The Ale Archive

The brewery: "Originally the William Worthington Brewery, The Heritage Brewing Company is a 25 barrel brewery located in the National Brewery Centre. It was installed in 2011 within the fabric of the museum to replace the 5 barrel ‘Museum Brewery’, the oldest Micro Brewery in the Country.....The brewery utilises the famous Burton upon Trent well water, upon which brewing in Burton was built. The Museum Brewery was originally owned by Bass plc and run by Steve Wellington who came out of retirement to start the two microbreweries in the Bass Museum (now the National Brewery Centre) in 1995. He is credited for saving Worthington White Shield from extinction and both brewed and bottled the iconic IPA....History has now come full circle with creation of the Heritage Brewing Company. The Heritage Brewing Company acquiring the William Worthington Brewery, installed Steve Wellington as Head Brewer once again, will bring global favourites back to the market, including London’s popular Cha

The brewery: "RCH closed in 2017 and relaunched as Pitchfork Brewery. They continued to brew RCH's most popular beers, Pitchfork Ale, Old Slug Porter, Santa Fe and East Street Cream but expanded into Craft Beers." Sadly it seems Pitchfork stopped trading in the Spring of this year. Now brewed by Nuttycombe The beer. From the 'net: "Golden bitter with floral citric hop aroma, hoppy flavour sweet and fruity." Not my thing but pleasant enough after a dark and heavy ale. The Ostrich , Newland, Gloucestershire. August 2023

The brewery: " Established in early 2012 by Ant and Kate Stevens, Ledbury Real Ales is focused on producing a small range of high quality cask conditioned real ales. All our beers are made from hops grown in Herefordshire and Worcestershire with other materials sourced locally where possible. Our beers are sold mainly within a 15 mile radius of the brewery which allows us to meet one of our main aims of creating a local product for a local market." The beer: "Ledbury Bitter is a traditional copper colour with a noticeably bitter start. The late addition hop provides an enjoyable finish with hints of spice and citrus." Enjoyed this, a good honest bitter with a classic melange of flavours. Axe and Cleaver , Much Birch, Herefordshire. August 2023

The brewery: From Herefordshire CAMRA: "At the beginning of July 2010, Spinning Dog Brewery was renamed Hereford Brewery. Some of the beers have been rebranded, and new beers have been added." See more The beer: From Taste of Herefordshire: "This truly old fashioned premium ale id brewed using the finest ingredients to produce an ale with a perfect balance of Herefordshire hops and malted barley." Yep I'd agree with that, another straightforward tasty bitter. August 2023  

The brewery: "Clutching armfuls of awards and accolades from CAMRA, SIBA and many others, the Cask, keg, bottled and now cans of Brecon Brewing beers have been teasing the taste buds of the chosen since 2011 when they were conceived in the Brecon Beacons by the beer guru Buster Grant." The beer: "A dry Oat Stout - velvety smooth with a gentle fruity hop aroma and long a long, more-ish dry finish." Another lovely dark ale from Wales, very smooth indeed. August 2023

The brewery: "Tudor Brewery is a Family owned and managed traditional brewery which focuses on crafting quality Vegan & Gluten Free Beers, Ales and Stouts. These multi-award winning products have claimed the highest accolades in many competitions, including Champion Beer of Wales 2016 for Black Rock Porter, and Silver Champion Beer of Wales 2015 for Black Mountain Stout. The artisan ethos of Tudor Brewery has allowed the team to focus on delivering quality from the first taste to the last drop." The beer: "A smooth dark ale made with chocolate malt that tastes as velvety as it looks. Made for the ‘real’ real-ale drinker. Suits a vegan diet. 5.6% ABV." Delicious, no wonder it won awards. A superb beer. August 2023. Related entries

The brewery: "Tudor Brewery is a Family owned and managed traditional brewery which focuses on crafting quality Vegan & Gluten Free Beers, Ales and Stouts. These multi-award winning products have claimed the highest accolades in many competitions, including Champion Beer of Wales 2016 for Black Rock Porter, and Silver Champion Beer of Wales 2015 for Black Mountain Stout. The artisan ethos of Tudor Brewery has allowed the team to focus on delivering quality from the first taste to the last drop." The beer: "It is very smooth, with good body and has a light brown head that settles to a thin covering. Rich, chocolate and caramel flavours. A wonderful beer that also suits a vegan diet. 4.0% ABV. Wonderful indeed. Another cracking beer from Tudor. Related entries  

The beer: "The Teme Valley Brewery is a craft producer of cask and bottle-conditioned beers. Opened in 1997 to brew for The Talbot in Knightwick, Worcestershire (www.the-talbot.co.uk), the brewery has expanded and now sells directly to pubs and specialist off-licences across the West Midlands.” The beer: "A chestnut coloured best bitter brewed with crystal malt to give a robust malt flavour. Challenger and Sovereign hops give a bitterness to balance any sweetness." In amongst all the Porters and Stouts I've been trying it's nice to revert to a basic bitter occasionally - and this very good. Lovely colour, lovely taste. 4.1%  A.B.V. Related entries  

The brewery: "In the beginning Langton Brewery started at the back of the Bell Inn, East Langton in 1999. Originally, the brewery only intended to supply the pub and the local cricket club over the road. However, people started to really enjoy drinking the beer, and the team rather enjoyed crafting it. Especially after the head brewer came up with a little recipe called Inclined Plane.  So it was decided to up production and move Langton Brewery to the idyllic Grange farm at Thorpe Langton, Leicestershire in 2005." The beer: "A refreshing amber coloured bitter with a light floral finish.  The late addition of the Amarillo hop instils a distinct citrus flavour.  First brewed in 2004, this multi-award winning beer is named after the canal boat lift operating in the 1900s at the Foxton Locks in Leicestershire." Very refreshing, though a tad too citrusy for me. Good stuff though. 4.2% A.B.V. July 2023. Related entries  

The brewery: "In the beginning Langton Brewery started at the back of the Bell Inn, East Langton in 1999. Originally, the brewery only intended to supply the pub and the local cricket club over the road. However, people started to really enjoy drinking the beer, and the team rather enjoyed crafting it. Especially after the head brewer came up with a little recipe called Inclined Plane.  So it was decided to up production and move Langton Brewery to the idyllic Grange farm at Thorpe Langton, Leicestershire in 2005." The beer: "A generous addition of caramel malts defines this deep chestnut ale.  A sweetness on the palate results, which is offset by pine and citrus flavour notes.  This is a luscious, full-bodied brew which will leave you wanting another." Yum, lovely stuff - and yes I did want another! 4.4% A.B.V. July 2023. Related entries

The brewery: "We are Bespoke Brewery, we are driven by an unquenchable thirst for award winning real ale and a great community spirit!...We pride ourselves on being everything Royal Forest of Dean, and on being the number one brewery in this land. Although founded in 2012 the real work started in 2018 when, we a family group, headed up by myself, Matt, and my wife Milly, bought the brewery. We trimmed the fat, changed the minds of our customers and suppliers, and focused on producing a consistently perfect pint!" The beer: "Shrouded in forklore, this ale punches as much flavour as it does history. A surprising ale with the body of a porter, but the colour of a chestnut." Nice drop this - and the location certainly didn't hurt, sitting by the Wye in Symonds Yat in the afternoon sunshine. 4.2% A.B.V. Saracens Head , Symonds Yat East. August 2023

The brewery: Details here The beer: "This dark garnet-brown beer has a welcoming aroma of biscuity malt, with a touch of liquorice and some fruit. Crisp and not too heavy, on the sweet side of bittersweet but with bitter roasted grain and contrasting fruit notes. Well roasted grain dominates the dry, bitter finish." Bought from - as the name might suggest - the Deli in Dunster, Somerset, so was a little surprised to find it was brewed in my old home county of Cambridgeshire, several hundred miles away. However the brewers website explains all and, all that aside it was a lovely drop. Not too heavy but flavoursome. 4.5 % A.B.V. August 2023  

The brewery: "Red Rock is a family run brewery based on a farm in South Devon, South West England. Since 2006, we’ve been making our extensive range of award winning and quality real ales and beers using the finest natural ingredients and our very own pure spring water. Each of our Devon beers has its own individual flavour and we take great pride in our artisan approach to producing them." The beer: "A full flavoured, full strength winter brew – rich, robust and malty to start. Northern Brewer and Goldings hops, with a hint of Cascade, give the hearty brew a complex depth with flavours of caramel, liquorice and chocolate and overtones of roasted coffee and blackcurrant – a truly delicious beer." No argument from me, it was indeed delicious. Quite strong though so go easy or you'll be reaching for the paracetamol!  August 2023

The brewery: "Cheddar Ales began its artisan brewing activities in October 2006 and is based at Winchester Farm on the edge of Cheddar village, near the famous Cheddar Gorge." The beer: "Created in 2007 and named after a cave at the top of Cheddar Gorge. Legend has it that the cave was unearthed using a potty as a digging tool. Various Mesolithic artifacts were found but the young son of the cave finder couldn`t pronounce potty and insisted on calling it his totty pot. Multi award medal-winning bottle-conditioned Dark Porter with hints of roasted coffee and a creamy malt finish. Brewed using the highest quality Pale Ale, Maris Otter, Chocolate, Crystal, Wheat and Roasted Malts and hopped with a blend of English Northdown and Goldings hops." Of course, the name had me sniggering like a school boy but this was another fine dark ale - very moreish. 4.5% A.B.V. August 2023. Related entries

The brewery: "Cold Black Label was founded in 2004, and originally concentrated on it’s eponymous Lager, however, over the years, cask beers, ciders, wines and soft drinks have joined the collection." The beer: "The Imperial big brother of our luscious Welsh Milk Stout, brewed with six malts and hefty sprinkling of lactose sugar for greater depth of flavour.  Hopped with Junga and Kazbek hops, these hops provide a chocolatey black-forest aroma to compliment the subtle sweetness of this stout, which dries to a warmth of alcohol." Wow, potent stuff but very tasty too, lovely warming flavours. July 2023  

The brewery: "Gloucester Brewery was founded in 2011 on a love of beer and a vision for creative, sustainable brewing. Natural ingredients are the foundation of our beers from the timeless Gloucester Gold to our new IPAs meaning they don’t just taste great you can feel good about drinking them too." The beer: "A velvety smooth and subtly sweet award winning porter with a gorgeous aroma of coffee, chocolate & dark fruits." Potent and tasty, a lovely mix of flavours. 5.2% A.B.V. The Ostrich , Newland, August 2023

The brewery: "We are Hive Mind, started in 2018 by brothers Kit and Matt in the beautiful Wye Valley in the Welsh Borders. Combining our love of nature with our interest in brewing. We set out to create something as original as possible by taking the world’s oldest form of alcohol, and giving it a modern twist. What we have created is innovative, light, refreshing and rich in flavour, but also steeped in history. A true blend of old and new." The beer: "Made for long evenings and campfire circles. Big Smoke is our take on a classic London Porter, but with a rural twist. Inspired by a beekeepers trusty hive smoker, our honey porter is dark and smokey smooth, oozing with honey notes. This honey beer is brewed using honey from our bees and is paired with a rich, dark malt, smoked over beechwood." Ooh this was nice - very nice indeed. Powerfiul stuff though. August 2023  

The brewery: (May 2019) "The worst and best kept secret of Weobley is finally revealed! We are pleased to announce the launch of The Weobley Brewing Company! We are a Micro-Brewery located in the black and white village of Weobley. We are hoping to launch our first two Beers, which are currently being brewed, in the next few weeks. So keep your eyes peeled!" The beer: "This traditional brewed bitter with a modern edge is loaded with flavours of caramel & biscuit with a smooth citrusy hop finish. Why not try it in welsh rarebit or enjoyed with a roasted pork loin." It tasted good without the food alongside. A lovely robust bitter. August 2023.  

The brewery:  “Founded in 1993 by the Davis family, over the past 26 years Hobsons have grown to become a leading brewer in Shropshire and one of the most sustainable breweries in the UK. The success of our brewery and its many awards has been down to a strong culture of supporting our region, its people and its resources.” The beer: "A beer with a real twist, light and refreshing with a full, up front hop flavour followed by a crisp bitterness and citrus aromas." Yep, not my thing but it was pleasant enough - and relatively light too at 3.4% A.B.V. Lovely pub. Bottle & Glass , Picklescott, Shropshire. July 2023.

The brewery:  “Monty’s Brewery is based just a short distance from the ancient castle town of Montgomery, on the Powys - Shropshire border……….It was in January 2009 when the first casks were produced. It was only the third brew before Monty’s Sunshine started to get the recognition it still enjoys today, winning the “Darlington Spring Thing CAMRA Beer Festival”. It has since won numerous prizes, including Finalist Champion Beer of Britain.” The beer: "A rich full bodied gluten free stout full of chocolate and coffee flavours great at 5.5% Alc. Multi award winning." Another nice full bodied stout packed with flavour. July 2023. Related entries

The brewery:  “Founded in 1993 by the Davis family, over the past 26 years Hobsons have grown to become a leading brewer in Shropshire and one of the most sustainable breweries in the UK. The success of our brewery and its many awards has been down to a strong culture of supporting our region, its people and its resources.” The beer: "A beer filled with pride, a smooth dark stout with underlying liquorice notes, a smooth character and one with local substance, cut your drink miles by drinking a Dhustone." Very smooth and very tasty, bottle conditioned. 4.3% A.B.V. July 2023. Related entries

The brewery: "The Hop Shed is an award winning brewery based in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside. We set up the brewery on a hop farm, in a converted chicken shed, which has inspired the name for the brand and the beers, which are all named after breeds of chickens. Being uniquely positioned on a commercial hop farm, we have committed to making all of our beers with 100% local, British Hops, the majority of which are grown on our doorstep at Stocks Farm...." The beer: "A bitter-sweet dark ale created with hints of chocolate malt, molasses and Phoenix hops. Surprisingly easy drinking given the ABV. Won 2 stars in The Great Taste Awards 2019." Subtle flavours and very pleasant. Different from some of the more recent Porters I've had - less focus on the chocolate, coffee etc. 5.2% A.B.V. July 2023.

  The brewery: "We started trial brewing on a home brewery kit back in early 2009 when the country was in the depths of the recession, which is partly how the name Brightside arose. That and the fact that we also like The Killers!.....These days we’re an established name in Manchester, with a reputation for quality consistency and service. Our beers can be found in many of the free of tie pubs and bars in the city, out towards Crewe and Chester in the South, through the Wirral, and up to Preston in the North (in fact, across much of the UK by way of swapped casks with partner breweries and wholesalers)." The beer: "B&P Traditional is a traditional light copper coloured bitter, which focuses heavily on a biscuity, roasted malt profile. The hops are on the citrus side, but have been purposley kept subtle to be in keeping with this style of ale; just enough to balance the gentle malt sweetness, and provide a clean finish to the beer." Yep, nothing fancy but a good

The brewery: "You can find Enville Brewery nestled amongst the beautiful rolling hills and valleys of the South Staffordshire countryside. Whilst stables may not be the obvious choice for most emerging breweries, Enville’s founder could see that these unused farm buildings would be the perfect, if somewhat unlikely, home for a brewery. We have been brewing award-winning ales here in the village of Enville since 1993......We are proud to use only the highest quality ingredients and our own natural well water to brew a broad range of beers to satisfy all tastes. Of these beers, it is Enville Ale that started our journey 26 years ago, and continues to be a firm favourite amongst local drinkers and beyond. With its original recipe dating back to the 19th century, it is a traditional beekeeper’s ale that is still beloved in the 21st Century." The beer: "Based on a 19th century recipe, this traditional beekeepers ale is light in colour with fruity notes and a hint of sweetness

 The brewery: " In the beginning Langton Brewery started at the back of the Bell Inn, East Langton in 1999. Originally, the brewery only intended to supply the pub and the local cricket club over the road. However, people started to really enjoy drinking the beer, and the team rather enjoyed crafting it. Especially after the head brewer came up with a little recipe called Inclined Plane.  So it was decided to up production and move Langton Brewery to the idyllic Grange farm at Thorpe Langton, Leicestershire in 2005." The beer: "It takes seven different varieties of malt to produce this intensely dark stout with flavours of liquorice and chocolate.  A roasted malt aroma is complemented by a hint of vanilla to create a rich full-bodied stout. Natural sunlight through a Bullseye window on a canal boat is like no other.  Perfect for a lazy day snoozing and cruising." Another tasty drop from Langton - great combination of flavours. Not exactly a summer ale to be supping