-
A somewhat different and extended list from normal due to a St David's Day jolly in the Black Country.
Batham's Mild 3.5%
Holden's Black Country Mild 3.7%
Holden's Black Country Bitter 3.7%
Vale Red Kite 4.0%
Upham Punter 4.0%
Titanic Iceberg 4.1%
Hopstuff Fusilier 4.3%
Batham's Best Bitter 4.3%
Holden's Golden Glow 4.4%
Hopstuff Pale 4.5%
Lancaster Black 4.6%
Burton Bridge Top Dog Stout 5.0%
Clarence & Frederick's Oatmilk Stout 5.0%
Twickenham Black Eel 5.0%
Dark Star Festival 5.0%
Westerham Azzurri Double 5.0%
Brodie's Old Street Pale 5.0%
Holden's Special Bitter 5.1%
Mantle Dark Heart 5.2%
Hopcraft Citraic 5.4%
ELB Quadrant Oatmeal Stout 5.8%
Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild 6.0%
Hopcraft Long Nines Stout 6.0%
Brodie's Chinook Bacon IPA 6.0%
Holden's Old Ale 7.2%
There are quite a few contenders but I'm surprising myself by nominating the lightweight Holden's Black Country Bitter as tried in the rather poncy Fellows in Dudley for £2.75. It was in perfect condition and I just don't remember this beer being that good.
BOTW Holden's Black Country Bitter
-
Fancy pub renovation
Goody Ales-Bleangate Brewery: Genesis 3.5%abv Deep ruby, full of flavour for the abv.Long bitter finish.Award winning with Kent Challenger hops.
Dark Star: Hophead 3.8%abv. I hadn't tried this for a while. Some commentators say it isn't the beer it was. Hmmm. Not as austere, mellow, but with a sackful of new style hops. Very drinkable if worryingly pale, and my BOTW.
-
A couple of nice twiggy bitters
instant karma -test brew 2
harveys -sussex bitter
also good was celt-dark age
good in bottle
moncada -red rye
thwaites -crafty dan
jw lees -Manchester star
but bofw
alchemy-galaxy burst ipa
-
Quietish week for me, but it was saved by sampling two of my favourite beers, both from the Kirkstall stable.
Kirkstall - Dissolution IPA.
Mr Grundys - Red Baron.
Harthill - Hart of Yorkshire.
Kirkstall - Black Band Porter.
Copper Dragon - West Coast Pale.
Wensleydale - Penhill Porter.
Bobs - White Lion.
Bobs - Chardonnayle.
Easy winner was the Dissolution IPA, an absolutely superb beer when it's on form.
-
Popes Hop Market a light hoppy 3.8% pint of luvverliness. Tried in The Baum of course.
A close second was Greenfield Silver Owl an unexpected treat in The Millpond in Stalybridge. :cheers: