Archive for ‘Beer Review’

Sampling Bernard Dark (Czech Lager)

By Andy, 3 March, 2010, No Comment

Sorry for the lack of update recently. Its been a combination of things, such as starting a webdesign course, going to Dartmoor, and having to install new operating systems on both PCs!

Also – and more to the point, I’ve not really had anything interesting to say, and when I have said it – I’ve only had time to use Twitter.

But I thought this Beer was worthwhile just blogging to say – if you see it in Tesco’s then give it a sample. Its a dark czech lager, that doesn’t taste as ‘thick’ as some others – and if you’re a fan of czech beer, then its worth sampling just for the experience.

Thwaites – Liberation Ale

By Andy, 17 February, 2010, No Comment

Liberation Ale Well there are few beers that when I taste – to start with – I’m not sure if I like the idea of finishing it.

This was one of them. Its a red / dark golden ale with a fruity overtone, but with that overtone theres a nutty sensation that hits you at first. As you drink it more, the ‘nuttyness’ seems to fade away, making the beer more thirst quenching and more satisfying as you drink more. Served chilled, this is a good and interesting beer to drink.

A worthwhile note to finish on is that it seems that Thwaites donates 10,000 pounds a year to the Royal British Legion from the sales of Liberation – so hats off to them for that!

How can a beer be carbon neutral?

By Andy, 8 February, 2010, No Comment

In my quest to find an interesting looking beer in Sainsburys (which I’ve not already tried), I came across this from Adnams. They seem to be so proud of ‘East Green’s – Green credentials that they slapped the words “CARBON NEUTRAL” all over the front of the bottle. To the extent that it seems more important then the name itself.

Now lets just say now – yes East Green is a very nice thirst light beer. And the better news is you can now get it on draught, so come the Summer you can and should drink plenty in a sun filled beer garden.

With that out of the way, how can a beer be carbon neutral? Well according to a well hidden part of the Adnams website:

East Green is brewed in Adnams’ groundbreaking new brewery, which has an Energy Recovery System that recycles 100% of the steam created during the brewing process and uses it to heat 90% of the following brew. The beer is made with high-yielding barley, grown in Suffolk, which subsequently greatly minimises CO2 emissions from transportation. Boadicea Hops are also used – they are naturally aphid-resistant and reduce the use of pesticides significantly.

Well there you have it. You can have a beer that is both good to drink and good for the environment.

(I just wonder how they offset the carbon emissions from the delivery?)

Adnams East Green

Bath Ales – Festivity

By Andy, 30 January, 2010, No Comment

Bath Ales - Festivity Whats better then finding money you didn’t know about?

Finding Beer you forgot about!

It gets even better when your expectations are more then met. The label to this (delayed) Christmas beer talks about coffee, and roasted chocolate…which – well are not my favourite things to be in beer. But in this case, its really quite drinkable.

The second thing is that this beer is as dark as the night is long. Looking at it, you wouldn’t expect it to be as thirst quenching as it really is.

Next Christmas. Track this Beer down. Its worth it.

Best Curry Beer? (A Beer Review of sorts)

By Andy, 23 January, 2010, No Comment

Last night was curry night in the flat. To celebrate the curry, I decided what was the best beer to go with the curry in question:

First up was a Fosters. The student choice! Slightly fizzy and tasting a bit like water, I only drank this as something to drink while cooking. Seemed to improve vastly after a while, as it got less fizzy, and a little smoother in taste.

Still cant take it seriously.

As the curry was served, out came the Kingfisher. Personality wise Kingfisher blew the Fosters away. It was lively with an odd aftertaste that neither myself nor the misses could really put our fingers on. The problem is its a little bit to lively, its perfect for a burping contest, but not something you want when eating curry.

When I’m eating curry, I’m wanting something smooth, and weirdly (when you consider its name), Cobra was it. While Kingfisher was a struggle to drink, Cobra was a joy in comparison – with far more taste then Fosters ever did.

Dont get me wrong, in the land of the lager – Gambrinus is still king – but thats hard to get hold off. So with a curry – Cobra will do…. Now I just need to find a decent ale to go with a curry instead…

The Insanely Bad Elf (Beer Review)

By Andy, 22 January, 2010, No Comment

“ooooo thats interesting” – Mrs Beer…

There are some beers that you need to warm up to. Gulden Draak is one… Insanely Bad Elf is now my second one. Its a strong beer at 11.2% and it really does taste like it. To be perfectly honest when you buy a beer with mad looking insane elf on the front – what do you expect?

Its a struggle to drink at first, but after a few gulps this ruby red beer becomes easier to drink. Theres very much a deep caramel taste to this beer, which seems to be its down fall – as it is a little sickly. If you pick this up – dont think you’ve screwed up pouring it, there simply isn’t a head to this beer. Maybe thats how Americans like their beer?

A strong strong beer… worth a taste for the experience…

Bath Ales: Wild Hare

By Andy, 16 January, 2010, No Comment

Well if “Gem” is the standard Bath Ales Beer, then Wild Hare is its slightly tangy cousin. Now I may be cracking up but I’m sure this beer had a hint of green about it as I poured it out.

Its a good beer for a pint or two but I wouldn’t want any more of it then that… but maybe I’m doing it a disservice. Maybe on a hot Summers day in a nice beer garden I’d be wanting plenty of this stuff.

I’ll just have to hunt this stuff down over this Summer, and find out.

Bath Ales

Monty Python’s Holy Ail (Ale)

By Andy, 14 January, 2010, No Comment

After the disappointment of the Sainsburys Christmas Ale. This is beautiful! Basically someone who looks after the Monty Python name has joined forces with the Black Sheep Brewery. The result is a bottle with some humor, and a fine tasting beer. Perfect for a Christmas gift set.

Info from the website:

Black Sheep Holy Grail

Another fine addition to the Black Sheep Brewery range of premium bottled ales, our Holy Grail was specially commissioned to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Pythons.

It has a distinctive taste with plenty of fruity hops, and is full flavoured with a dry and refreshing bitterness.

ABV 4.7%
500ml bottle

Bath Ales: Barnstormer

By Andy, 8 January, 2010, No Comment

Bath Ales Barnstormer A while ago, when we first ventured to Bristol to visit some friends of ours we discovered the Bath Ales Brewery. I did not hide my love for their beer – to the point in which last Christmas I was given the very amazing present of a Bath Ales box set.

The first of the three box set I’m sampling is “Barnstormer”. Its a fruity dark ale, with an slight smell of chocolate. It looks deep and heavy, but doesn’t taste like it. Its thirst quenching, and tastes like the sort of beer that you could have a good session with.

Interested? You can buy Barnstormer from BeerMerchants.com.