623: Corinium Ales | Corinium Gold

The Brewery: “We have often considered making the stuff, but always thought it was a dream, it was just “the beer talking”….Then, back in 2011, due to a redundancy the opportunity to discover something new and explore a fresh way of living emerged.…In May 2012, Sylvia, our half barrel (80L) brew kit was installed and off we went. A journey of exploration into the dark arts of all things fermentation ensued. We became obsessed with brewing and it is here that we learnt our craft….After a few months of trial brews, sampled by several local ale drinkers, we launched Corinium Ales in the Cirencester Farmers’ Market in November 2012.”

The Beer: “Easy drinking, traditional golden ale…quaffable!…One of our three debut beers, Corinium Gold was inspired by Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, one of our favourites. It has always been our “go to” and most “naked” beer i.e. it’s not trying to be anything other than what it is and it’s proving to be our most popular…..Suggested food pairing: salads, cold meats, cheese, seafood, roasted flamingo.”

Ah, that explains it! I hadn’t read their description prior to drinking this but regulars will know that TT’s Landlord is one of my favourites ales and I really enjoyed this too, even though gold’s are not usually my favourite style of ale. I’m sure the fact that there was no fruity or flowery aroma helped as well. The first one was, perhaps, a tad too cold although would have been very welcome on a hot summers’ night. The second was just right and suited a mild October night perfectly. This was the last of my trio of ales from Corinium and I’ve enjoyed them all. Hopefully I’ll come across them on draught at some point.  4.2% A.B.V. October 2019. Related entries.

622: Corinium Ales | Firebird

The Brewery: “We have often considered making the stuff, but always thought it was a dream, it was just “the beer talking”….Then, back in 2011, due to a redundancy the opportunity to discover something new and explore a fresh way of living emerged.…In May 2012, Sylvia, our half barrel (80L) brew kit was installed and off we went. A journey of exploration into the dark arts of all things fermentation ensued. We became obsessed with brewing and it is here that we learnt our craft….After a few months of trial brews, sampled by several local ale drinkers, we launched Corinium Ales in the Cirencester Farmers’ Market in November 2012.”

The Beer: “Tasty traditional malty red ale brewed with five different malts, including a dark-roasted speciality malt, to give a rich colour and depth of flavour. A mix of earthy British hops are used for bittering and flavour…lush!…..Originally brewed for the 2018 Phoenix Festival and due to popular demand has become number VI in our core range of beers…..Suggested food partner: meat pies, roasts, fish & chips and fruit crumbles.

Oh yum, a cracking ale. One that ticks pretty much all the boxes on my palates’ list. Beautiful bitter taste with a hint of maltyness to take the edge off. I’m not surprised it’s become a regular brew. Easy drinking too at 4% A.B.V. October 2019. Related entries.

621: Corinium Ales | Centurion Stout

The Brewery: “We have often considered making the stuff, but always thought it was a dream, it was just “the beer talking”….Then, back in 2011, due to a redundancy the opportunity to discover something new and explore a fresh way of living emerged.…In May 2012, Sylvia, our half barrel (80L) brew kit was installed and off we went. A journey of exploration into the dark arts of all things fermentation ensued. We became obsessed with brewing and it is here that we learnt our craft….After a few months of trial brews, sampled by several local ale drinkers, we launched Corinium Ales in the Cirencester Farmers’ Market in November 2012.”

The Beer: “Light bodied stout with toasty chocolate undertones…yum! Once called Sylvia’s Stout, this was our first beer brewed on “Sylvia” our shiny new 80litre brew kit.  It later became Centurion Stout (or Stout Centurion!) and made up another of our three debut beers.”

The first of three beers from this brewery thanks to a friend who stayed on the caravan site in Cirencester in the summer. It’s taste certainly belied it’s strength - light bodied as they say - not sure if that’s a good thing as I went down very well indeed. Looking forward to trying more from the range shortly. 4.7% A.B.V. September 2019 Related entries.

620: Roosters Brewing Co. | London Thunder

The Brewery: “Having previously established Franklin’s Brewery in 1980, which he then sold in 1986, Sean Franklin founded Rooster’s Brewing Co. in 1993….Originators and innovators of quality, new world pale ales, with an emphasis on flavour and aroma, our beers start to stand out and turn heads amongst a sea of brown beer, with Yankee (our flagship pale ale) leading the way. “

The Beer: “A classic approach to a style of beer first developed in Victorian London. Roasted malt and chocolate flavours are abound in London Thunder; a smooth, dark porter brewed using a blend of seven malts and English hops.”

When in Rome - ok, London, drink a classic London Porter….brewed in Yorkshire. The journey south had done it no harm at all. A nice all around Porter. Full bodied at 4.2% A.B.V but not too heavy.

Pendrell’s Oak, Holborn, London. August 2019

619: Mourne Mountains Brewery | Glafy

The Brewery: “All beers from Mourne Mountains Brewery are brewed and packaged in their brewery in Warrenpoint, County Down….They combine water from the Mourne Mountains with the finest barley and wheat malts, hop varieties sourced from around the world, and speciality yeast strains to give each beer its own special character and flavour.”

The Beer: “A dry stout brewed with water from the Mourne Mountains”

No website that I could find and information somewhat scarce. However, it was a very drinkable pint - undoubtedly dry  but not overly so. I liked it. 4.1% A.B.V.

The Old Boot, Seaford. August 2019.

618: J.W. Lees | Manchester Pale Ale

The Brewery: “JW Lees is a family brewery company, founded in 1828 by retired cotton manufacturer John Lees. We’re based in Middleton in the North West of Manchester and own JW Lees Brewery, JW Lees Pubs, The Alderley Edge Hotel, The Trearddur Bay Hotel and Willoughby’s Wine Merchants. We’re a sixth-generation family business which employs over 1,200 people, 140 at the brewery and site in Middleton Junction and over 1,000 in our 42 managed pubs, inns and hotels.”

The Beer: “Our refreshingly Mancunian pale ale gives ale lovers a similar hop-packed offering to its American equivalents. It's a golden ale that’s made entirely from all-British malt, Liberty and Mount Hood hops. It’s a post-industrial Manchester classic “

The last from the Lidl beer festival was far too hoppy for me. Nothing wrong with it, just not to my taste. 4.1% A.B.V. August 2019. Related entries

617: Williams Bros. | March of the Penguins

The Brewery: “Williams Bros. Brewing Co. is located in Alloa, Clackmannanshire and is set in the old George Younger’s bottling hall in Kelliebank. Although now producing an eclectic range of Craft Beers for the international market, the Brotherhood 'Brew House' is steeped in Scottish tradition and remains the last bastion of brewing in a town, which was once regarded as 'Scotland's Beer Capital'…..In 1998 we built the Craigmill brewery in Strathaven, which became our base of operations for the next 6 years until we took over the ‘Forth Brewery’ in Alloa, where we have been happily brewing, bottling, kegging & now even canning beer ever since.”

The Beer: “This creamy dark stout, deep chocolate in colour has a nose of roast malts, coffee, liquorice & orange peel. The aromas carry on into the flavour with a smooth mouthfeel, rich malty start, fresh hoppy middle & a delicious lingering sweet orange after taste. Sure to get you marching again on those cold winter evenings.”

Another from the Lidl beer festival and another very enjoyable beer. I do like the occasional stout and this was good. 4.9% A.B.V. August 2019. Related entries.