Update on ales imbibed during April...

OK, it was a wee bit late for St Patrick's Day, but, what the heck, For the Craic (4.8%), brewed by Box Steam Brewery of Wiltshire (website) is an excellent choice to start this blog with. It is labelled a "Bold Fruity IPA", though not as pale as you would expect from US influenced IPAs these days, being a darker amber colour, but certainly "fruity!" This had a strong citrus aroma with a citrus and mango flavour provided by the Azacca hops used, from the USA. Nice, dry and bitter, I liked this very much... Sláinte!

A more local brewer to me supplied my next choice at the Jenny Lind in Hastings Old Town's High Street (website). Friendly service, and a choice of 10 ales on offer, 6 of which come from local brewers. I chose the Franklins Brewing Company Resurrection (4.2%, website), in excellent form, so much so, I had to have a second pint to make sure it was so good! Pale and hoppy, with grapefruit in the taste, and a lovely refreshing dry finish, another excellent ale, presumably brewed with hops from the USA.

My penultimate ale for this blog was enjoyed at the Dolphin Inn, as was the For the Craic, opposite the fishermen's huts in old town Rock-a-Nore Road. From Kent Brewery (website) Prohibition (4.8%), described as an 'American Pale Ale', which is obviously its type! You've guessed it, hops from the USA are used, though they don't disclose which, but I'd bet at least one has a name starting with 'C', maybe Citra, Centennial, or Cascade? Anyway plenty of citrus in the aroma and flavour, a lovely pale golden bitter, and pretty damn good!

Finally, a very old favourite session ale of mine, from a long-favoured brewer, Oakham Ales (website) and in a 'tick' pub; originally Oakham started brewing in 1993 in Rutland, moving to Peterborough in 1998. They now have a 75 barrel brewing plant, with additional capacity at their central Peterborough brew-pub, the Brewery Tap (website). Anyway, sitting opposite the graveyard where Spike Milligan is buried ("I told you I was ill"), we visited the family owned and run New Inn, Winchelsea (website) and enjoyed 1 of the 5 ales on offer, Oakham JHB (Jeffrey Hudson Bitter, 3.8%), an excellent ale, plenty of citrus aroma and flavour from the Challenger and Mount Hood hops used, with a refreshing dry bitter finish, cheers!