This week at the Sheffield Hatter's Inn
Saturday
I've started on a keg of Black Sheep Riggwelter 5.7% this week. I've had several of these minikegs (Harveys Sussex Best 4.0% in the first Lockdown, then Black Sheep Best 3.8% and Ale 4.4% last November, and this is my second Riggwelter). The instructions say to equalise the pressure before pouring, and it is true that this makes for a smooth pour, but equally it means that the beer remaining in the container is exposed to the oxygen in the air which inevitably enters through the opening in the top of the can. That means drinking five litres of beer in three days, which is more than I'm doing in these days of home drinking; and obviously I can't invite anyone to join me. Pouring without opening the valve means that the beer comes out very frothy and it takes a few minutes of leaving the froth to settle and then topping up my glass from a similarly frothy jug before I have an acceptable pint, or half litre. The plus side is that there is a residual blanket of carbon dioxide on top of the beer that remains, so I can take my time consuming the contents of the keg.
Sunday
The Kernel India Double Porter 6.8% 330ml £3.95. Bought at Beer Central on last week's visit to the Moor Market here in Sheffield, this is one of several beers from the Kernel that I've had from that small but well stocked outlet. As in a Black IPA, the New World hops (ekuanot and huell melon) in this beer contrast nicely with the luscious dark malts. I'll be looking out for this one again, but they don't seem to repeat many beers - either the brewery or the shop!
Monday
Lervig Paragon Barley Wine 13.5% 330ml £18.95. Yes, that is not a typo, I actually paid the best part of £20 for just over half a pint of beer! Barrel aged (bourbon barrels, if I recall correctly) but neither as bretted nor as complex as some barrel aged beers I've had at Shakespeares or the Crow Inn back when we used to have pubs. Quite dark for a barley wine, though that doesn't mean it's not true to style, just that a lot of modern examples are similar to Coniston No.9 in being a similar colour to a best bitter with hops to match. The hops in this one are not stated on the label. This was an enjoyable beer, which I drank from a wine glass, which seemed appropriate. Was it worth it? Well, probably not considering that I've had better barley wines and better barrel aged imperial stouts and porters and never paid this much. Bangs per buck work out at £4.25 per unit of alcohol, and I reckon quite a lot of my £18.95 has gone to the Norwegian government in alcohol taxes. And seeing that their sovereign wealth fund has gone up by £90 billion during the pandemic I think they could afford to splash out a little, know what I mean?
Tuesday
McEwans Champion 7.3% 50cl. I've mentioned this beer before on this thread, as indeed have others. A classic of the Scottish "heavy" style, it was designed specially for a Tesco competition which it won, hence the name. Cost per unit of alcohol: approx. 65p.
Wednesday was a repeat of Saturday's Riggwelter, which was still in excellent condition under its blanket of CO2.
Thursday
A couple of beers I've had before: Pohjala Armchair Detective Imperial Porter 12.0% 33cl £8.50 and Abbeydale Black Mass 6.66% £3.50 440ml. Dark and luscious, both of them. The Estonian beer is a "gently smoked multigrain Imperial Baltic Porter aged in a blend of XO Cognac barrels". Very complex and warming. If I can't get any more at Beer Central I'll have a look online as even at £8.50 it was good value. The Black Mass is one that Abbeydale have played around with, I think. (I'm sure they've done this before: Lost Souls used to be a Barley Wine but is now an Imperial Stout; Black Mass used to be an Imperial Stout and is now a Black IPA. Or maybe I'm just losing it - all the Abbeydale beers have religious connotations, so it's not hard to get them mixed up.) Not as luxurious as the Pohjala, with the hops very much to the fore and not a lot of sweetness from the malts, and in fact quite easy drinking for its strength; I'll probably pick another one up next time I go to the market.
Friday
Started off this evening just after sunset with a beer I've never had before: Hacker Schorr Kellerbier 5.5% 50cl £3.40. I bought this a couple of weeks ago at the Dram Shop and it's been resting in my cupboard under the stairs for a suitable opportunity. Brewed in München, where the German-only label was also printed, and you'll have to trust me when I say that it has undergone a traditional lagering and maturation process, and now has unmistakably fruity malt and honey notes. The date 1417 appears on the label and on the seal over the procelain stopper, but the provenance of this date is not established as far as I can see. This was a pleasant drink and I might well get some more next time. Second beer this evening was a 3.9% Session IPA from Buxton brewery called Sloper. I don't know why I bought this because I've not had a beer of this type yet that I could say I really liked. Barley, oats and wheat contribute their respective palenesses, and the impression of a glass of artisanal lemonade on pouring is reinforced by the smell and taste of a hop called loral: "wonderful floral and herbal notes followed by a backdrop of citrus and earthy character." At just £3.50 for a 440ml can, I was not too distressed when I accidentally knocked over the glass and spilled approximately 110ml. And even more pleased when it didn't flow onto my laptop computer.
Time for a whisky, I think.