong ales category at the GBBF of 2010. It is truly a modern classic.
Ilkley Lotus IPA (5.6% ABV) - Ilkley, West Yorkshire
I tried the bottled version of this beer. It is brewed using both New Zealand and American cascade hops and it has a classic golden colour. It has a gentle hoppy aroma and packs plenty of intense fruit flavours particularly mango. It is very smooth and this finely balanced IPA gives way to a gentle bitter finish.
Ilkley Mary Jane IPA (6.0% ABV) - Ilkley, West Yorkshire
I tried this bottled version on the same evening as the Lotus IPA to compare the two. Described as a trans-atlantic IPA with both English and American hops these two varieties combine to great effect. I found this beer to be paler in colour than the Lotus with more citrus and grapefruit notes and a more intense bitter finish. It is probably more to my taste than the Lotus but they are both delightful.
Art Brew Monkey IPA (6.4% ABV) - North Chideock, Dorset
My final bottled IPA is the strongest of the five. It has a perfect golden colour, a gentle hoppy aroma and, as with the Lotus and Brewdog beers, an intense robust fruitiness with both mango and citrus flavours combining. It is beautifully balanced and, as with the others, there is a pleasant bitter finish.
I strongly recommend all five of the IPAs described here. If I had to choose a winner I would select the Mary Jane but it is probably the least authentic due to the intensity of the American hops which give it plenty of grapefruit and citrus flavours.
One thing is for sure - none of these beers could be described as insipid. I will never drink Greene King IPA again.
Happy drinking.
When I started to travel to the USA I began to enjoy their versions of the IPA. It is probably fair to say that many US brewers now produce at least one IPA in their range. One of the first I remember is Shipyard Fuggles IPA. At 5.8% ABV and using the English fuggles hop it is an excellent attempt at producing an authentic IPA. Of course, many US micros have americanised the IPA by using American hops. These hops are becoming more widely used by UK micros too and are proving exceptionally popular.
UK micros are now catching up with their American counterparts and there are now a large number of IPAs to choose from. Last week I managed to try a number of these in various formats so here is my appraisal of, what I can only assume, are some of the best available. The reason I say this is that they were all superb.
Brewdog Punk IPA (5.6% ABV) - Fraserburgh, Scotland
I tried a pint of this beer at the Brewdog bar in Birmingham. It is only available as a keg beer or in bottles. I found it to be too cold and too fizzy but the delicious hoppy aroma and taste still found a way through. Tonight I bought a bottle to try it at a proper temperature and I am drinking it as I type. It is described as a trans-atlantic fusion although the New Zeland hops are not as powerful as some of the American versions. It has a full fruity taste which did not appear in the keg version. The finish is bitter and crisp.
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA (5.9% ABV) - Bakewell, Derbyshire
I tried a pint of the cask version of this classic IPA at the Shakespeare Inn, Birmingham. A more subtle fruitiness is finely balanced with a full hop aroma. It is very smooth and the sweetness gives way to a superb hoppy, bitter finish. This beer has quite rightly won many awards including the gold medal in the strong ales category at the GBBF of 2010. It is truly a modern classic.
Ilkley Lotus IPA (5.6% ABV) - Ilkley, West Yorkshire
I tried the bottled version of this beer. It is brewed using both New Zealand and American cascade hops and it has a classic golden colour. It has a gentle hoppy aroma and packs plenty of intense fruit flavours particularly mango. It is very smooth and this finely balanced IPA gives way to a gentle bitter finish.
Ilkley Mary Jane IPA (6.0% ABV) - Ilkley, West Yorkshire
I tried this bottled version on the same evening as the Lotus IPA to compare the two. Described as a trans-atlantic IPA with both English and American hops these two varieties combine to great effect. I found this beer to be paler in colour than the Lotus with more citrus and grapefruit notes and a more intense bitter finish. It is probably more to my taste than the Lotus but they are both delightful.
Art Brew Monkey IPA (6.4% ABV) - North Chideock, Dorset
My final bottled IPA is the strongest of the five. It has a perfect golden colour, a gentle hoppy aroma and, as with the Lotus and Brewdog beers, an intense robust fruitiness with both mango and citrus flavours combining. It is beautifully balanced and, as with the others, there is a pleasant bitter finish.
I strongly recommend all five of the IPAs described here. If I had to choose a winner I would select the Mary Jane but it is probably the least authentic due to the intensity of the American hops which give it plenty of grapefruit and citrus flavours.
One thing is for sure - none of these beers could be described as insipid. I will never drink Greene King IPA again.
Happy drinking.
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Out In Brum
OK I confess I stole the title of this post from the excellent Birmingham CAMRA branch newsletter I picked up on my way round the centre of Birmingham last night. I certainly didn't pick it up from my first stop though. Brewdog (Birmingham) is located close to New Street Station in John Bright Street. It was opened late last year and it has a very industrial look. It has a full glass frontage and inside there's lots of steel and bare brick. Very trendy. The music blaring out was too loud if you were looking for a quiet drink but at least it was decent.
What to drink was my first problem. I was fully aware that cask ale would not be on the menu as Brewdog only produce keg beer. The menu listed their beers with eye-watering prices alongside. I fancied a strong IPA but at £7.00 for a pint of 6.9% ABV beer I decided I would probably rather have a lower strength one. Punk IPA (5.4% ABV) was quite cheap in comparison at only £4.25. You can't fault Brewdog for what they have achieved through clever marketing or even for their beers which are full of flavour. I probably don't fit the profile of their target market though and for that I am probably thankful.
Now would be a good time to give my thoughts on the craft (keg) beer revolution. I have spent time living in the USA as well as travelling around on numerous holidays. Drinking a cold but hoppy IPA in Boston or Austin when the temperature outside is in the 80s or more is wonderfully refreshing and there are many brewpubs and micro breweries offering excellent beers. When the alternative is a Budweiser or a Michelob or something similar it is easy to see why craft beers have taken off in such a big way in the US. In the UK it is a totally different ballgame. Punk IPA compares very favourably to anything I have tried in the US (and I have tried lots of American craft beers) but in Birmingham when the temperature outside is near to freezing it wasn't what I wanted. It was too cold and too fizzy and this was the overriding character of what was actually a very pleasant taste. So why would I drink this by choice when the country is awash with fabulous cask ales? The answer is quite simply I wouldn't.
After leaving the Brewdog bar I headed back towards New Street station, burping every few yards, and it wasn't very far to my next stop, the Post Office Vaults. I was still feeling full of gas and quite cold but I quickly revived upon seeing the fantastic array of handpumps at the bar. The pub only opened towards the end of 2011. It is small and cosy with hops hanging from the ceiling. Just past the bar there was a bar billiards table. I haven't seen one of these for years although I loved the game in my younger days. The pub was busy with a surprisingly young clientele and it had a lovely friendly feel to it. I instantly liked it. It was traditional with a modern twist.
I forgot to note the full list of beers available but I think there was a Salopian and Hobsons beer alongside five or six others. In addition to the ever changing cask beers the pub has a massive bottled beer selection from all around the world. A superb choice. I was drawn to a beer from the Fernandes Brewery. The description was a bit bizarre so I asked for a taste before ordering a pint. It wasn't for me. It tasted like Terrys chocolate orange. I fancied a dark beer though so I chose Dark Raven (4.5% ABV) from the Beowulf Brewing Co of Staffordshire. It was an extremely smooth jet black beer. It was slightly sweet with a gentle burnt caramel flavour ending with a little bitterness. It was a magnificent beer.
My final stop was the Shakespeare Inn on Lower Temple Street. This is a Nicholsons freehouse. My only prior experience of a Nicholsons pub was visiting The Falcon near Clapham Junction station twice in the past couple of years. I was very impressed with both the quality of food as well as the beer selection so I was looking forward to visiting this pub. I wasn't disappointed by the beer. The pub itself is fairly small and it had live music when I visited which you couldn't really get away from. There was a nice cosy room at the back where people were eating but it wouldn't have been my choice of venue for a quiet meal. However, it was a lovely grand building and without the live music it would be an excellent city centre pub. Oxfordshire Ales Finest was available but I was drawn to the Thornbridge Jaipur IPA (5.9% ABV). I have only tried the bottled version of this lovely beer so I was delighted to see it available. Thornbridge is a modern craft brewery that produces both cask and keg beers which should keep everyone happy. The beer has a lovely citrussy hoppy aroma and taste but it is not overpowering and it has a delicious bittersweet aftertaste. A superb pint to bring my journey to a close.
So an interesting evening. I ventured into the Brewdog experience, visited a modern freehouse and finished up at a traditional city centre pub. All three beers were good in their own way but I will continue to only choose keg craft beers when I venture across the Atlantic. Cask beers will always be my choice and no country can compete with the UK for the diversity and quality of this amazing beverage. I'll keep drinking to that.
What to drink was my first problem. I was fully aware that cask ale would not be on the menu as Brewdog only produce keg beer. The menu listed their beers with eye-watering prices alongside. I fancied a strong IPA but at £7.00 for a pint of 6.9% ABV beer I decided I would probably rather have a lower strength one. Punk IPA (5.4% ABV) was quite cheap in comparison at only £4.25. You can't fault Brewdog for what they have achieved through clever marketing or even for their beers which are full of flavour. I probably don't fit the profile of their target market though and for that I am probably thankful.
Now would be a good time to give my thoughts on the craft (keg) beer revolution. I have spent time living in the USA as well as travelling around on numerous holidays. Drinking a cold but hoppy IPA in Boston or Austin when the temperature outside is in the 80s or more is wonderfully refreshing and there are many brewpubs and micro breweries offering excellent beers. When the alternative is a Budweiser or a Michelob or something similar it is easy to see why craft beers have taken off in such a big way in the US. In the UK it is a totally different ballgame. Punk IPA compares very favourably to anything I have tried in the US (and I have tried lots of American craft beers) but in Birmingham when the temperature outside is near to freezing it wasn't what I wanted. It was too cold and too fizzy and this was the overriding character of what was actually a very pleasant taste. So why would I drink this by choice when the country is awash with fabulous cask ales? The answer is quite simply I wouldn't.
After leaving the Brewdog bar I headed back towards New Street station, burping every few yards, and it wasn't very far to my next stop, the Post Office Vaults. I was still feeling full of gas and quite cold but I quickly revived upon seeing the fantastic array of handpumps at the bar. The pub only opened towards the end of 2011. It is small and cosy with hops hanging from the ceiling. Just past the bar there was a bar billiards table. I haven't seen one of these for years although I loved the game in my younger days. The pub was busy with a surprisingly young clientele and it had a lovely friendly feel to it. I instantly liked it. It was traditional with a modern twist.
I forgot to note the full list of beers available but I think there was a Salopian and Hobsons beer alongside five or six others. In addition to the ever changing cask beers the pub has a massive bottled beer selection from all around the world. A superb choice. I was drawn to a beer from the Fernandes Brewery. The description was a bit bizarre so I asked for a taste before ordering a pint. It wasn't for me. It tasted like Terrys chocolate orange. I fancied a dark beer though so I chose Dark Raven (4.5% ABV) from the Beowulf Brewing Co of Staffordshire. It was an extremely smooth jet black beer. It was slightly sweet with a gentle burnt caramel flavour ending with a little bitterness. It was a magnificent beer.
My final stop was the Shakespeare Inn on Lower Temple Street. This is a Nicholsons freehouse. My only prior experience of a Nicholsons pub was visiting The Falcon near Clapham Junction station twice in the past couple of years. I was very impressed with both the quality of food as well as the beer selection so I was looking forward to visiting this pub. I wasn't disappointed by the beer. The pub itself is fairly small and it had live music when I visited which you couldn't really get away from. There was a nice cosy room at the back where people were eating but it wouldn't have been my choice of venue for a quiet meal. However, it was a lovely grand building and without the live music it would be an excellent city centre pub. Oxfordshire Ales Finest was available but I was drawn to the Thornbridge Jaipur IPA (5.9% ABV). I have only tried the bottled version of this lovely beer so I was delighted to see it available. Thornbridge is a modern craft brewery that produces both cask and keg beers which should keep everyone happy. The beer has a lovely citrussy hoppy aroma and taste but it is not overpowering and it has a delicious bittersweet aftertaste. A superb pint to bring my journey to a close.
So an interesting evening. I ventured into the Brewdog experience, visited a modern freehouse and finished up at a traditional city centre pub. All three beers were good in their own way but I will continue to only choose keg craft beers when I venture across the Atlantic. Cask beers will always be my choice and no country can compete with the UK for the diversity and quality of this amazing beverage. I'll keep drinking to that.
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