The Ale Archive

The brewery: "Oakham Ales is a multi-award winning brewery with a worldwide reputation for its innovative approach and for the quality and consistency of its brews. Founded in Oakham (Rutland) back in 1993 and now based in Peterborough, Oakham Ales is the home of much loved and hugely respected beers including Oakham JHB and Oakham Bishops Farewell. Famous as the first UK brewery to brew a beer with 100% US sourced Citra hops, adding Oakham Citra and its big brother Green Devil IPA to our list of UK beer legends." The beer: "The Original UK Citra®! Light gold in colour, bursting with citrus and tropical hop flavours and sensationally refreshing. In 2009 on his annual hop sourcing visit to the USA, Oakham’s Brewing Director John Bryan discovered an exceptional new hop variety – Citra®. He rushed it to the UK, ensuring that Oakham Ales were the first UK brewery to brew a beer with 100% Citra® hops and maintaining Oakham’s reputation for pioneering innovation." As you...

The brewery: "Founded in Oakham (Rutland) in 1993 and based in Peterborough since 1998, Craft Brew Legends Oakham Ales celebrate 30 years of brewing in 2023." The beer: "A smooth, dark and sumptuous stout brewed with no less than 8 different types of malt. With as you’d expect, a liberal dash of moreish Oakham hoppiness from plenty of Centennial and Olicana hops. March 2024. Related entries

What they say: “A strong premium beer of structured quality dominated by elaborate fruity hop notes, with a grainy background and dry finish. “ Yeah, those pesky hops did dominate a little but it was quite refreshing. 5.0% A.B.V. November 2016

What they say: A golden beer whose aroma is dominated by hops that give characteristic citrus notes. Hops and fruit on the palate are balanced by malt and a bitter base. Dry hoppy finish with soft fruit flavours. Sampled at the Three Horseshoes Inn in Houghton, Cambridgeshire in August 2014. Regulars to Ale Archive will know from reading the above that it’s not my sort of beer. To me it was akin to drinking a vase of flowers. Nothing wrong with it, but the ‘Bitter’ in the name is a bit of a misnomer in my opinion.

What they say: “Light ale with complex fruit leaving a dry, fruity, bitter finish on the tongue.” Not what I was expecting given the name and regulars will know that I’m not a fan of fruity beers. One must experiment though and there was plenty to choose from in this great pub in Bedfordshire. 4.0% A.B.V. The Engineers Arms , Henlow, Bedfordshire. July 2016