This is 100% pure Barnstormer, by Bath Ales, and is a really rather fine ale to be drinking for free.  Slightly stouty with a gentle hopsy tang, drinkable till the cows come home and disturb your peace, it comes very recommended!

Why do I have beer in a milk bottle, you may ask?  And indeed, I do too, since I appear to have forgotten.  How much did I drink?  Wait, I remember a wedding, and volunteering to take the leftovers…  After that its pretty much a slurr… I mean blurr.. I mean, want a drink? Com’on down, I’m trying to shift 18 pints with a shelf life of less than a week here!

(Disclaimer: I actually left this at work and told people to help themselves… I think people find “free beer” a bit scary.  Were I flogging it at ripoff prices and calling myself a “wine bar” I bet it would’ve gone faster!)

Skinners Cornish Knocker – This pale ale was enjoyed draught by Andy and myself in the sunshine in Falmouth overlooking the harbour.  It was strong, not to sweet, slightly floral and awesomly refreshing!

Skinners Betty Stogs – We tried this bottled beer from the brewery sitting in the sunshine at the campsite.  At the time I thought it was a beautifully unique tasting red ale, scoring a reliable 5.  I later learnt that it was all over the Skinners shop because it won Best Ale in the 2008 Earls Court “Great Beer Festival”.  Thats some accolade.  I don’t know whether to be sad that I have the same taste as everyone else or glad that I really can taste a good ale from a bad one!

Well, I remembered my beer guide!  6 of us went, trying different beers and exchanging tasters, and I kept a record of how much I liked different beers.  There were some controversial beers, but in general they were very good indeed and enjoyed by all.  I personally had no regrets – not one beer scored below a 3, or “average”, and I gave several scores of 5, meaning “absolutely awesome”.  The highlights were:

Leeds, Ascension Ale (5): a golden ale with floral tones and the most perfect aftertaste you could ask for. My favourite.

Langham, Hip Hop (5): A classic blonde, sweet and fruity, loved by lager and ale drinkers alike.

Blackfriars, Spring Pride (4.5): A smooth blonde.

Wolf, Whistle (4.5): a deep red, smooth dark beer.

Severn Vale, Vale Ale (4.5): an smooth gentle amber ale.

Prescott, Hill Climb (4.5): A very thirst quenching blonde, scored 5 by some.

There was great discussion surrounding the Saltaire Ginger Spice (1.5), which tasted of “pine fresh washing up liquid”.  But Ben insists it grows on you and he wanted more by the end!

Was there any pattern in what was good and what was not?  I tried to find a pattern, and there is very little.

The Beer Figure shows the strongest pattern: we had a lot of Blonde “lager likes”, and they were good on average but occasionally awful.  The Darks were great but with only two, who really knows?  The “normal” coloured beer came out worst, by an amount that would happen by chance 1 time in ten. Region and alcohol content didn’t appear to matter a jot.

So does it mean anything?  I think it means I need to drink more beer!  Right, onto that then…

PS A list of all the beers we tried, just in case anyone needs the reference…

1. Badger Poachers Choice 5
2. Leeds Ascension Ale 5
3. Langham Hip Hop 5
4. Blackfriars Spring Tide 4.5
5. Wolf Whistle 4.5
6. Severn Vale Vale Ale 4.5
7. Prescott Hill Climb 4.5
8. Hardy & Hansons Old Frin 4.5
9. Rebellion Red 4.5
10. Rebellion Gold 4.5
11. Irving Illustrious 4
12. Hammerpot Martlet 4
13. Halfpenny Ha’penny Bitter 4
14. Leeds Leeds Pale 4
15. Chiltern Three Hundreds Old Ale 4
16. Badger Englands Gold 4
17. South Hams Devon Pride 4
18. Badger First gold 4
19. Great Western Bees Knees 4
20. Butts Jester 4
21. Olivers Dry 3.5
22. Yeovil Spring Forward 3.5
23. Great Heck Staggering Genius 3.5
24. Chiltern Nut Brown Mild 3.5
25. Blue Monkey Evolution 3
26. Farnham Bishop Sumner 3
27. Norfolk Square Pi 3
28. Kirkby Lonsdale Monumental 3
29. Saltaire Ginger Spice 1.5
30. Goffs White Knight 1

Thwaites – Liberation: A dark, malty, slightly smoky flavour with a smooth finish.  Very drinkable. Not for everyone – it could score higher for some.  4/5

Thwaites – Lancaster Bomber: Fairly standard ale with a bit of a tang.  3.5/5

Brakspear – Oxford Gold: An awesomely smooth, pale, flavoursome ale with a bit of a tang to finish.  Everything about this beer is spot on. 4.5/5

Springhead – Roaring Meg: A delicate blonde ale, not quite flavoursome enough for us all but a place for drinkers of light ale. 3-4/5 (we couldn’t quite agree about the score for this one!)

Badger – Fursty Ferret: A good stalwart of the westcountry. Straight down the middle.  3.5/5

Badger – Tangle Foot: A very gentle ale with a bit of colour and very very smooth. Good but nothing special. 3/5

The evening has only just begun…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7753931.stm

Awesome.