Nick Staffords – Nightmare

 

Brewery –          Hambleton Ales

Beer –                 Nightmare

Alcohol –         5.0%

Origin –            Melmerby, North Yorkshire

Style –             Stout

Season –         Winter

A plenty of clout stout!

This is a deep ruby black stout, with a frothy tan head.

Take a deep breath and inhale the sweet liquorice and strong coffee aromas, with some delicate chocolate malts giving it a sweet bouquet.

Malty, Chocolatey, Caramel notes make it robust, thick, and flavoursome, and it has a lingering bitter chocoalte finish.

Wouldn’t describe this as a nightmare, it’s more of a wet dream!

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Wye Valley – HPA

Brewery –          Wye Valley

Beer –                 HPA

Alcohol –          4.0%

Origin –             Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire

Style –               IPA

Season –          Spring / Summer

When I first poured this, I was amazed to see just how pale this ale is. Looked to light for my tastes but I’d heard good things about it so thought I’d give it a go…

Suprisingly cloudy to boot, I have never tried such an easy drinking ale. Smooth refreshing, zesty, with orangey notes toward the end.

Not particularly complex, which may put off the connoisseur, but I would suggest this to be the diffinative session ale… A blonde mild???

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Bristol Beer Factory – Bristol Hefe

Brewery –           Bristol Beer Factory

Beer –                  Bristol Hefe

Alcohol –           4.8%

Origin –              Bristol, Avon

Style –                Wheat Beer

Season –            Summer

Although this beer claims to be an out and out Wheat beer, I think it’s more of a cross between a wheat beer and a good old English Golden ale.

It’s golden orange amber colour, cloudy, with a thick white head. Sweet, Hoppy yet light on the nose, with a resiny pine freshness.

Like a typical Wheat Beer, it is citrusy, zesty, and vibrant, with tropical fruit notes, but like an English golden ale it has a satisfying bitter dry finish.

Flavoursome, Fun, and Fruity.. Perfect for Saturday Summer afternoon Session!

 

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George Wright – Cheeky Pheasant

Brewery –           George Wright Brewing Company

Beer –                  Cheeky Pheasant

Alcohol –           4.7%

Origin –               St Helens, Merseyside

Style –                Golden Ale

This is definately a beer for the hop head! A golden ale with a white foamy head but it’s all about the hops in this puppy.

Hoppy nose, hoppy mouth,  make beerbrain a hoppy man!

Although hops dominate proceedings I can’t help but defect a faint taste of a ‘Refresher Bar’ as it has a sherberty quality in its nose and on the palate.

The finish is long and bitter-sweet.

 

 

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Butcombe – Brunel 200

 

Brewery –          Butcombe

Beer –                  Brunel 200

Alcohol –           5%

Origin –              Bristol, Avon

Style –               IPA

Season –          Spring

What a looker! Dark Amber with a lively white head, it certainly looks the part.

Sweet Orangy with tropical fruit notes on the nose with a  hoppy bite to boot.

It’s quite a robust IPA at 5% with strong hoppy notes but an odd bitter grapefruit undertone, and a long bitter-sweet dry finish.

 I know it’s called Brunel but this beer taste like it has history behind it; a good depth of character, a strong hoppy backbone.  Well put together

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Sharp’s – Doom Bar

Brewery –          Sharp’s

Beer –                  Doom Bar

Alcohol –           4%

Origin –              Cornwall, England

Style –                Golden Ale

Season –            Spring

I think the best way to describe this beer is ‘Perfectly Balanced’. I don’t really know why and how, but this the flavour, texture, and finish just seem to go together so well and this makes it an expectionally easy drinking beer, and a beer you’ll go back to again and again.

Dark Amber with an off white head, Doom Bar is fruity, hoppy and delightfully smooth. A nice hoppy nose, with just right bitter finish.

A great beer, and whilst production has increased considerably over the past few years, the level of quality has stayed exceptional.

It may not be the most exciting beer in the world, but it it always satisfying.

 

 

 

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Saltaire – Hazlenut Coffee Porter

Brewery –          Saltaire

Beer –                  Hazlenut Coffee Porter

Alcohol –          4.6%

Origin –              Shipley, West Yorkshire

Style –                Porter

Season –            Winter

If that name doesn’t temp you then I sure hope this write up does!

Dark Brown with a reddish tint, and a foamy creamy tan head, it has a sweet hazlenut nose, with a beautifully luxurious, silky texture.

The ‘coffee’ in the name is slightly misleading as the coffee taste is consigned to the background, whilst vanilla, and nutty notes burst on the palate.

It’s quite heavy going due to the strong flavours, but despite the creamy taste, it has a suprisingly dry finish which leaves you looking forward to the next gulp!

Don’t expect to be able to sink a few of these but I reckon you loosen your belt, put on your Christmas jumper and glug down this sumptuous ale.

Yummy

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Theakston – Old Peculiar

Brewery –           Theakston

Beer –                   Old Peculiar

Alcohol –            5.6%

Origin –               Ripon, North Yorkshire

Style –                 Strong Ale

Season –             Autumn

Claims it’s ‘ The Legend ‘… Wouldn’t disagree!

Dark Brown, Chestnut in colour this beer is bursting with fruity flavours. Take a sip and think Bananas!

It’s smooth, silky, and has a deep fruity finish. Just try it for the bananas!

Bananas

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York – Guzzler

 

Brewery –          York Brewery

Beer –                  Guzzler

Alcohol –           3.6%

Origin –              York, Yorkshire

Style –                 Blonde Ale

Season –             Spring / Summer

York Guzzler is one of those beers that is a firm favourite with most people who imbibe this most glorious of ales.

It’s smooth, honey golden with a creamy white head, with a light airy citrusy nose.

Lemony on the palate with zesty and tart notes, with a very slight bitter finish.

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Hopback – Taiphoon

Brewery –          Hopback

Beer –                  Taiphoon

Alcohol –           4.2%

Origin –               Salisbury, Wiltshere

Style –                 Blonde Beer

Season –             Summer

Clean, Crisp, Light and Refreshing.

This is a great example of a Summer ale. Much the same as its big brother at Hopback; Summer Lightening, this has a wonderfully light flavour making it superbly easy drinking.

Its Lemongrass notes give it a floral nose, and a subtle citrusy flavour with a surprisingly bitter finish.

 

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