The Ale Archive

The Brewery: “Maxim Brewery began full production in Houghton le Spring in 2007. To brew the best beers possible requires the best brewery equipment available. Our 20 barrel brewery equipment was previously at the Canongate Brewery on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh’s historic Old Town. This was Scottish & Newcastle’s pilot brew house and as you would expect, was built to a very high specification. Indeed, it remains probably the best equipment of its size anywhere in the UK today….” The Beer: “Double Maxim’s ‘Big Brother’ and a multi award winner…….A strong premium ale brewed with a hint of Demerara sugars…….Dark ruby in colour, Maximus has a sweet liquorice taste that is warming and easy to drink. Beware of its underlying strength” Sound advice that last bit as this went down far too easily – a lovely drop although maybe that sweetness distracted me from the strength a bit. 6.0% A.B.V. March 2019. Another great find from the Monks Cross Asda near York.

What they say: “This beer, the oldest of the three Rochefort Trappist beers, has the reddish colour of autumn leaves, a soft body and an earthy, herbal palate (a hint of Darjeeling tea), which develops into a deep fruitiness.” My last taste of 2016 was a Trappist beer so it seemed apt that the first of 2017 would be too. Another one packed full of flavour – and alcohol. Not one to be sloshed back in a session but very enjoyable indeed. 7.5% A.B.V. January 2017