The Ale Archive

The Brewery: “Bristol Beer Factory started life in 2004 brewing just a few standard cask conditioned ales in a vibrant part of south Bristol.  The building we have all our fun in is actually an old fermenting block which was built in 1904 for the Ashton Gate Brewery.  The Ashton Gate Brewery (or Thomas Bayntons Brewery) started brewing here back around 1820's - though there was a break for about 70 years between 1933 & 2004.” The Beer: “The original Bristol Milk Stout with smooth chocolatey sweetness and balancing coffee bitterness with hints of dark fruits. This award winning national champion stout is a beautifully creamy, full-bodied stout.” Yep, agree with all of this. Went down well whilst people watching in Theatreland on my recent visit to London. One of my favourite pubs too.4.5%. A.B.V. Related entries The Lyric , Soho, London. October 2019.

The Brewery: “We brew at Gun Hill, on a beautiful 140 acre organic mixed farm in the Sussex Weald. The farm has a history of hop growing and some survive to this day in the hedgerows……We spent a year refitting the barn, and installing all the equipment ourselves, before selling our first pint in January 2015. In making our beer we aim to tread lightly on our surroundings. We generate much of our own power from a 15kw solar array; heating from a wood powered boiler and our spent grains keep the local livestock happy…….All the water used for brewing comes from our own spring source deep below the organically farmed land. The water is microfiltered and UV treated to ensure its purity without the need for chemicals. It’s delicious and great for brewing.” The Beer: “It's the style that defines English Beer. That to some is simply 'real ale'. It is of course Best Bitter. Given this history and the amazing examples that are available, creating one is not something we've under...

The Brewery: “Volden Ltd brewed its first ale in April 2015 to supply Antic pubs exclusively with their own house beers. Our philosophy is to brew high quality British ales using best ingredients we can source from as close to London as possible..………. Our malted barley is Maris Otter grown in small fields in North Norfolk. Maris Otter is highly regarded as the best ale malt in the world. Our hops are all grown on English farms and we combine traditional with newer varieties that suit our beers’ flavour profile. Our yeast is a strong top cropper that allows us to pitch from one brew to the next ensuring quality and consistency.” The Beer: “Straw coloured, light bodied pale ale with a long hop finish” Rebranded - I assume - from the core Volden Pale, this was very easy drinking and I found the hops didn’t linger too much. Not my favourite from my latest visit to London but that’s down to the style of beer rather than quality. 4.6% A.B.V. Related entries Westow House , Crystal Palace, Lon...

The Brewery: “We are Boss Brewing, a multi-award-winning craft beer brewery from Swansea, South Wales. Our main boss is a woman; we’re one of the few female owned and led breweries in the UK…..It all began in an industrial unit on the outskirts of Swansea. We thought we’d be brewing on this site for at least five years, but we were bursting at the seams before we even reached our third birthday. We expanded into our current premises with ten times the floor space of our former unit in January 2018.” The Beer: “We crafted this St. David’s day beer using a ‘dragon’ hop.” Full tasting notes and flavours coming soon apparently. In the meantime I found this a very pleasant beer having approached with some trepidation after reading the pump-clip, expecting something loaded with hops. This well balanced pale ale was my first taste of Boss Brewing and very enjoyable it was too. 4.0% A.B.V. The White Hart , Crystal Palace, London. October 2019

The Brewery: “Duncan Sambrook founded Sambrook’s Brewery in 2008 when there were just five breweries operating in London.  With his vision of bringing brewing back into the heart of London, Duncan pulled ex-brewer David Welsh out of retirement and back into his dungarees and wellies. Together they converted an old photography studio in Battersea into the brewhouse, and in November 2008 the very first cask of Wandle rolled out the doors.” Nothing currently on their website but found this online which doesn't tell us much more: “A dark red ale brewed for the Six Nations. “ Hmm, well it was October so I’m guessing it was produced for the recent Rugby World Cup too. A nice drop that was perhaps a little less fruity and slightly more malty than many Red’s I’ve tried. Good to drink a local beer and have always enjoyed Sambrook’s other offerings. Related entries The Queens Head , Soho, London. October 2019

The Brewery: “The Five Points Brewing Company is an independent brewery based in Hackney, London, brewing with a commitment to quality and the community since 2013……..Our beers are inspired by the founders’ passion for both the British real ale tradition and the best of the international craft beer movement…..We are committed to the local and wider community – we were the first brewery in the UK to be an accredited Living Wage Employer and are proud to pay the London Living Wage. All our electricity is sourced from 100% renewable sources. We helped to establish an apprenticeship scheme for training brewers and we work to support local charitable, arts and community projects.” The Beer: “One of our very first beers with a recipe essentially unchanged ever since the first brew…..A classic, robust London style porter – with our own twist. Smooth and full-bodied, bursting with aromas of dark, bitter chocolate, and roasted coffee. Brewed with 100% British ingredients, East Kent Goldings Ho...

The Brewery: “We’re in our brand new brewery on a farm near Brighton. We feel passionately about our environment and embrace our rural location and local community. All the energy required for brewing comes from solar panels, we've planted and harvest our own hops and we even supply the farmer with all our spent grain to feed the cattle and hops for compost.“ The Beer: “Brewed using a complex mash to give it a distinct bright red copper colour. The addition of US hops Citra, Simcoe, Columbus and Amarillo ensures it also packs the punch associated with it’s style. The beer’s other DNA strand comes from the US West Coast yeast US-05. Yes, I like this and didn’t find it too hoppy. A beautiful colour and brewed just a few miles away. 4.6% A.B.V. October 2019 The White Rabbit , Brighton, Sussex.

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 ...

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….. S...

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 carav...

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

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.

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

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 w...

The Brewery: “In 1992, Paul Theakston took a daring leap into the unknown. As a fifth generation brewer of his family company, he chose to leave T&R Theakstons following its sale to a national brewery. Instead, he chose to champion independent brewing in Yorkshire and built his own brewery from reclaimed equipment in the very same town, Masham. Paul is the Black Sheep.” The Beer: “Our shepherds looked to the sky and across the universe. Venus, Goddess of beauty seduces the God of agriculture, Mars, to produce a beer which is out of this world….Venus & Mars is a perfectly balanced pint brewed with First Gold, Summit and Chinook hops to offer vibrant flavours of pine, stone fruit and orange pith. Pale ale and caramalt provide a sturdy backbone of smooth caramel.” Another from the Lidl ale festival, this didn’t hit the spot - a little too fruity for my fussy palate. Nowt wrong with it, it just wasn’t for me. 4.5% A.B.V. August 2019. Related entries .

The Brewery: “From the brewery that brought you the World’s first craft ale in a can… We have been producing our beer in cans since 1935 which makes us the oldest canners of craft beer in the world……As the name implies, Felinfoel brewery is situated in ‘Felinfoel’, a small village adjoining Llanelli in Wales. Historians tell us that in the old days the inn brewed its own beer, but only during the winter months. The keeping qualities and the strength of the beers, therefore, were of prime importance and the popularity of ‘Felinfoel Beer’ led to the local inn brewing for other inns in the locality. This, in turn, led to the present brewery being built in 1878 to accommodate demand.” The Beer: “Felinfoel ESB has a marvellously robust bitter ale giving lots of good body and a fruity aftertaste. A nice long finish on the palate with hints of toffee apple flavours.” First up of a handful of beers procured during the Lidl Ale Festival and what an opener. I’ve always enjoyed the more popular...

The Brewery: “Now in its seventh year of operation Poppyland Brewery has gained a reputation for doing different. For me, Martin Warren the Poppyland Brewer, it has been a challenge in semi-retirement, a means of self expression and it helped to satisfy my creative instincts. It made a small living too. As an ex-museum curator I couldn't help myself from revelling in the character and culture of North Norfolk and I reflected this in my beers. I have produced extraordinary ales that were far removed from industrial beer found in supermarkets or even beer found in British pubs. I have been exploring just what beer can be, using the best ingredients and new techniques, seeking to innovate and aiming to really please my customers. I often drew inspiration from the local environment and local history. Where I could I used local ingredients - wild and cultivated. Where I couldn't, I got the best ingredients from all over the world - like hops and yeasts.” The Beer: “Golden colour. G...

The Brewery: “Based in Great Yarmouth, Lacons Brewery is home to Lacons Encore, the award-winning amber beer. Our brewing team is passionate about using the finest ingredients to create amazing beers and our range includes bitter, pale ale, aged stout and a lager amongst others. Above all, we love beer and we want to make sure that when you buy a pint of Lacons you can see what all the fuss is about.” The Beer: “Legacy, our flavoursome blonde beer offers deep flavours. The first thing that hits you is the predominant lemon and grapefruit aroma before a burst of lemon and lime floods the senses. A mellow finish leaves you wanting more.” Had I read that description beforehand I may have tried something else. Regulars will know it’s not my thing at all. The heavy aroma had me suspicious and so it proved. Nothing wrong with - it just wasn’t for me. 4.4%. A.B.V. Related entries Sailors Home , Kessingland, Suffolk. August 2018.

The Brewery: “Based in Great Yarmouth, Lacons Brewery is home to Lacons Encore, the award-winning amber beer. Our brewing team is passionate about using the finest ingredients to create amazing beers and our range includes bitter, pale ale, aged stout and a lager amongst others. Above all, we love beer and we want to make sure that when you buy a pint of Lacons you can see what all the fuss is about.” The Beer: “Lacons Yarmouth Red beer is flavour packed and full of body, with roasted malt aromas, fruity flavours and a bitter finish……Inspired by the recipe for Yarmouth ale, which was first brewed during the dark years of the First World War.” I was delighted to come across another Lacons beer, guesting at the excellent Sailors Home in Kessingland, not far from the brewery. Regulars will know I like a nice red ale evry now and again and this didn’t disappoint. Full bodied and very flavoursome. 4.7% A.B.V. Related entries. Sailors Home , Kessingland, Suffolk. August 2019

The Brewery: “When the inviability of farming became obvious, we began to look for an alternative source of income and common work……..Brewing met our requirements. After much careful research and community discussion, we decided to revive the Abbey’s beer-making tradition……Although the historic recipe has been lost, we’re certain that the ale we’re brewing now is at least as delicious and nurturing……..We will keep the volume of production relatively small. Just enough to meet our expenses and support our charitable commitments. As of 2018, the brewery is our principal field of labour. All the work, from brewing to bottling and packaging, is done by the monks.” The Beer: “Trappist beers tend to be named after the place in which the monastery is situated. We’ve called ours ‘Tynt Meadow’, to honour the link with the plot of land on which monastic life was refounded here in the Midlands almost two centuries ago. Being part of the great Trappist tradition, we’ve chosen to produce a strong ...

The Brewery: “Brewed in the heart of East London, Truman's is all about crafting great beer with skill, belief and passion. One of the greatest names in British brewing, Truman’s has been a part of London life for almost 350 years. Closed in 1989 during dark days for the brewing industry, Truman's was reborn with the opening of our new brewery, The Eyrie, in Hackney Wick in 2013.” The Beer: “Lip-smackingly drinkable, Swift is brewed with both lager (Saaz) and ale (Cascade) hops for the perfect blend of flavour and refreshment. Juicy, gently hoppy and mellow it is a firm favourite of the brewery team after a hard day’s work.” It went down well, but then I had been working up a bit of a thirst. Not my favourite but ok. Didn’t offend but neither did it excite. 3.9%. A.B.V Devils Dyke , Poynings, East Sussex. August 2019

The Brewery: “Welcome to the Green Jack Brewing Company website. Green Jack was founded in 1993 by Tim Dunford, we are a multi-award winning traditional real ale brewery based in Lowestoft in Suffolk. From humble beginnings Green Jack has now grown into one of the largest real ale breweries in East Anglia. In 2009 we built a new 38 barrel brew house in an old smoke house in the heart of historic Lowestoft.” The Beer: “is a full-bodied, copper coloured, premium bitter brewed with English whole cone hops, rich and malty with fruity hop flavours. The pump clip features the Lowestoft-built stern trawler (1978) the Boston Sea Stallion, launched by none other than Mrs Thatcher….” Another cracking offering from Green Jack at the excellent Sailors Home pub, just a couple of minutes walk from the White House Beach Caravan & Motorhome Club site where I was staying. Everything I like about a Best Bitter. Well balanced and very moreish. I could have so easily got stuck into this, but at 4.6% ...

The Brewery: “Now in its seventh year of operation Poppyland Brewery has gained a reputation for doing different. For me, Martin Warren the Poppyland Brewer, it has been a challenge in semi-retirement, a means of self expression and it helped to satisfy my creative instincts. It made a small living too. As an ex-museum curator I couldn't help myself from revelling in the character and culture of North Norfolk and I reflected this in my beers. I have produced extraordinary ales that were far removed from industrial beer found in supermarkets or even beer found in British pubs. I have been exploring just what beer can be, using the best ingredients and new techniques, seeking to innovate and aiming to really please my customers. I often drew inspiration from the local environment and local history. Where I could I used local ingredients - wild and cultivated. Where I couldn't, I got the best ingredients from all over the world - like hops and yeasts.” The Beer: “Strong, hoppy, pa...

The Brewery: “Humpty Dumpty Brewery was founded in 1998 in Reedham, Norfolk, and moved to its current location on Church Road in 2001. We take our name from the GER Class T-19R steam locomotives that operated on the Norwich – Lowestoft line in the early 20th Century……..The 2-4-0 engines were front-heavy and looked as if they might fall off the line, and so were dubbed “Humpty Dumpties”.” The Beer: “One of our core beers. When: All year round. Description: Our best-selling golden session bitter. A delicate hop aroma leads to a light clean tasting finish.” Sampled in a the riverside garden of a lovely pub just a mile away from where this was brewed. It neither offended or excited but that’s me and golden ales. Would doubtless make a good session beer and I hope future visits to Norfolk bring forth the opportunities to try more from their range. 3.8% A.B.V. The Ship , Reedham, Norfolk. August 2019

The Brewery: “Welcome to the Green Jack Brewing Company website. Green Jack was founded in 1993 by Tim Dunford, we are a multi-award winning traditional real ale brewery based in Lowestoft in Suffolk. From humble beginnings Green Jack has now grown into one of the largest real ale breweries in East Anglia. In 2009 we built a new 38 barrel brew house in an old smoke house in the heart of historic Lowestoft.” The Beer: “…is very traditional in style, even though it is brewed with American hops. A deep amber coloured ale, Gone Fishing is fruity and malty - it goes down far too easily for a beer of this strength.” Oh wow. How I loved this - and their description is perfect. Despite it’s strength it was VERY easy drinking. A fantastic pint that was brewed just up the road from where I was at the time. Worth a shout out too is the Sailor’s Home pub for supporting local smaller breweries - and giving us the chance to sample their wares. 5.5% A.B.V. Sailor’s Home , Kessingland Beach, Suffolk. ...

The Brewery: “ Since 1795, the name Mauldons has been associated with well respected, award winning quality beers…..From our Micro brewery In Sudbury, we produce traditional bitters, stouts and porters, the most famous being the award winning Black Adder Stout….” The Beer: “A light crisp beer brewed with East Anglian malted barley. The presence of First Gold hops gives this summer beer a refreshing finish.” This followed the powerful and delicious Black Adder and given that golden ales are not my favourite I wasn’t expecting much. I have to say though, that in the pub garden on a warm afternoon, I quite enjoyed it. Would have been more enjoyable a tad colder possibly. 4.0% A.B.V Sailor’s Home , Kessingland, Suffolk. August 2019.

The Brewery: “ Since 1795, the name Mauldons has been associated with well respected, award winning quality beers…..From our Micro brewery In Sudbury, we produce traditional bitters, stouts and porters, the most famous being the award winning Black Adder Stout….” The Beer: “A dark bitter stout. Roast and nut aromas with a fruity balance of hops and dark malt provide an excellent lingering finish.” I was really pleased to get the chance to try another Mauldons beer whilst staying at Kessingland on the Suffolk coast and wasn’t disappointed. What a pint, I thoroughly enjoyed this and it’s worth mentioning the pub too. Up to seven real ales, many of which are constantly changing. Related entries. Sailor’s Home , Kessingland, Suffolk. August 2019.

The Brewery: “Founded in 1979, Exmoor Ales was one of the pioneer ‘Micro Breweries’ to stand against the onslaught of keg ale flooding the market from the ‘Big Brewers’. We concentrated on crafting ales of character and flavour which gained the support of the public and helped lead to the cask ale revival of the early eighties. That we were following the right path was confirmed when, with only our 13th ever brew, our 3.8% session bitter simply know as Exmoor Ale, was named Champion Best Bitter in the 1980 Great British Beer Festival” The Beer: “Orange-gold in colour, and 4.2% abv, Apollo uses three American hops in the blend, Apollo, Cascade and Willamette, the usage of which, according to Davis, ‘was a brilliant chance for us to go all-out and throw lots of American hops in and see where it took us. I have always loved New World pale ales and IPAs, especially those with Cascade and Willamette in combination, as I think they produce some wonderfully aromatic beers, with oodles of gra...

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: “The first beer we brewed and still many people’s favourite Weetwood ale. Brewed with British malted barley and hops to produce the rounded flavour and sharp bitterness of a classic Best Bitter” I was delighted to get my chops around a bottle of this after having tried a number of other beers in the range earlier in the year - this one was out of stock at the time. Given it’s strength it may not be a true Best Bitter - according to CAMRA certainly, but it was lovely. Nothing flash just a decent tasting beer that appealed to my awkward taste buds. I’m hoping that a possible trip to the North-West next year might yield the chance to try this on ...

The Brewery: “In 1992, Paul Theakston took a daring leap into the unknown. As a fifth generation brewer of his family company, he chose to leave T&R Theakstons following its sale to a national brewery. Instead, he chose to champion independent brewing in Yorkshire and built his own brewery from reclaimed equipment in the very same town, Masham…..Paul is the Black Sheep.” The Beer: “Famously “tempered over burning witches”, Holy Grail was originally created to commemorate the 30 th anniversary of Monty Python, and is a much-loved part of our bottled beer collection. Some 19 years on, The beer has been given a new lease of life with the recent reunion and the subsequent Spamalot tour…….Monty Python’s Holy Grail is a light golden beer with a fresh, zesty taste and a long crisp bitter finish. It’s brewed with a mixture of hops, including WGV, which gives the beer a light fruity nose. It’s a real tongue pleaser.” I tried the bottled version of this in 2016 and am not a great fan to b...

The Brewery: “The Loch Ness Brewing Company was first created adjacent to the shores of the mysterious stretch of water and home to the world’s most infamous monster – “Nessie”…….In late 2016 The Loch Ness Beer brand was rescued by a partnership between two well established Highland businesses - The Cobbs Group and Cairngorm Brewery. By pooling together resources the brand was rescued, ensuring it's continuation as a Highland produced craft beer…….The award winning Cairngorm Brewery has taken the reigns in developing an extended range of Loch Ness Beers - influenced by their brewing heritage. Loch Ness Beer was back on the shelves before Nessie had a chance to make her next appearance!” The Beer: “A full, flavoursome stout, with chocolate malt & roast barley combining beautifully with clear Highland Water…..A creamy head with aromas of coffee & sweet chocolate, leading to hints of espresso & luxurious black cherry.” Is is only fitting that the last of my beers from Sco...

The Brewery: “Many moons ago, in the black of the night, Viking invaders were about to attack our hometown of Stirling, when a howling wolf alerted the defenders, who saved the town. We raise a glass to that wolf. The Black Wolf.” The Beer: “Straddling beer and coffee, this stylish libation is both Alpha and Omega. With a welcoming aroma created from double strength coffee beans, accompanied by a silky smooth texture and a rich dark nature, it is clear as a full moon why it was awarded gold at the 2012 World Beer Awards……This sumptuous mocha brew is an excellent beer to imbibe with a decadent desert or as an avant-garde aperitif.” Well this was certainly different – I’ve never tasted anything quite like it – and the aroma as soon as the top was off was very inviting – but then I like coffee anyway. Certainly not one to be guzzled – the flavour is very intense and it is 6% A.B.V – but one to sip and savour. June 2019. The Scottish Real Ale Shop , Kilmahog, Stirling.

The Brewery: “One evening in 1992, some schoolteacher friends met in a local pub – and conversation turned to the lack of good beer on Skye. Someone jokingly suggested that setting up a brewery would be the only way to remedy the situation. At the time there were just six small independent breweries in Scotland – and none on Skye. Could it really work? It could, and it did. Three years later, we were finally ready to brew our first ale – Red Cuillin. It was such a success, we still brew it to the same recipe today. Only the name has changed – we now call it Skye Red.” The Beer: “Malted barley is a vital part of the Scottish brewing tradition. We use three different varieties to create the deep colour and smooth nuttiness; each grain is milled right here in our brewery, giving us complete control over flavour and freshness. Then we balance this rich brew with just the right amount of Challenger and Fuggle hops.” Having enjoyed a bottle of Sky Black back in 2016 I was keen to try anoth...

The Brewery: “The foundations were laid on 9th June 1994 when we took over the Border Brewery Company in Berwick upon Tweed (pictured). This was an 8 barrel brew plant with 15 barrels of fermenting capacity, selling 2 barrels per week at that time”… read more The Beer: “Dark, rich and full-bodied slightly roasted with a malty palate ending with a pleasant bitterness.” Not north of the border this one so a bit of an imposter in this series of Scottish ales procured during a stay with friends in Falkirk over Easter. It’s a very welcome one though as it was a lovely drop and much preferred over their Farne Island , sampled during our stay in Tyne & Wear last year. 4.3% A.B.V. June 2019. The Scottish Real Ale Shop , Kilmahog, Stirling.

The Brewery: “Opened on 14th May 1997, The Inveralmond Brewery is at the very heart of our beer. Situated in Perth, the brewery nestles between the fabulous rolling hills of Perthshire, the mighty Grampian mountain range and is surrounded by crystal clear rivers, providing inspiration and nourishment for the beers we produce and export around the globe.” The Beer: “To craft LIA FAIL our brewers selected flavour packed dark crystal and chocolate malts. This combination creates a warming malty body bursting with nutty, chocolate notes that we have balanced with spicy aromas from Cascade and Fuggles hops. It finishes full, mellow and satisfying. Hops: Challenger, Cascade, Fuggles. Malts: Pale ale, Dark Crystal, Chocolate, Wheat” Oh yum, gorgeous. A combination of flavours that was to my palate what good music is to my ears. So glad to come across another one of their beers after first trying the Ossian . 4.7% A.B.V though so no lightweight. June 2019 The Scottish Real Ale Shop , Kilmahog...

The Brewery: “The Kelburn Brewing Company is a family run business based in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is run by Derek Moore, his son Ross and daughter Karen.The company was formed in October 2001 and commenced brewing in April 2002……In the mid seventies, Derek realised that the quality of ale in the U.K. left something to be desired and determined to do something about it….As a science graduate from Paisley University he had some knowledge of the brewing process and decided to develop this through his experiments in home brewing. He was greatly assisted by the brewers at the now sadly defunct Strathalbyn Brewery.” The Beer: “Smooth, dark and dangerous, this ale is designed to warm the cockles of your heart whilst sitting around the ingle after a long cold winter’s day outdoors. Although dark and and robust the aftertones of liquorice and blackcurrant make this an ale of complex character, not to be missed.” You know me, I like a dark beer every now and again and this di...

The Brewery: “Combining the art of traditional brewing methods with the island’s unique water and only the finest natural ingredients the brewery produces a wide range of beers and ales to suit every palette”………”Nestled between the islands largest mountain, Goatfell and the imposing Brodick Castle lies Arran Brewery which has been brewing award winning craft beer for over a decade.” The Beer: “ Nose: Citrusy grapefruit notes are abundant, backed up with some essences of used leather and a scent of smokiness to finish off…. Palate: Powerful flavour of citrus fruits from the hops. There are dry notes of grape fruit, wood, some smoke just like the aroma of the beer…. Finish: Soft fizzy mouth feel throughout with a rather clean and crisp finish; very light-bodied and mild flavoured ale.” Yep, you’re right, I wasn’t keen, just too citrusy for me. Nothing wrong with it, it was crystal clear but I certainly didn’t find it mild flavoured. I’d avoid it in a bar unless there was nothing else....

The Brewery: “Cairngorm Brewery Company is a craft brewery established in 2001, situated in the village of Aviemore within the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland.” The Beer: “Mahogany ale - fuggles hops are added to give an initial bitterness that is balanced by a caramel finish….The Stag – The undisputed Monarch of the Glen. Stag _- the most regal of beers! Good strong flavours without being too strong overall, a beer with real character that you can enjoy all evening.” The second of my ten beers procured from The Real Ale Shop   and I suspect it will end up as one of my favourites of the ten. The description says it all - tasted a lot stronger than the 4.1% ABV might suggest. No fruitiness. June 2019.

The Brewery: “….Our processes create only the finest hand-crafted ales, using the traditional methods developed and handed down through time. Only the finest ingredients and purest Orcadian water can create these outstanding, full-of-flavour ales. So next time you sip one of our brews, you can be sure it was made with the best malt, hops, yeast, Orcadian water — and a long, long history of making quality ales……” The Beer: “Raven Ale dominant malt character is a balance between juicy pale ale malt and a biscuity, toasty malt flavour this give way to a clean spicy orange bitterness. Aromas of orange, lemon and fresh apple” The first of ten beers from north of the border procured from The Real Ale Shop whilst staying with friends near Falkirk over Easter. I flew up for the weekend so said friends kindly brought down my purchases to a caravanning meet up in the Cotswolds  a few weeks ago. This was the first of three in this particular ‘research’ session - easy drinking but I let it do...

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: “An uncomplicated easy drinking beer to please the crowds. Simply brewed with pale malt, a touch of wheat and British hops.” The last of my beers from Cheshire for now and probably the one I enjoyed the least of the three - nowt wrong with it mind and very flavoursome. Just not my favourite style. Noticeably quite strong and a good summer ale, served slightly colder than the usual. 5% A.B.V. June 2019

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: “No need for new tricks here, this is as traditional as it gets. Maris Otter and dark roasted malts create a wonderful deep colour and buckets of English hop varieties combine for extra flavour. How odd. I fully expected to enjoy this more than the Eastgate Amber Ale given my usual preferences for darker beers. It was enjoyable enough certainly and I can only put it down to the fact the Eastgate was the first (and second) after a long dry week and this followed on the next night.  4.5% A.B.V. June 2019

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: “Brewed for the centenary of Chester’s Eastgate clock. A Champion beer of Cheshire, brewed exclusively with whole leaf Cascade hops for a fruity foretaste and distinctly hoppy flavour. Has a long sweet finish and a very large fan base.” Ok, those who look as this blog regularly - both of you - will assume from the description that I wouldn’t enjoy this much, but in fact I did. Certainly there was a slightly sweet finish but it wasn’t too hoppy for my fussy palate. In the interests of thorough research I had a second which I’d put in the fridge at the same time. It was, understandably cooler but this didn’t impair the flavour at all. I was really...

The Brewery: “Dorset Brewing Company was founded in 1996, when Giles Smeath restored an 800-year-old brewing tradition to the Dorset port of Weymouth in the heart of the World Heritage Coastline (the Jurassic Coast)……Dorset Brewing Company relocated in 2011 to Crossways and upgraded to a state-of-the-art spring water-fed brewhouse capable of crafting 1.5 million pints a year.” The Beer: “Rusty full bodied ale with a warm caramel flavour and hints of marmalade on the nose.” One of the events of our special caravanning meet up was a beer and cheese ‘festival’. Lot’s of beers from all over the country were on offer, the idea being that you sampled a drop of many rather than a whole bottle of few. This was one of the left overs and very nice it was too. As the label says, a classic premium ale – not too sweet though a bit more bitterness would have satisfied my fussy palate even more. 5% A.B.V. May 2019

The Brewery: “Windsor and Eton are already famous for many things. The castle, college, river, racecourse and of course the Royal connections. In 2010 the four of us wanted to add beer to the list. In fact we had a wild idea to make beer the top attraction. So we brought brewing back to the heart of Windsor…..We are proud to be part of the revolution in beer making throughout the world. As founder members of the London Brewers Alliance, we have helped grow the number of the Capital’s breweries from 11 in 2010 to over 90 today.” The Beer: “The first beer brewed in Windsor for more than 80 years was launched on St George’s Day 2010 – it remains one of our best sellers to this day…….A lovely copper coloured session strength ale with a tangy taste, yet a really smooth fresh hop finish, ensuring that it is very ‘quaffable’. My favourite style of ale and this did not disappoint, everything I like about a beer and in a lovely setting too - overlooking the times prior to the start of the Army...

The Brewery: “Twickenham Fine Ales is London’s oldest micro-brewery……Founded by Steve Brown in 2004, Twickenham has been at the forefront of the resurgence of breweries in London. ….Twickenham Fine Ales was the first brewery in Twickenham since Cole’s Brewery closed in 1906…..In the beginning there was a 10 barrel plant which was installed in a small unit opposite a Greggs Bakery factory – pint and a pasty seeming natural bedfellows.” The Beer: “Outstanding, glorious, hoppy golden ale using Herkules, Celeia and Chinook hops for full-flavoured satisfaction. Inspired by the statues of water nymphs in York House gardens in Twickenham, known locally as the “Naked Ladies” “ Appropriate to start with a beer from this brewery as the purpose of our visit was for the Army v Navy rugby match. Not my sort of beer as you have guessed from the description but enjoyable enough, particularly if you can arrange a nice warm summers day to go with it. 4.4% A.B.V. The Royal Oak , Twickenham. May 2019.

The Brewery: “Andy Hepworth started brewing in Reading almost directly after University. He moved to Horsham in 1980 and within five years became the youngest Head Brewer in the country, winning many awards. The long-standing tradition of brewing in Horsham came to an abrupt halt in 2000 with the sale of its last brewery and so Andy, determined to maintain that tradition, joined up with the key members of the brewing team in order to create Hepworths, an independent brewery aiming to build its own range of quality brands, while maintaining flexibility for contract work….. The Company was established in 2000 and started production in 2001.” The Beer: “Slightly sweeter than most of our ales, Red Export has a delicate hop character reminiscent of Irish Red Ales” I got quite into red ales when we went to Ireland in the caravan a few years ago and still enjoy one occasionally. This was a gift from a colleague who in turn had been given some for his birthday - however he is a coeliac and cou...

The Brewery: “Opened on 14th May 1997, The Inveralmond Brewery is at the very heart of our beer. Situated in Perth, the brewery nestles between the fabulous rolling hills of Perthshire, the mighty Grampian mountain range and is surrounded by crystal clear rivers, providing inspiration and nourishment for the beers we produce and export around the globe.” The Beer: “Our brewers selected flavour packed, slow kilned ale malt, caramalt and biscuity malted wheat to craft a malt backbone which is then beautifully complemented by a heady hop aroma of zesty lemon and orange citrus. This golden ale finishes refreshing and moreish.” Lemon and orange? Yep, one I’d enjoy more on a hot summers night than by the fire in winter but it made a nice accompaniment to stint in my friends hot tub during a lovely stay at their house near Falkirk over Easter. 4.1% ABV. April 2019.

The Brewery: “Broughton Brewery was founded in 1979 by David Younger and James Collins in a former sheep station in the wee village of Broughton in the Scottish Borders. It was the first initiated Scottish microbrewery, which appealed to customers looking for a new “craft beer” experience outside the traditional mass-produced lager and exports. Scots, wanted something more, something dynamic, different, and with real flavour, hop character, and taste.” The Beer: “A wonderful blend of the finest Scotch Ale and a dark roasted stout creates this Double Ale with double the flavour and double the character.” Another from my Easter stay with friends near Falkirk and what a drop this was. Strong, dark and very yummy. Bottle conditioned though so careful pouring required. 5.6% A.B.V. April 2019.

The Brewery: “The Williams Bros. Brewing Co. started life in the humble ‘ Glenbrew ’ homebrew shop in Glasgow. This was the family owned business that was both our occupation and passion……..In 2004 we took over the ‘Forth Brewery’ at Kellibank, Alloa where Maclay’s had been contract brewing and packaging their beers since the sale of their old Alloa brewery. It was at this stage in proceedings that Heather Ale Ltd became Williams Bros. Brewing Co…….” The Beer: “A blend of 7 grains, 3 hop strains and a late infusion of elderflower: This aromatic IPA was named by Scott's daughter. It pours a deep gold with aroma's of elderflower and citrus hops, followed by sweet caramel. On the tongue the biscuity malts are perfectly balanced with the bitterness of the hops, with a lingering floral elderflower aftertaste. Procured from the local Aldi whilst staying with friends near Falkirk - they had a great selection but sadly my stay wasn’t long enough to try more than a few. A bit ‘flowery’...

The Brewery: “Situated in Larbert, Tryst Brewery has been producing quality ales since 2003. John McGarva, owner and head brewer, is always focusing on adding new twists to traditional recipes to create unique takes on classic ales. All of our brews are made with Scottish malt from Mungoswells in East Lothian with additions from Bairds Malt to add depth of colour and flavour. To keep our beers evolving we use hops from all over the globe allowing for a broad range of tastes and aromas.” The Beer: “A robust & satisfying dark ale with a complex flavour of dark chocolate & liquorice that is rewarding on the palate.” Much more ‘full-on’ than the Lade Back it was another very satisfying pint accompanying an excellent meal at the Lade Inn. Well worth a stop if you find yourself in this neck of the woods at the Scottish Real Ale shop next door is heaven on earth. 5.1% A.B.V The Lade Inn , Kilmahog, Perthshire. April 2019