717: Hawkshead | Porter

The brewery:  "Hawkshead Brewery began in 2002, in a barn just outside the village of Hawkshead in the Lake District...... In 2006 we relocated to the Mill Yard, beside the River Kent at Staveley, brewing on a new 20 barrel Brewhouse and built a brewery tap - The Beer Hall. In 2018 we commissioned a new state of the art Krones Brewkit and began work on our new Brewery in Flookburgh which was fully functional later that year in September."

The beer: "A modern dark beer, with aromas of dark chocolate, treacle sweet flavours, roasted bitterness with a surprisingly hoppy finish from American Cascade hops."

 Another tasty ale from the Hawkshead stable, I didn't find it too hoppy at all, a nice mix of flavours. Full bodied but not too heavy at 4.9% A.B.V.

August 2021. Related entries.

716: Lakeland Brewhouse | Bitter

The brewery: "The Lakeland Brewhouse (formerly Stringers Beer) is based in the South Lakeland market town of Ulverston. It all started with our Head Brewer Jon Kyme, a man with a passion, and since 2008 we have been creating a variety of real ales which have become popular with beer aficionados and occasional drinkers alike....Managing Director Kirsty Ridge acquired the brewery in 2018, and now the female owned brewery's ales can be found across the North.”

The beer: “Copper coloured with a sweet, soft aroma which leads into a full mouthfeel with a solid bitter finish”

As enjoyable as it's stablemate Stout - see recent entry - a lovely quaffable bitter. Related entries.

The Commodore Inn, Grange-over-Sands. August 2021.

715: Titanic | Anchor

The brewery:"Our Staffordshire brewery was founded in Burslem, Stoke on Trent in 1985 with one goal - to produce great beer!"

The beer: "The very first beer brewed at Titanic on October 1st 1985. Originally called Premium, this beer hasn’t changed and is still fabulous.

TASTING NOTE: Amber, floral, hoppy and very quaffable. This is a full bodied yet bitter ale."

I didn't find this too floral, just very tasty. A lovely traditional bitter. Being a Titanic owned pub a wide range of their beers were on offer.

The Cheshire Cheese, Buxton. August 2021. Related entries

714: Appleby Brewery: Middle Aged Spread Stout.

The brewery: “Appleby Brewery was bought by Bowness Bay Brewery in 2019, and their beers are believed to be currently produced at the Bowness Bay Brewery in Kendal. For the record, Appleby Brewery was founded in 2014, and production began in March 2015.”

The beer: "Middle-Aged Spread is an ideal name for a beer which is a 'Stout'. It is dark, nutty, chocolatey and rich, perfect for winter firesides. So the next time someone says you are getting a middle aged spread, the only correct response is 'Good idea, I think I will'

Love the sentiment and loved the beer, despite it not being drunk by the fireside in winter. Very rich, full bodied and tasty. Procured at the Kirby Londsale branch of Booths who, in my experience, keep a wide range of real ale in their stores. 5.2% A.B.V.

713: Unsworth’s Yard | Last Wolf

The brewery: "Unsworth’s Yard Brewery was opened in January 2012 by brothers Peter and David Unsworth. The yard that gives the brewery its name was developed by the brothers from their family’s haulage and garage business which had previously operated on this site, opposite Cartmel Priory, continuously since 1922."

The beer: "Style: Red-brown ale Tasting: rich malty bitterness with red fruits and chocolate notes Provenance: English grown, floor malted, Maris Otter pale and roasted barley. Traditional English hop varieties. Behind the name: dedicated to the tenacity of the legendary Last Wolf in England, killed locally at Humphrey Head by a Knight, the estranged son of Sir Edgar, to win the hand of Edgar’s ward and niece, the beautiful Adela. Find out more about the legend at www.wolves.live/the-last-wolf-in-england."

Another tasty red from my time in Cumbria. Delicious. 4.3% A.B.V.

August 2021. Related entries

712: Unsworth’s Yard Brewery| Cartmel Peninsula

The brewery: "Unsworth’s Yard Brewery was opened in January 2012 by brothers Peter and David Unsworth. The yard that gives the brewery its name was developed by the brothers from their family’s haulage and garage business which had previously operated on this site, opposite Cartmel Priory, continuously since 1922."

The beer: "Style: Amber Best Bitter Tasting: mellow with a sweet, slightly caramel finish Provenance: English grown, floor malted, Maris Otter barley. Traditional variety Kent hops. Behind the name: recognises the historical location of the Cartmel Peninsula in Lancashire, North of the Sands, before its inclusion in Cumbria resulting from the Local Government Act of 1972.

Also called Peninsula Best, this was procured whilst visiting the delightful village of Cartmel, along with some sticky toffee pudding for which the village is more famous. Pleasant although it lacked a little body for me. It  would make a good session beer at 3.8% A.B.V.

August 2021. Related entries

711: Tirril | Windermere I.P.A

The brewery: "One of Cumbria’s longest established breweries. Family owned and proudly independent, brewers of traditional ales since 1999." History

The beer: "Our latest pale ale and arguably our best yet, light hoppy and very, very easy drinking."

Not my favourite style of beer but sadly the only one on offer at the time of visiting. A pity because there is plenty in the line up that takes my fancy. A nice enough ale but just not for me. 4.3% A.B.V.

The Wateredge Inn, Ambelside, Cumbria. August 2021