The Ale Archive

What they say: A beer to win your vote, well balanced and copper coloured, brewed with pale ale and crystal malts and British Archer and Minstrel hops. Floral aromas and flavours of spiced berry fruit, orange and lime are complimented by the sweet malty character and balanced bitterness of this satisfying beer. Another pub in Rottingdean that keeps an ever changing selection of real ales is the Queen Victoria and this ale provided the liquid accompaniment for an excellent Sunday lunch. A nice all round pint and the floral aromas alluded to above didn’t penetrate my nasal passages too much! 4.1% A.B.V. The Queen Victoria , Rottingdean, East Sussex. May 2015

Maybe I need to brush up my search skills but I couldn’t find any mention of this anywhere. There wasn’t even a listing on Perfect Pint, however since it was sampled on a rare visit to the White Horse in Rottingdean, which is an ‘Olde English’ brand owned of course by Greene King it’s a little easier to guess it’s provenance. Rebadged IPA it wasn’t - lighter in colour and flavour - a very easy drinking pint that’s unlikely to offend - or excite - many palates. 3.9% A.B.V. The White Horse, Rottingdean, East Sussex. May 2015.

What they say: 1st Class Refreshment. A sophisticated full-flavoured premium bitter combining the best barley from the north & robust southern hops. Profoundly malty in aroma but balanced with hints of raisins, spice and toasty dryness. Guesting at our occasional Friday night after work haunt The Spanish Lady. Served a little too cold but otherwise everything I like about a beer. Would happily drink again. And again. 4% A.B.V. The Spanish Lady , Saltdean, East Sussex. April 2015

What they say: A chocolate coloured beer brewed with dark ,succulent chocolate malts and real cocoa nibs which give a real fruity indulgent cocoa flavour, fused with chunky hop flavours. Our return to our local The Rottingdean Club after our schools Easter holiday found this seasonal offering as the current guest ale. A bit of coincidence considering we’d recently been in Batemans country in Lincolnshire. Yes, I enjoyed it but in preference to the regular and excellent Harveys Best? No, not quite. 4.2% A.B.V. Rottingdean, East Sussex. April 2015  

What they say: We've been messing around with coriander in beer since 1988, just as they did back in the 1700's. The coriander in our multi-award winning Umbel Ale gives a floral aroma, fruity tang and a well-rounded finish. Thirst quenching and absolutely cracking with spicy food. The beer writer Michael Jackson said of this amber beer: "This astonishingly fresh-tasting, bone-dry lemony brew is addictive and appetising: a distinctive arid beautiful beer". Yes, pleasant and refreshing and ideal for summer but regulars will know that it’s not really to my taste. 3.8% A.B.V. The last beer on our Easter getaway sadly. Nottingham. April 2015

What they say: …….this is a rich, toffee-flavoured beer bursting with fruity character that is perfectly balanced with a clean, bitter finish. Taking it’s name from the famous ‘Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem’ in Nottingham and that’s where we found it. Ale heads will know that it’s actually brewed by Greene King, once a little Suffolk brewery but now seemingly intent on world domination. They also own the pub. Credit where it’s due though, this was a fine pint and at 4.3& A.B.V not too strong for a few - although circumstances prohibited testing that particular theory! Nottingham. March 2015

What they say: A traditional amber-coloured session ale with a flavoursome malt character and lively hoppy finish...a beer that will be talked about for generations. Originally established in 1847, the name was revived in 2001 in the form of a micro brewery housed in a former pub. We came across this in the famous ‘ Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem’ reported to be the oldest pub in England. Yeah, another one. With at least eight hand pumps there was a wide choice for the ale head but this one - chosen by the other half didn’t disappoint 4.0% A.B.V so a nice balance of strength and flavour. Nottingham. March 2015