Beer of the Week (w/e 29th September 2013)

[ROBCamra]

london calling: Clarkeshaw Gorgons Alive
Oggwyn Trench: Oakham Gilberts Fridge
Bucking Fastard: Fyne Hurricane Jack
Aqualung: Adnam's / Sixpoint Bengali Tiger
Thuck Phat: XT XT5 American Amber
aleandhearty: Oakham Green Devil IPA
Mobyduck: Oakham Inferno
Real Ale Ray: Woodfordes Sundew
hondo: Broughton Willacade
oldboots: Roosters 20th Anniversary IPA
trainman: Salopian Golden Thread
ROBCamra: Bespoke Leading Light

[london calling]

I had a bottle of Mcewans -champion no1 7.5 that amazed me as it was so good.
Great pint of Worlds End -pewsey mild at the Bricklayers Putney fest
Also the 2 current beers on at Brewharf were excellent but I had the first pint from the first firkin to go on sale (so I was told) from a new London brewer at the Herne Tavern beer fest yesterday and it ticked all the boxes. No guarantee that the next one will be any good but
Clarkeshaw -gorgons alive 4.0 sweet but with a great hoppy flavour.

[Oggwyn Trench]

A good variety but nothing really stand-out this week

Dickensian - Ale of two Cities
Zig Zag - Dark Chocolate Stout
Howard Town - Wrens Nest
Joules - Blonde
Phoenix - Arizona
Thornbridge - Lumford
Salamander - Mumbo Jumbo
Beowulf - Dragon Smoke Stout
Oakhams - Gilberts Fridge

BOTW Oakhams - Gilberts Fridge

[Bucking Fastard]

Quite a session in The Edgar Wallace and then the nearby George.

St Austell --- Tribute
Fyne --- Hurricane Jack
Red Quirrel --- London Porter
Colchester --- Brazilian (coffee flavour not lady gardening)
Valley --- American Brown Ale*

* this was the extent of my notetaking and the last pint of a long night ,there is no mention of this ale on ratebeer or anywhere else on the web.It may have been from Anderson Valley but that's a US craft brewer so possibly someone has done a cask version.It was very complex and exceedingly bitter,a brown hop bomb.

However BOTW goes to Fyne Hurricane Jack,passing the three pint test with flying colours in the ever reliable Edgar Wallace.


Next week navigating between Trevor,not very clever,and Nantwich trying some different pubs from the way up.

[Aqualung]

Another average week :-

Caledonian Deuchars IPA 3.8%
Beartown Bearly Literate 4.5%
Yeovil Ruby 4.5%
Truman US Fine Pale Ale 4.5%
Dark Star American Pale Ale 4.7%
Inveralmond Pundie 5.0%
Windsor & Eton Conqueror Black IPA 5.0%
Brodie's Old Street Pale Ale 5.0%
Chevalier Outlier Lager (keg) 5.2%
Ringwood Old Thumper 5.6%
Adnam's / Sixpoint Bengali Tiger 6.4%

A clear winner here, the Bengali Tiger which sadly will now be disappearing from Spoons. I had it in the Drum in Leyton this week at £2.30 and it was the first outstanding pint I've had in there since July.

Spoons are still selling Old Thumper as a 5.6% beer with the old clip. I wonder if this is correct.

BOTW Adnam's / Sixpoint Bengali Tiger

[Thuck Phat]

A good week for quality:
Warwickshire Ballstitcher IPA
Growler Old Growler
Long Itch Darkside
XT XT5 American Amber
Sadlers Worcester Sorcerer
Titanic Iceberg
Oakham Bishops Farewell
Blue Monkey Ape Ale

The Ballstitcher was ghastly but everything else was very good especially the Ape Ale and BOTW XT XT5 American Amber. The brewery says "Big biscuity malt base with lots of dark fruit flavoured American hops". I don't know about that but the obligatory three pints flew down. Not bad for 5.5%.

[aleandhearty]

Another pretty quiet week for me, although another unexpected trip to York enabled me to pay flying visits to the Tap and The Maltings, once again.

Oakham - Green Devil IPA.
Ridgeside - Thunderstruck.
Kirkstall - Drophammer Imperial Stout. (10%)
Sonnet 43 - Citra IPA. (7%)
Rat - Drowned Rat.
Ironbridge - Wrekin Pale.
Fernandes - Sunshine IPA.
Acorn - Old Moor Porter.

Some good beers there, but I was blown away by the Green Devil. A probable contender for my Beer of the Year.

[Wittenden]

Despite my best endeavours, no pub this week. I enjoyed a couple of bottles from Goody Ales, Bleangate Brewery: Good Health and Good Heavens, but as they were not bottle conditioned, I'll comment no more.

[Mobyduck]

Darkstar- Hophead
Darkstar- American Pale Ale
Charles Wells/Dogfish -Head DNA
Butcombe -Bitter
Oakham - Inferno

BOTW- Oakham Inferno

Another London trip next Saturday will throw up a wider selection, but I am already anticipating the long awaited return of Darkstars Greenhopped IPA, crash helmet time.

[Real Ale Ray]

Woodfordes - Sundew

[hondo]

Broughton - Willacade

[oldboots]

A lot to choose from

Brains British Summer
Ridgeside Cascade
Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted
Ilkley Mary Jane
Wold Top Bitter
Marstons Draught Bass
Roosters Franklyn
York Guzzler
Hopback Redsells EKG
Ilkley Gold
Hambleton Bitter
Ilkley Mary Jane
Ossett Big Red
Hop Studio XP
Rudgate Ruby Mild
???? Bengali Tiger
Revolutions Atomic Blonde
Roosters 20th Anniversary IPA
Roosters Wild Mule
Roosters High Treason
Daleside Morocco Ale
Partners Triple Hop
Salamander Crow stout
Darkstar Revelation
Roosters Londinium
Acorn Gold
Springhead Roaring Meg

I don't know who made the Bengali Tiger tried in Wetherspoons, BOTW is Roosters 20th Anniversary IPA which is probably the same beer as Franklyn but at higher strength.

[hondo]

A lot to choose from

I don't know who made the Bengali Tiger tried in Wetherspoons, BOTW is Roosters 20th Anniversary IPA which is probably the same beer as Franklyn but at higher strength.

Bengali Tiger – exclusive beer for JD Wetherspoon by Adnams and Sixpoint Brewery - See more at: http://adnams.co.uk/about/news/beer-news/bengali-tiger-exclusive-beer-for-j-d-wetherspoon-by-adnams-and-sixpoint-brewery/#sthash.ZgAxZI9b.dpuf

[oldboots]

Bengali Tiger – exclusive beer for JD Wetherspoon by Adnams and Sixpoint Brewery - See more at: http://adnams.co.uk/about/news/beer-news/bengali-tiger-exclusive-beer-for-j-d-wetherspoon-by-adnams-and-sixpoint-brewery/#sthash.ZgAxZI9b.dpuf

I thank you

[trainman]

Salopian Golden Thread, at Loughborough's Generous Briton

[ROBCamra]

Littleborough Beer Festival had some interesting beers on and Brightside Blackside came close to winning.

The first beer to sell out was Green Mill Old Git, originally brewed by some blokes from The Baum. :whistle:

BOTW thought is going to be Bespoke Leading Light. Only 3.5% but very tasty. A great session beer. :cheers: