780: Great Corby | Stout

The brewery: “Since starting in October 2010, Great Corby Brewhouse has been a very enjoyable and hands-on experience. Great Corby Brewhouse uses the finest ingredients to create a classic range of core beers, we have a small dedicated team who take care and pride in producing our ales.”

The beer: “Dark, roasted and smooth, with chocolate notes and a balanced malty palate.”

The first of three beers from Great Corby and it didn’t disappoint - in fact none of them did. I like a nice bold stout and this worked really well.

4.5% ABV. July 2022. Related entries

779: Tirril | Kirkstone Gold

The brewery: “Based in Long Marton, near Appleby, Tirril Brewery offers fine traditional ales, refreshingly crisp pilsners & a range of spirits. The first brew was delayed for a month, by the arrival of our daughter India. It turned out by chance that the current Tirril Brewery opened exactly 100 years after Siddle’s the last brewery in Tirril had closed….“

The beer: “Our first specifically designed Lakeland Ale. A pale golden beer, lighter in colour than our Grasmere Gold, yet also subtly hopped to make for plentiful session drinking.”

It didn’t offend and hardly excited but after a warm day out on Ullswater it was indeed very refreshing. Pleasant but not outstanding - but that’s just my palate.

3.9% A.B.V. Glenridding Hotel, Cumbria. July 2022.

778: Bowness Bay | Swan Black

The brewery: “In a region renowned for delicious local produce and divine taste experiences, Bowness Bay Brewing have been producing a range of hand-crafted traditionally made beers using the famous Lake District water to create the freshest, cleanest beers around.”

The beer: “Set sail on a journey into the deliciously darker waters of our black IPA with its start-to-finish hoppy magnificence. Allow this beer’s rich chocolate sweetness along with its subtle citrus notes and grassy loveliness to wash over and refresh you with its Lakeland water freshness.”

I liked the colour -obviously - but the flavour? Not so much. A tad too hoppy for me in truth. Forgot my specs when I went into Booth’s in Keswick and so didn’t read the label. 4.6% A.B.V. July 2022

777: Kirkby Lonsdale | Ruskin’s

The brewery: “Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery Co Ltd was established February 2009…….After many months of planning and preparation, the brewery was finally installed by Porter Brewing Company and is situated at the Old Station Yard, Kirkby Lonsdale.”

The beer: “Brewed using fine Maris Otter malted barley complimented with Magnum and Brewers Gold hops to give a fruity and spicy characteristic, with a lasting dry finish…..The name of the first beer produced, “Ruskins”, comes from the iconic Ruskin’s View which Turner famously painted in 1816.”

Good old Booth’s supermarket is always a good source of ales when I’m up north and this first of a number procured from their store in Kewsick did not disappoint. Very tasty indeed without being too potent.

3.9% A.B.V. July 2022.

776: Magic Dragon | Border Bitter

The brewery: “Our Brewery is based in North Wales and located in the Plassey, it is the oldest micro brewery in Wales surrounded by glorious countryside. Richard moved into the brewery in 2017 and started making real ale from our 12-barrel brew plant.”

The beer: “Welsh traditional best bitter.”

Not the most descriptive of tasting notes nut nevertheless a very fine good honest bitter. Not too strong but tasty.

3.8% A.B.V. July 2022. Related entries.

775: Peerless | Knee Buckler IPA

The brewery: “Peerless Brewing is an award winning microbrewery based in Birkenhead on the Wirral Peninsula. We specialise in creating modern cask conditioned ales and keg beers by combining traditional brewing techniques and fine ingredients with a modern approach.”

The beer: “Knee Buckler is a wonderfully golden IPA style beer. At 5.2% there is good strength and lots of initial hop bitterness which is matched with a little hint of sweetness from the use of  Crystal and Caramalts,  The aftertaste and aroma comes from a blend of American hops, Citra, Cascade and Columbus which gives a distinct fruity finish.”

Not my favourite style of beer but on a warm day, and it being nicely chilled, it went down very well indeed. 5.2% A.B.V. July 2022.

774: St Peters | Golden Ale

The brewery: “St. Peter’s Brewery is one of England’s original craft breweries, founded in 1996 in former traditional agricultural buildings alongside the moated St. Peter’s Hall, deep in the picturesque Suffolk countryside.”

The beer: “English Pale malts coupled with Challenger and Goldings hops provide the bitterness and aroma. The result is a highly distinctive light, golden ale, with caramel aromas, a pleasing toffee apple flavour and a late bitterness.”

I tend to gravitate towards darker beers more and more these days, however I liked this more than I expected too. A nice summer beer indeed. 4.7% A.B.V

June 2022