Beer of the Week (w/e 1st February 2015)

[ROBCamra]

Wittenden: Mad Cat Crispin Ale
Real Ale Ray: London Beer Factory Chelsea Blonde
Mobyduck: Siren Craft/Magic Rock/Beavertown Rule Of Thirds
Bucking Fastard: Mallinsons Palisade Columbus
Aqualung: Hop Stuff Renegade IPA
aleandhearty: Northern Monk Dark Arches Black IPA (keg)
Thuck Phat: Great Oakley Tiffield Winter Brew
london calling: Brewhouse and Kitchen Islington Raleigh Smoked Porter
ROBCamra: Sky's Edge Thirst Aid

[Wittenden]

East Kent

Mad Cat-Crispin ale:4%abv-Malty, earthy with a mid range smack of hops.A proper brown bitter:not boring.A bit different from the other Mad Cat beers I've tried.Taken at The Crispin Inn (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/16729/)

[Real Ale Ray]

London Beer Factory - Chelsea Blonde

[Mobyduck]

An improved week,
Darkstar- Hophead 3.8%
Darkstar- Hophead Vic Secret 3.8%
Darkstar- American Pale Ale 4.7%
Fullers- London Pride 4.1%
Five Towns- Outwood Gold 5.0%
Arbour- Triple Hop 4.0%
Steel City - Christmas is Cancelled 5.8%
Siren Craft/Magic Rock/Beavertown - Rule Of Thirds 6.5%*
Siren Craft - Mosaic 4.0%*
Binghams -Vanilla Stout 5.0%*
Vibrant Forest- Flying Saucer 4.3%
Roosters - Fort Smith 5.0%*

The winner this week is head and shoulder above the challengers, its the Rule Of Thirds, a collaboration between Siren,Magic Rock and Beavertown,no appoligies for using the word "awesome" ,it was indeed.

[Bucking Fastard]

The winner this week is head and shoulder above the challengers, its the Rule Of Thirds, a collaboration between Siren,Magic Rock and Beavertown,no appoligies for using the word "awesome" ,it was indeed.

With those three breweries involved maybe the word awesome just isnt sufficient ;)

[Bucking Fastard]

A very decent week,consumption heavy.

Charles Wells -- Estrella Damm (a damn rip off at £4.60,my fault for going in a trendy bar)
St Austell -- Tribute (3PT)
Redemption -- Bloomsbury Blend (3PT)
Mallinsons -- Palisade Columbus *
Mallinsons -- Gil Pan *
Southwark -- Gold
Portobello -- Ginger Bread
Dark Star -- Hophead
Greene King -- IPA (only real ale at the bar)
Twickenham -- Page 24 Biere de Mars
Fullers -- ESB*

A clear winner of BOTW in Mallinsons Palisade Columbus in fine fettle in Craft Beer Co. ,Leather Lane.

Next week Oxford hoves into view,boating may be resticted by ice.

[Aqualung]

A small selection this week all tried in various Spoons outlets :-

Twickenham Grandstand 4.0%
Twickenham Naked Ladies 4.4%
Truman Original Porter 4.5%
Bath Ales Barnsey 4.5%
Portobello Chestnut Ale 4.5%
Portobello Gingerbread 4.4%
By The Horns Bison APA 4.8%
Mordue Radgie Tadgie 4.8%
B & T SOD 5.0%
Rooster Fort Smith 5.0%*
Hop Stuff Renegade IPA 5.5%*
Elland 1872 Porter 6.5%*


The winner is Hop Stuff Renegade IPA tried in the SE London Surrey Docks (£2.50) and the Capitol (£2.35).

BOTW Hop Stuff Renegade IPA

[aleandhearty]

If last week was all about drinking in Sheffield's old stalwarts, this week was all about Leeds' new kids on the block, several of which are at the craft end of the beer spectrum.

Kirkstall - Impaled.*
Magic Rock - High Wire NZ.*
Elland - White Prussian.
Elland - Liberty.
Ossett - Inception.*
Magic Rock - Ringmaster NZ.
Marble - Pint.
Northern Monk - Mocha Porter* (Keg).
Northern Monk - Dark Arches Black IPA* (Keg). 6.7%
Northern Monk - Festive Star (Keg).

I'm crossing the Rubicon, this week, in nominating my first ever keg beer as BOTW. However, Dark Arches was a big hitting Black IPA, with bags of flavour.* Credit to Northern Monk, all the beers were very drinkable. They seem to have sorted out one of my major bug bears with previous keg tastings, namely the coarse carbonation that burns the back of the throat. Now they just need to sort out the price...

*Having said that, I'm sure the cask version would knock it for six.

[Thuck Phat]

My list pales into insignificance when compared with the riches tested by A&H above. Nonetheless, it was all pretty good.

Oakham Bishops Farewell*
Abbeydale Sovereign
Acorn Bullseye
Great Oakley Tiffield Winter Brew

BOTW Great Oakley - Tiffield Winter Brew. A tremendous 4.8% boring brown beer which slayed the 3 pint test at the excellent Rugby Tap Room (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/82634/).

[london calling]

I was on for my first dry week in possibly decades but escaped last night for a few hours.
particularly impressed with
brewhouse and kitchen islington-Raleigh smoked porter 5.5

[ROBCamra]

Sky's Edge Thirst Aid a light hoppy 4%er tried in the Baum several times.

Sky's Edge will soon change their name to Exit 33 after a complaint from Edge Brewing.

Don't see how you could confuse the two to be honest.