The Ale Archive

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: "A copper coloured, full-bodied organic best bitter made with organically grown malted barley, and organic hops to give the distinctive fully hopped character. This Best Bitter has a sweet biscuit aroma and pleasing citrus hop flavours from the Sovereign, and First Gold hops. Proudly certified by Soil Association." A tad hoppier than I would have preferred but veryt tasty nonetheless. Another good quality best bitter. 4.1% A.B.V.  January 2023.

 The brewery:  " 1995 5 barrel brewery founded behind The Pot Kiln pub 1999 Expansion to 10 barrel brewery in the old village bakery 2005 Expansion to 25 barrel brewery close to the old dairy 2007 Current Head Brewer Will Twomey joins as a trainee 2017 Expansion to 36 barrel brewhouse & packaging line 2018 Shop, Taproom & Kitchen open 2021 Brewery acquired by Yattendon Group 2022 We’re re-born as Renegade" The beer: " A multi award winning classic English Bitter with a silky-smooth mouth feel. Good Old Boy is brewed with a blend of rich malted barley and fruity hops to produce an exceptionally well-balanced and full-flavoured beer." Another delicious no nonsense best bitter, very tasty. 4.0% A.B.V. January 2023

  The brewery: "Brewhouse & Kitchen is the perfect place to eat and enjoy freshly brewed, hyper local, award-winning craft beers in Hoxton. There’s so much going on at your local B&K, such as weekly Masterclasses on brewing, beer, whisky & gin, and much more…….." The beer: "Traditional, Caramel, Bitter. In tribute to the first recorded land owner of where the brewpub now stands is Sir Humphrey Starkey – a British Justice who practised during the time of King Henry VI, the 100 year war and when beer drinking was considered mandatory…" Another good honest bitter, brewed just a few yards from where I was drinking it. 3.6% A.B.V. Brewhouse & Kitchen Hoxton , February 2023  

The brewery: "We are Mad Squirrel; a forward thinking, contemporary brewery based just outside of London at the foot of the Chiltern Hills. Since 2010 we have continuously grown and evolved, often in unexpected ways, but always with a boundless enthusiasm for quality, an inquisitive approach to flavour, and a restless desire to better ourselves." The beer: "An old school bitter for the 21st century, Mister Squirrel is classy liquid. It is a balanced and respectable brew, with vintage notes of toffee, vanilla, and nuts. A beer like they used to be, Mister Squirrel is proof that these are the good old days." It's always nice to try a beer from a 'new' brewery and this did not disappoint. A good old fashioned best bitter - very tasty. The Ice Wharf , London, February 2023

  The brewery:  "Immortalised in the name of one of Fuller’s famous ales, 1845 is a year that will forever be synonymous with Fuller, Smith & Turner. It was then that the partnership papers between the three families were officially signed, marking the start of something very special for London’s pub and beer scene." The beer: "London Porter is a smooth and satisfying beer and this example of an historic style of beer derives its rich, chocolatey character from a blend of brown and chocolate malts in the brew. Its coffee notes and creamy finish make it a wonderful accompaniment to many sweet foods ...." Another fine ale from Fuller's. A lovely combination of flavours - very tasty indeed. 5.4% A.B.V. February 2023  

The brewery (from Wikipedia) :  Daleside Brewery was established in the mid 1980s in Harrogate. It moved to Starbeck in 1992 and went through periods of enlargement up until 1999. The company was founded by Bill Witty and in 1991, his son, Craig Witty became head brewer. Craig took over running the company when his father died in 2007 and continues to be the driving force of this very popular micro brewery. The beer: Looks like a new website under construction so no 'official' description. Sampled after a late breakfast with a couple of colleagues in a 'Spoons'. Not as fruity as many Christmas ales but it was pleasant enough although not particularly clear. No complaints though at £2.59/pint. January 2023. Related entries.  

The brewery: "The original brewery in Ilkley was founded in 1873 but was swallowed by Bass in the 1920s. We draw inspiration from our roots but maintain a focus on the future; our unique interpretation of what beer should, and can be." The beer: "The Sauvignon Blanc of beer....Crisp and dry with a zesty finish and fresh-cut grass aroma. Powerfully hopped for a floral finish." Yeah, not a favourite style of mine. Meant more for a warm summers day outside rather than indoors in front of a fire perhaps. Crystal clear though  and a lovely colour.  

The brewery: "The Yorkshire Pudding Beer Brewery is an award winning brewery located in Malton, the Food Capital of Yorkshire. Any visitor to Malton cannot fail to the miss the large Yorkshire Pudding Recipe mural on the wall by the Livestock Market. It's believed to be the first ever Yorkshire Pudding Recipe by Hannah Glass in 1747." The beer: "Yorkshire Pudding Beer was created by Howard Kinder, the owner of Malton Brewery in the Summer of 2019.  The first brew was made that Summer and it was sold for the first time at the beginning of 2020. It was only on sale for 90 minutes before it was sold out. The same thing happened to the second brew, it was sold out within a couple of hours. It became pretty evident that a brew size of 200 litres was insufficient. We now brew it in 5,000 litres and use over 4,000 Yorkshire Puddings. It's a cracking 3.6% Pale Ale. You will try it once for the novelty, then you will buy it again because you like it!" A gift from a c

The brewery: "Bristol born and made to stand out, Butcombe Brewing Co. began life at a time of cultural, social and political change, crafting beer before ‘craft beer’ was even a thing. You see, at that time, no one was risking it all starting a brewery, making simple, premium, easy-drinking ale. To do so was an act of defiance. Or madness. But, 44 years and a lot of hard graft later, by staying true to our beliefs and Bristolian roots, it looks like owning a resolutely maverick brewing company isn’t such a crazy idea after all. By going against the grain, to work intimately with it, we made our own statement with every pint. And what was true then is just as important today. The beer: "Rare Breed is the result of Adam Henson’s dedication to sustainable farming and a passion for characterful, artisanal beer. Using the finest Maris Otter malting barley and aromatic Fuggles hops, delicious, fruity Cascade and Amarillo hops and, of course, purest Mendip Spring Water, Rare Breed

The brewery:  "Welcome to Britain's oldest brewer. We’re dedicated to brewing great beer and running the best pubs. Just as our beers span the range of classical, heritage and modern, so our pubs reflect the character and diversity of their locations. With more than 300 pubs throughout London and the South East, from the historic heart of the City to the Kent coastline, there is a Shepherd Neame pub to suit all tastes." The beer: "This ale is brewed using mineral water drawn from the artesian well deep beneath the Shepherd Neame brewery. It is heated and combined with crushed Pale Ale and Crystal malts at the very start of the brewing process. The generous additions of UK Cascade and East Kent Goldings hops produce a bittersweet, fruity flavour to this medium bodied ale. It is a well balanced, clean crisp beer with hints of coloured malt character." Another good 'own brand' ale by Shepherd Neame for Sainsbury's along with the London Porter . I've

The brewery: "Welcome to Britain's oldest brewer. We’re dedicated to brewing great beer and running the best pubs. Just as our beers span the range of classical, heritage and modern, so our pubs reflect the character and diversity of their locations. With more than 300 pubs throughout London and the South East, from the historic heart of the City to the Kent coastline, there is a Shepherd Neame pub to suit all tastes." The beer: "A satin-smooth and silky traditional London-style porter, produced by Shepherd Neame, Britain's oldest brewer. Sticks of liquorice, added to the rich roster of dark malts, give this dark beer a black cherry, plummy aroma. On the palate, the full-bodied yet quenching beer delivers chocolate and prune flavours and a long smoky finish. It is brewed with charred malt and English hops to give a truly unique flavour." I like this, loved the smokiness to it. very enjoyable. 5.0% A.B.V December 2022  

The brewery: “Y Bragdy Mws Piws / The Purple Moose Brewery is a '40-Barrel' micro-brewery based in the historic harbour town of Porthmadog, North Wales, close to the mountains of Snowdonia. Brewing commenced on 14th June 2005 with a one-off special pale ale at 3.5% called "No.1". The beer: "Crystal malted barley combined with aromatic hops, creates a smooth full bodied malty beer. The perfect accompaniment to an evening of Christmas cheer in front of a roaring open fire. Strong bitter 5.0% ABV. Deep red Malty hoppy winter fruits." Another seasonal and I liked this. The fruitiness was dialled down a bit which suited my palate well. December 2022. Related entries  

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: "Every family has their Christmas traditions and Plum Pudding is one of ours. Back by popular demand, we've created nothing less than Christmas in a glass." A seasonal - obviously - and very fruity and sweet. Nice for a change and it had some very powerful flavours, but not one I'd go for all the time. 4.8% A.B.V. December 2022. Related entries  

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: "Breweries often used to hold back their extra special bitter for the Directors or Chairman, but we think everyone should enjoy the very best. Named in honour of John Lees, it's a colourful, well-balanced and full-bodied premium bitter, with a nutty finish. Our recipe makes use of ale and crystal malt, and Pilgrim and Golding hops. The result is a beer with nothing held back, fit for the good man himself." Very tasty, just the job in a warm pub after a cold day out. Lovely. 4.5% A.B.V. December 20

The brewery:  "Solar generation system on the roof of brewery which reduces electricity consumption by approximately 30%......Spent Grain is re-used as cattle feed.....Waste Beer, Yeast & Hops & Wort is re-used in Anaerobic Digestion to generate Energy........We use very little water in making our beer with 3 Litres of Water used to produce 1 Litre of beer, this is well below the industry standard of 5:1......Our beers are Cask & Bottle Conditioned. This means very little cooling is required (cooling uses LOTS of energy)......No expensive chemicals & no Filtration (Filtration can produce as much as 20% waste beer, Not Good!) By doing this we get better tasting beer as well as helping the environment." The beer: "Authentic Victorian style Porter. Chocolate malt, toffee and hints of dried fruit and liquorice." Very tasty, although the chocolate and toffee malts weren't as prominent as in some porters so side by side this could perhaps come out a li