The Ale Archive

The brewery: “In the 1960s, we were taken over by a London brewer who closed Lacons down.  We subsequently reclaimed our independence in 2013 and started brewing again…….Based in Great Yarmouth, Lacons Brewery is home to Lacons Encore, the award-winning amber beer……Although the Lacons name goes back to the mid-18th century, our modern day brewery applies the latest technology to the age-old craft of brewing beer. We’ve taken the best of the old Lacons recipes (plus the original Lacons yeast) and tweaked them to create modern beers with years of heritage.” The beer: “Big, bold, Beautiful…An intensely satisfying ale that makes any occasion special….Affinity is our boldest ale – with a passion for fruit and nut.” Sampled on a cold Decembers’ day this didn’t really work for me but I could imagine it on a warm summers’ afternoon, maybe chilled a little more than is usual for ale. 4.8% A.B.V. December 2020. Related entries

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: “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.

What they say: “Glowing with a pale amber hue, this flavour packed ale leads with delicate fruit aromas, comfortably balancing a dry pine and citrus crescendo of flavour throughout followed by a finish that is long and dry” I was looking forward to this having enjoyed the excellent Falcon Ale when it guested at our local last year. Again, this had the perfume like aroma but this time the flavour backed it up, so not one for me. The setting could have been worse though! 3.8% A.B.V. Beach View Cafe Bar , Suffolk. August 2016

What they say: “ A time honoured classic dark bitter with an auburn glint. Elaborately balanced use of hops and malt paves the way to complex flavours which are charming and lightly spiced. The finish is perfectly balanced between fruitiness and bitterness”. The very latest to guest at our local and a mighty fine pint it was too. The only thing that stopped it trumping the ever excellent Harvey’s Sussex Best was the the slightly off putting perfume like aroma. Other than that - terrific. 4.2% A.B.V The Rottingdean Club, East Sussex. June 2015