Hook Norton – Haymaker

Brewery –          Hook Norton

Beer –                  Haymaker

ABV –                  5.0%

Origin –               Hook Norton, Oxfordshire

Style –                Golden Ale

Season –             Autumn

Another great brew from Hooky! This time a vibrant golden ale full of delight and wonder and a great name to boot.

Pours amber orange, bright and inviting with a clean white head.`

Hoppy on the nose like a golden ale should be, nose tingling and spicy.

Immediately the malty notes settle on the tongue, bready but sweet like a liquid brioche.

Then the bitterness pounces; an intense explosion on the sides of the tongue, tingling the taste buds. Bitter orange , oregano, and spices battle for dominance whilst that bitterness develops giving it a lengthy finish.

This s a good hoppy and bitter wholesome ale with great character and heaps of flavour.

Have a burp and taste it all again

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Coronado Brewing Co. – Idiot IPA

Brewery –           Coronado

Beer –                  Idiot IPA

Alcohol –             8.5%

Origin –              Coronado, California

Style –                American IPA

Season –           Spring

Apt name me thinks. Not for those who purchase this beverage but in reverence to the person who decided to hop the hell out of this ale. Whomever you are I salute you!

Okay let’s get the formalities out the way so we can get onto the elephant in the room.

One sexy looking beer. Golden Amber Orange, lively and vibrant with a white cloudy frothy overflowing head.

Citrusy and oddly spicy and tingly on the nose which I think is to do with the hops jumping out to grab your nose hairs.

Now let’s get down to business…

I have never tasted such a hoppy mother in all my life! It hits you like a headbutt, and I’ve got a 6 month old son so I know what a headbutt feels like!

Insanely bitter grapefruit tongue swelling flavours bombard the mouth with just a slither of sweetness keeping you from throwing in the towel.

It’s a mouth cleanser alright,; garlic gone, coffee cleared, onions ousted… a between courses palate neutraliser.

Its bitterness is so intense that it almost has a charcoal like finish; abrasive and crisp.

As you can imagine, Bitter would be the word to describe the finish, however there is a satisfying warming syrupy alcohol feeling that develops down the throat which helps contrast the crazy hoppy bitter madness!

Currently Hoppy the frogs most hoppy of ales!

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Marble – Dobber

Brewery –          Manchester Marble

Beer –                  Dobber

Alcohol –           5.9%

Origin –              Manchester, England

Style –                I.P.A

Season –           Summer

I know what you’re thinking… 5.9%,  IPA,   Central Northern English Brewery…. Yes my friends it’s another Jaipur challenger!

Looks the part with its orange amber colouring and hazy glow, topped off by its lively white frothy head.

Scents of Lily’s and other floral notes give it a light and airy nose. Hoppy undertones and sweet passionfruit help give it the extra depth.

A decent amount of carbonation give this ale a fresh, zesty, and lively mouthfeel balanced by its bitter hoppy backbone. Intense grapefruit, is a welcoming contrast to the sweet tropical fruit notes.

The finish is extremely bitter, to the extent that it provides almost a minty numbness leaving you begging for the next swig.

Solid, Satisfying, Thirst Quenching, Exciting, and packed full of flavour.

Jaipur or Dobber… it’s too close to call! Let me know which is your favourite?! 

 

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Moor – Somerland Gold

Brewery –          Moor Brewing Company

Beer –                 Somerland Gold

Alcohol –          5.5%

Origin –             Pitney, Somerset

Style –               IPA

Season –          Summer

Whilst in Chester Beer & Wine last night, my wife Caroline picked out this beauty. She prefers the robust golden hoppy beers and this sounded right up her street.

This beer is just oozing with nostalgia…          Cloudy and hazy like a warm Summer sunset, over swaying fields of wheat; luminescent like the last shards of light casting long shadows across the dusk.

A sweet summer evening scent fills the nostrils, sugary and promising.

A zesty, zingy, surprise awaits you, weary traveller. Sit down by the meandering lazy river and relax, quench your thirst and savour the hoppy bitter taste.

Honestly you got to try this beer. Grass and Hay notes help contrast its bright citrus backbone making it wonderfully balanced, flavoursome, and satisfying.

Forget the Summer Cider craze, chew on a strand of hay, get out your fisherman’s hat and get on this!

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Moorhouse’s – Premier

Brewery –          Moorhouse’s

Beer –                 Premier

Alcohol –          3.7%

Origin –             Burnley, Lancashire

Style –               Bitter

Season –         Autumn

Surprisingly light colouring for a bitter, it’s golden amber hue and more lively head give it the appearance of a golden ale.

Bitter on the nose, it has quite a tang to it, but it’s light and airy.

A solid bitter backbone yet it has a smooth mouthfeel, and is rounded off by a hoppy lasting finish.

At 3.7% it certainly fits into the session ale category. Refreshing, Thirst Quenching and reliable.

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Bristol Beer Factory – Southville Hop

Brewery –          Bristol Beer Factory

Beer –               Southville Hop

Alcohol –           6.5%

Origin –             Bristol, Avon

Season –           Spring

Style –              Golden Ale

Wow, what a looker! Orange and luminous in appearance, with an almost mottled metallic look with a thick cloud like head.

Hoppy and tangy on the nose, with a beautifully crisp and hoppy taste, with grapefruity notes, and a zingy mouthfeel. Slightly metallic earthy tones give way to an exceptionally bitter finish.

A real must for the hophead!

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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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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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Anchor – Liberty Ale

Brewery –           Anchor Brewing Co.

Beer –                  Liberty Ale

Alcohol –            5.9%

Origin –              San Fransisco, California

Style –                American IPA

Season –            Summer

A beautifully cloudy American IPA, Citrusy Orang Bouquet, Fresh and Enticing.

Zingy Lemony on the Tongue with a honey undertone, leading to a bitter-sweet finish.

American IPA’s tend to have a very floral citrusy backbone, and this is no exception. A great beer for a Summers night, full of flavour.

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