The Ale Archive

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% ...