Beer of the Week (w/e 14th June 2015)

[ROBCamra]

hondo: Oakham Bishops Farewell
Real Ale Ray: Hawkshead Cumbrian 5 Hop
oldboots: Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby
Bucking Fastard: Siren Craft Broken Dream
Mobyduck: Vibrant Forest Centennial
Aqualung: Salopian Oracle
aleandhearty: Great Heck Citra
Thuck Phat: Alchemy Kairos IPA
Wittenden: Rockin Robin RPA
ROBCamra: Long Man Long Blonde

[hondo]

Oakham - Bishops Farewell

[Real Ale Ray]

Hawkshead - Cumbrian 5 Hop

[oldboots]

1220

[Bucking Fastard]

Decent week .

Timothy Taylor -- Landlord
Purity -- Mad Goose * (>3PT)
Everards -- Tiger
Arbor -- Why Kick a Moo Cow
Siren Craft -- Broken Dream *
Siren Craft -- Soundwave *

Both Siren Craft beer were outstanding and BOTW goes to Siren Craft Broken Dream,described as a breakfast stout with notes of smoke,coffee,milk and oats ,served in top condition in The Craven Arms,Birmingham .The siren's call nearly drew two old boatmen onto the rocks ;)

Next week looks ropey

[Mobyduck]

Darkstar Hophead*
Darkstar American Pale Ale
Vibrant Forest Simcoe*
Vibrant Forest Flying Saucer*
Vibrant Forest Centennial*
Brightwater Daisy Gold
ELB Pale Ale*

BOTW is Vibrant Forest Centennial a very drinkable 5.0% beer.

[Aqualung]

Having spent four days in Wales and the borders and a day out in Sussex yesterday I have an enormous list :-

Harvey's Sussex Mild 3.0$
Langham Halfway To Heaven 3.5%
Evan Evans BB 3.6%
Shepherd Neame Master Brew 3.7%
Harvey's Wild Hop 3.7%
Holden's Black Country Bitter 3.8%
Pope's MWA 3.7%
Hog's Back Surrey Nirvana 4.0%
Wye Valley HPA 4.0%
Boss Blonde 4.0%
Milestone Classic Dark Mild 4.0%
Salopian Oracle 4.0%*
Prescott Chequered Flag 4.1%
Evan Evans Cwrw 4.2%
Pope's Absent Friends 4.2%
Harvey's Olympia 4.3%
Six Bells Black Echo 4.3%
Evan Evans Artisan Snapper 4.3%
Porter Street Brewery Oval 6 4.3%
Wood's Sheer Folly 4.3%
Hard Knott Cool Fusion 4.4%
Salopian Darwin's Origin 4.3%*
Mumbles Gold 4.3%
Marston's Revisionist Juniper Pale 4.4%
Wadworth's Golden Perch 4.4%
Hobson's Town Crier 4.5%
Gower Gold 4.5%
Hook Norton San Diego Pale Ale 4.5%
Fixed Wheel Amarillo 4.5%
Cradock's Crazy Sheep 4.5%*
Naylor's Chicade 4.5%
Jacobi Dark Magic Porter 4.7%*
Jacobi Original Best 4.7%
Rhymney King's Ale 4.7%
Bullmastiff Welsh Black 4.8%*
Harvey's Copperwheat Beer 4.8%*
Hopdaemon Green Daemon 5.0%
Sarah Hughes Surprise 5.0%
Threee Tuns Cleric's Cure 5.0%
Maypole Platinum Blonde 5.0%*
Gower Rumour 5.0%
Brodie's Old Street Pale 5,0%*
Rhymney Export Ale 5.0%
Brecon Red Beacons 5.0%
Holden's Special 5.1%*
Boss Brave 5.5%
Left Handed Giant USPA 5.5%
Maxim Maximus 6.0%

I don't think any of these could be described as poor but not many were outstanding. The one that really took me aback was the humble Salopian Oracle as tried at the end of a long day in the Coach and Horses in Shrewsbury for £2.95. I regard this microbrewery as one of the great ones from 20 or more years ago. I would rate them above Titanic and POSSIBLY Oakham but not Dark Star. They seem to be moving more into the seasonal brew arena which I look forward to trying.


BOTW Salopian Oracle

[aleandhearty]

Another quiet week for me.

Great Heck - Citra.*
Bridestones - Summit.
Great Heck - Apocalypse Brau.* (Blend of Black Jesus and Yakima IPA)
Hop Back & Greene King - World Hop Medley.
Tigertops - Warrior Clan.
Fyne - Jarl.
Titanic - Plum Porter.*
Great Newsome - Ploughman's Pride.

Barely a cigarette paper between the Citra and Plum Porter, but as I nominated the latter quite recently, I'll go for the Great Heck. Disappointment of the week was the Warrior Clan. Can't remember the last time I had a Tigertops beer I didn't like, but this Scotch ale tribute was an absolute clunker.

[Thuck Phat]

TT Landlord
Purity Mad Goose*
Everards Tiger
Siren Craft Sound Wave*
Alchemy Kairos IPA*
Siren Craft Broken Dream*
Oakham Bishops Farewell*

Both Siren Craft beers were excellent but a touch punchy to be sessionable.
BOTW Alchemy Kairos IPA. Perhaps not the strength of a true IPA at 4.5% but all of the flavour.

[Wittenden]

Broke my drought with: Rockin Robin RPA 3.9% abv Described as an Anglo American Pale Ale. Delightful peppery crisp session beer.Golden but not grapefruit:epic.
My BOTW, and in the running for higher things.

[rpadam]

Broke my drought with: Rockin Robin RPA 3.9% abv Described as an Anglo American Pale Ale. Delightful peppery crisp session beer.Golden but not grapefruit:epic.
My BOTW, and in the running for higher things.
For those in (or visiting) these mid-Kentish parts, I can also recommend the flavoursome Hoppin Robin (3.7%, Session Bitter), Mildly Rockin (3.7%, Dark Ruby Ale), Really Rockin (5.0%, Pale Ale), Reckless Robin (4.5%, ESB), Reliant Robin (4.2%, Best Bitter), Robin Redbest (4.0%, Best Bitter) and Blizzard of Oz (4.5%, Winter Warmer). A very reliable small brewery, so although I've not tried the new Rock-a-Hula (4.0%, New World Pale Ale) I have high hopes when our village club gets some in.

[ROBCamra]

Long Man Long Blonde tried in The Beer Shack (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/81865/) in Burnley.

Just beating Reedley Hallows Pendleside tried in New Brew-M a new micro pub in Burnley that's in the queue of pubs to be added. :cheers: