Quantum Brewing Co. – Pale Ale

Brewery –          Quantum Brewing Company

Beer –                 Pale Ale

ABV –                 4.5%

Origin –              Stockport, England

Style –                IPA

Season –            Summer

Summer Evenings are the time for big hoppy ales to quench the thirst and excite the tongue, and Quantum’s Pale does the trick!

What first drew my attention to this ale was the fact that the hops that go in each batch are different and are chosen by followers on twitter! Ooooh how novel! But seriously engaging the drinker in decisions regarding the beer is genius! No wonder they claim to be innovative on the bottle!

This particular batch has Maryanka, Celeia, Chinook, Cluster, and Perle hops as it’s make up, but what matters most is that there’s a hell of a lot of them.

The nose is rife with them, floral yet crisp with hints of tropical fruits.

The heavy hop content give this beer all you’d expect of a good IPA. Robust bitterness contrasted by sweet passionfruit, fresh and invigorating. Not death by hops like other ales but not sweet and sickly. A far more balanced grown up IPA, and a 4.5% it’s not going to ruin your weekend! The finish has a developing bitterness that lingers, but it’s dry and cider like.

Slightly cloudy, bright, brilliant, fresh and inviting, a great ale, flavoursome but not daft and overdone.

 

 

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Brooklyn – Summer Ale

Brewery –          Brooklyn

Beer –                 Summer Ale

Alcohol –            5.0%

Origin –               New York, USA

Style –                 Lager Beer

Season –             Yes you’ve guessed it… Summer

With a mini heat wave looming, I thought it prudent to try out a Summer Ale. Something light but still tasty, refreshing, bright, zesty, not to strong, and perfectly balanced. Did this beer fit the bill? Yes my friends it did.

Lager like in its appearance but fortunately not carbonated to death like many lagers; Clear, smooth, with a crisp white head.

Not too much to talk about on the nose to be honest but when you’re thirsty you don’t spend much time sniffing!

With Summer ales, it’s all about the initial swig. Lightly bittered with subtle malty notes, the effect gives a very dry, crisp wine like mouthfeel, soft and understated but thoroughly refreshing.

The bottle claims a ‘bready’ flavour and in the finish I can’t help but agree. The bitterness develops through the finish and lingers on the tongue for a considerable time. 

This lager beer feels polished, well put together, and carefully thought out.  

 

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Dark Star – Sunburst

Brewery –          Dark Star

Beer –                  Sunburst

Alcohol –           4.8%

Origin –              Partridge Green, Sussex

Style –                Golden Ale

Season –           Spring

A pale, smooth, lager like ale but do not be forlorn, for its simple looks belie it’s deeper complexity and flavours. 

Sweet honey notes, along with crisp apple creates a tangy sharp sweet nose. Thoroughly refreshing, the sweet tangy flavours continue in the taste controlled by a hefty hoppy punch.

This ale is unusual as it tastes stronger than it actually is. The flavours are deep, decisive, and bold; far more intense than some other hop driven and carbonated golden ales.

The finish is bitter long, smooth, and satisfying.

Great Ale, Great Brewery… Join the Dark Side!

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Brooklyn – Local 1

Brewery –          Brooklyn Brewery

Beer –                  Local 1

Alcohol –           9%

Origin –              Brookyln, New York

Style –               Strong American IPA

Season –          Spring

I’ve wanted to try this beer for a good while now but at a tenner a bottle from Chester Beer & Wine, it’s quite an expense when the pennies are tight.

But you only live once and I finally took the plunge. I’d seen this beer in the ‘1001 Beers to try before you die’ beer bible my brother bought me for Christmas and it certainly lived up to my expectations.

At 9% this is one to drink slowly, thoughtfully, and with reverence, but it’s bloody hard to do with a beer this good. Perhaps this is why I have a slightly fuzzy head this fair morn.

A stunning looking beer; cloudy and bright, with a golden orange hue. Bubbly, lively, and vibrant.

Strangely aromatic on the nose bursting with citrus notes but with a slight hint of sweet bubblegum, and punch.

The first swig provides a hit of strong alcohol flavour that gets right to the back of the throat, but then the complex flavours kick in. Crisp Pear flavours make this ale surprisingly airy for its high alcohol content. A beautiful crisp and fizzy mouthfeel are a result of its high level of carbonation, but then this gives way to a vague spiciness with further apple and pear notes on the palate. The finish is crisp, cider-like and tart, leading to a warming alcohol finish.

Certainly one to savour, wonderfully satisfying, and a great example of an American take on a strong Belgian beer.

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Budvar – Yeast Beer

 

Brewery –          Budvar

Beer –                 Krouzkovany-lezak (Yeast Beer)

Alcohol –          5%

Origin –             Czech Republic

Style –               Lager

Season –           Spring / Summer

I’m certainly not known for being a lager fan but I’d like to set the record straight. It’s not the style that’s the issue, it’s the mass production, which leads to lack of care and attention, poor flavour, over carbonated… you get my drift.

This lager caught my attention whilst looking on Artichoke Restaurant in Chester’s website, where some kind soul had made special mention of this lager which they’d managed to get a few barrels of, and used the phrase ‘come and try it before it runs out’

This is one hell of a good lager; in fact the best lager I’ve ever tasted!

And  as it’s just 5 minute walk from my house, and the bar is child friendly, I get to take the little one along.  Just as the Geordie’s call Newcastle Brown Ale, “Dog” (walking the dog was their excuse to go get a pint), I think I’ll call his lager Henry, and I’ll certainly be taking my little boy Henry for a walk this afternoon!

Now I don’t usually go into details as to how certain beers are made but as this extra process in its production makes such a different I thought I’d let you all know;

Taken from the BudweiserBudvar website http://www.budweiserbudvar.co.uk/EXCLUSIVELY-ON-DRAUGHT

“Budvar Yeast Beer is the unpasteurised version of Budvar Original, encapsulating all the same taste cues and as fresh as if it were being drunk at the brewery tap

It’s brewed with the same care and patience as ORIGINAL,has the same ABV of 5% and uses the same ingredients in a 100 day brewing cycle.

The big difference is that being unpasteurised with extra yeast cells being added by hand at the last stage of the brewing process, Budvar Yeast is a brew of almost worldly freshness and purity”

Now my blurb!

Budvar Yeast is beautifully crisp, clear, lightly carbonated (hooray) and has a frothy, clean bubbly white head.

Fresh is the word to describe it’s taste. Cut grass, sweet, refreshing, crisp; like sinking a pint of Spring.

Far from having a bitter, tinny finish like many lagers, Budvar Yeast has a sweet lasting and smoother finish, leaving you longing for the next swig.

Calling this a premium lager would not do it justice. Platinum Lager, Royal Lager, Mega Lager… it’s certainly a cut above the rest.

I stongly suggest you hunt this lager out… In fact visit http://www.budweiserbudvar.co.uk/EXCLUSIVELY-ON-DRAUGHT any pray you’re near one of the few pubs that are selling it!

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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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Erdinger – Weissbier

Brewery –          Erdinger

Beer –              Weissbier

Alcohol –          5.3%

Origin –            Erding, Germany

Style –             Wheat Beer

Season –         Summer

Wheat Beers always look mouthwateringly drinkable and this is no exception. Pale, Cloudy, and lively with a voluptous bold white head.

Sweet and Orangey on the nose but not as floral or citrusy as other continental and American wheat beers; it’s flavour is more subtle and understated.

It’s styled more like a cider, airy with a white wine zestiness and a dry crisp finish.

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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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