698: Sadler’s | Peaky Blinder Black IPA

The brewery: “The original Sadler’s Brewery was founded in 1861 and continued until 1927, but in 2004 descendants of the former owners began brewing again and it remains very much a thriving family run craft brewery that supplies its beers to bars, restaurants and shops throughout the region and beyond. “

The beer: “A Black IPA brewed with five different malts and five different hop varieties. Dark and delicious, refreshing and hoppy.”

This was more to my taste than the Pale Ale. Nice to sometimes drink a dark beer that isn’t heavy. It was very refreshing too.

4.4% A.B.V. July 2021. Related entries

697: Sadler’s | Peaky Blinder Pale Ale

The brewery: “The original Sadler’s Brewery was founded in 1861 and continued until 1927, but in 2004 descendants of the former owners began brewing again and it remains very much a thriving family run craft brewery that supplies its beers to bars, restaurants and shops throughout the region and beyond. “

The beer: “A light and refreshing pale ale brewed with English hops and barley. A gentle fruit bitterness leads to an uplifting citrus hop finish. “

Refreshing it certainly was, and it was certainly put to the test, being drunk on one of the hottest days of the year. More of a deckchair than a fireside beer to me. 4.3% A.B.V.

July 2021. Related entries

696: Greene King | Abbot Reserve

The brewery: “We’ve been running pubs and brewing award-winning beer from our base in Bury St. Edmunds ever since the company was founded in 1799 by 19 year-old Benjamin Greene……Edward Greene grew the business in Bury St Edmunds significantly to the point where he merged operations with business rival Frederick King and Greene King began to become more recognisable as the brewery that we see today.”

The beer: “Very full bodied, rich and sweet with a higher bitterness to provide balance. Bursting with malty, biscuity and fruitcake character from the mixture of pale, amber and crystal malts. Masses of tropical fruits and floral fragrance from the hops in particular the fragrant, floral and spicy fuggles. Very complex,rich and warming.”

Another I’ve had before but omitted to add to the Archive. I’ve always liked Abbot Ale this was even better. However it is very much like Old Crafty Hen and given that they are both brewed at Bury St Edmunds it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s just a bit of re-badging going on. I tried them side by side and the both looked, smelt and tasted the same. Regardless, a nice drop. 6.5% A.B.V.

Related entries

695: Morland | Old Crafty Hen

The brewery: Is in fact Greene King and brewing takes place at it’s site in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. GK acquired the Morland Brewery - based in Abingdon - in 1999. There is now housing on the site where the brewery once stood.

The beer: “A strong fine ale combines the malty taste with a smooth raisin finish. It has great complexity, but it is still rather refreshing. This superior ale is great on nights with a bit of a nip in the air!….Our Master Brewer has created a premium, vintage oak-aged beer which delivers a variety of sophisticated tastes. The marvellous 5X brings resonance, depth and an eruption of fruity, raisin notes, underscored by the malt and toffee from Old Speckled Hen to create a perfectly smooth and rounded beer. Complex, mysterious… and a question and answer all in one.”

I’ve drunk this many times - not least because my nearby Co-Op stocks it - however it was only recently I realised that it wasn’t in the Archive. So here it is.

I must say I like this a lot, wonderfully rich and malty, a real winter warmer but not one to slosh back as a session beer unless you have some paracetamol to hand for the morning! 6.5% A.B.V I much prefer this to the other ‘Hens’.

Related entries.

694: Monty’s Brewery | Masquerade

The brewery: “Monty’s Brewery is based just a short distance from the ancient castle town of Montgomery, on the Powys - Shropshire border……….It was in January 2009 when the first casks were produced. It was only the third brew before Monty’s Sunshine started to get the recognition it still enjoys today, winning the “Darlington Spring Thing CAMRA Beer Festival”. It has since won numerous prizes, including Finalist Champion Beer of Britain.”

The beer: “A golden ale with tropical fruit flavours and a distinctive hop aroma…..We set out to create a great tasting gluten free beer that everyone can enjoy and in 2017 we improved the recipe not compromising on the aroma or taste. We think you'll love it even more!”

Liked this offering from Monty’s too. I didn’t find it too fruity and another good summer ale. Worth noting that it’s gluten free too. 4.6% A.B.V.

693: Great Central Railway | Porter

Brewed for the GCR by the Wicked Hathern brewery who are based near Loughborough, though brewing now seems to take place in Staffordshire.  Set up in the early 2000’s, there is currently no website and their last Facebook post was over a year ago, however they are clearly still brewing.

This was a classic porter to me - and very nice too. A great accompaniment to those lovely sounds and smells of a heritage steam railway.

June 2021

692: Weetwood Ales | Mad Hatter

The brewery: “Weetwood Ales began brewing in 1992 when finding a great pint of cask ale was a challenge. The brewery was founded by Adrian Slater, a skilled brewer, and Roger Langford, a farmer with space in a barn and a love for proper beer. Roger’s farm is in Weetwood Common, near Tarporley in Cheshire and the brewery took the name”

The beer: “In cask this is a great session beer, brewed with Amarillo hops from the USA to give spicy and floral character. In bottle we dial up the abv and the hops to create a punchy, robust Strong Ruby Ale.”

I was delighted to try another from the Weetwood stable after nearly two years and this did not disappoint either. I didn’t find it too floral, but glad I had the bottled version at 6% A.B.V. The cask version is brewed to 3.9% A.B.V.

June 2021.