Beer of the Week (w/e 7th February 2016)

[ROBCamra]

Mobyduck: Red Cat Mr M's Porter
Wittenden: Larkin's Porter
Aqualung: Southwark Harvard APA
london calling: Alpha State Song For Solveig
trainman: Westvleteren 12
Bucking Fastard: Red Squirrel Redwood American IPA
oldboots: Scarborough Chinook
Thuck Phat: Slaters Black IPA
aleandhearty: Great Heck Christopher
Komakino: Windsor & Eton's Secret Brew
Real Ale Ray: Conwy Scrum Down
ROBCamra: Northern Monk Eternal Session IPA

[Mobyduck]

Darkstar Hophead
Darkstar American Pale Ale
Red Cat Best Bitter
Red Cat Mr M's Porter
Twickenham Naked Ladies
St Austell Tribute
Tripple fff Moondance

A short list, but copious amounts of some, most were pretty good, not a poorly conditioned beer amongst them, but by far the best was Red Cat Mr M's Porter, at 4.5% its quite sessionable with some complexity,slightly smokey bitter dark chocolate with some strong coffee in the aftertaste,24 hours later it mellowed slightly and the coffee faded but the chocolate strengthened although not as bitter as initially. A wonderful beer throughout its evolution, enjoyed in my local, (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59679/) and BOTW.

[Wittenden]

West Kent

Larkin's-Porter 5.2%abv. In cracking form, just off a five.The right level of austerity, tempered by raspberries.Very drinkable:a classic.
My BOTW, taken at The Castle Inn (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/59046/)

[Aqualung]

A good week for me where only two I wouldn't have considered putting a star on, the Black Shuck and the Lumberjack.


Holden's Black Country Mild 3.7%
Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde Mild 3.7%
Phoenix Navvy 3.8%
Hellhound Dark Shuck 3.9%
Wrekin Pale 4.0%
Southwark Potter's Fields Porter 4.0%
Hop Back Citra 4.0%
Twickenham Winter Cheer 4.4%
Wrekin Gold 4.4%
Saffron Flying Serpent 4.5%
Hackney APA 4.5%
Butcombe Moxee IPA 4.8%
Goddard's Fuggle Dee Dum 4.8%
Joules Old Number Six 4.8%
Bristol Beer Factory Independence 4.8%
Redwillow Wreckless 4.8%
Windsor & Eton Eton Rifles (Keg) 5.0%
Salopian Renaissance 5.0%
Holden's Special 5.1%
Brentwood Lumberjack 5.2%
Seven Brothers Stout 5.2%
Southwark Harvard APA 5.5%
Ramsgate Dogbolter 5.6%


There are several potential winners here but I'll go for the Southwark Harvard APA several of which were tried in the E4 King's Ford for £2.29 at the mini London Festival.


BOTW Southwark Harvard APA

[london calling]

Here,s what I drank
hopcraft-we come in peace **
hopcraft -the boss *
hophurst -gyle 50
volden -pale ale **
crate -porter *
track -toba **
howling hops -choc stout **
siren -carribean choc cake **
mondo -American black ipa *
arbor -boomtown brown **
vibrant forest -pale mosaic **
slaters -smoked porter *
and the star was
alpha state -song for solveig 6.0 ***

[trainman]

I'll have to go for the Westvleteren 12, available again at Brussels' Vieux Bon Temps yesterday, even if it was Eur15, vs the Eur10 offer 18 months back, we shared 2 btls between 4.
I find it very difficult to know what's what over here - some beer menus don't offer anything in the way of tasting notes, and that at La Mort Subite didn't even show abv(!!), though this was a beautifully conserved establishment.
The general consensus was that it would be a right result to stumble across, say, a pint of Tiger over here!

[Bucking Fastard]

Solid week and lots of quality.

By the Horns -- Samba King*
Windsor & Eton -- Red Head
Wimbledon -- Quatermaine IPA
Twickenham -- Black Eel IPA *
Fuller's -- ESB * (3PT)
Red Squirrel -- Redtail Citra *
Red Squirrel -- Redwood American IPA*
Malt -- IPA
Animal Brewing -- Hare *
Tring -- Sidepocket for a Toad *
Vale -- Red Kite *
Slaters -- Black IPA *
Chiltern Brewery -- 300's Old Ale *

Difficult choice but BOTW goes to Red Squirrel Redwood American IPA,strong and deeply hopped it was quite a challenging pint at first then started to slip down .Served in fine nick in the Red Squirrel Brewery Shop,Berkhamsted.

Next week looking thin apart from pre match beers.

[oldboots]

Only one visit to the pub this week, Scarborough Chinook

[Thuck Phat]

A respectable week:

Fullers ESB*
Red Squirrel Redwood IPA*
Red Squirrel Milk Stout*
Animal Brewing Hare*
Tring Sidepocket for a Toad*
Marlow Rebellion Mutiny
Vale Red Kite*
Slaters Black IPA*
Oakham Bishops Farewell*

Some very pleasant beers in there make it a tight call.
BOTW Slaters Black IPA. An excellent 5% porter, ideal for a winters evening.

[aleandhearty]

Pretty average week.

First Chop - POD.
Abbeydale - Birdhouse Tea Beer.*
Kelham Island - Back to Black.
Neepsend - IPA.
Great Heck - Voodoo Mild.
Milk Street - Same Again.
Rat - After Rat Mint.
Great Heck - Christopher.*
Fernandes - Malt Shovel Mild.
Fernandes - Octohop.
Fernandes - Firebrand.
Fernandes - Cascade Torrent.

[Komakino]

Windsor & Eton's Secret Brew (5.0%) which was in fine form at both The Three Tuns (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/1968/) in Windsor and The Royal Stag (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/1872/) in Datchet is my beer of the week. Ilkley Brewery's Mary Jane (3.5%) as sampled at The Wheatsheaf (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/31540/) in Chinnor ran it a close second.

[Real Ale Ray]

Conwy - Scrum Down

[ROBCamra]

Northern Monk Eternal Session IPA. Does exactly what it says a good IPA style flavour, but only 4.1%. :cheers: