Steve the Beermeister
Friday, 29 August 2025
Black Thaw - Another Black IPA
Thursday, 28 August 2025
Belgian Beer Week 2025
I've seen La Trappe Quadrupel described as an amber beer, a dark amber beer, but it poured out so dark it looks more like a dark reddish brown colour, it is that dark an amber, see my photograph above, which is pretty accurate! Brewed with Hallertau Northern Brewer (hopslist) and Slovenian Super Steirer (also known as Super Styrian, ie Aurora grown in Slovenia - hopslist), this Quadrupel has a dark fruits and slightly vanilla aroma, as with most malty or slightly malty ales I detected significant butterscotch, as well as dark fruits in the flavour. Rich, slightly sweet, and smooth to drink, with a warmth from the alcohol, but dry enough to drink easily. π
Nice one, cheers, and Happy Belgian Beer Week! π
Tuesday, 26 August 2025
The Real 'If Only I Had The Time To Understand!'
The Real? Oh, have a look back to this blog for an explanation-ish. π
So, enjoyed at the Hastings Jolly Fisherman (blog), from Pomona Island (website), up int' North West of England, and their 12.5% If Only I Had The Time To Understand, a 'Russian Imperial Stout' aged in Cognac Casks. The real If Only I Had The Time To Understand does have cognac and coffee in the aroma and taste, with dark fruits and chocolate much more noticeable in the taste. Unsurprisingly, smooth and luxurious, and indeed gorgeous, cheers folks! π
Tuesday, 19 August 2025
St Bernard's Day: 20th August.
So, to celebrate, maybe raise a glass of Tynt Meadow or St Bernadus, cheers! πΊ
Sunday, 17 August 2025
Clonakilty Whiskey...
Clonakilty is quite a new distillery, set up in 2019, and they use only barley grown in Co Cork, the whiskey is triple distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in ex-Bourbon, Oloroso and Amontillado casks. This produces an aroma strongly teasing me with vanilla and hints of citrus and butterscotch, and tasting gently of vanilla with a hint of pear, orange and butterscotch, smooth, but you know the alcohol is there whilst drinking and as it goes down, good stuff, slΓ‘inte!
Monday, 11 August 2025
Classic English Hop back after 100 Years!
I thought, great to hear good news, but they've actually been growing Farnham White Bine hops for 10 years now, so not so new news. Indeed, Hogs Back brewed their first ale with this hop back in 2015/16 (the article I refer to suggests 2015, the brewery suggest 2016 π), presumably after their first crop, and that was Farnham White, a 4.0% golden bitter (Cask Marque).
If you want to experience Hog Back's ales brewed with the historic Farnham White Bine hops, watch out for their 'limited edition' ales, notably already mentioned Farnham White (photograph above with thanks to Andy King on UNTAPPD); their latest addition to their seasonal ales Blackwater Plum Porter (4.0%); and Home Harvest Pale (4.0%), brewed with their own Fuggle and Cascade hops in addition, this one for Autumn consumption (Hogs Back website).
Happy hunting folks, cheers! π
Friday, 8 August 2025
August Whiskey of the Month.
Jameson is a 40.0% triple distilled whiskey, of course, a deep amber coloured blend of grain and single pot still whiskeys, and aged in oak casks for at least 4 years before bottling. It has a slightly oak woody, honey and citrus aroma, and you notice the alcohol very much too, and noticed straight away in the taste. Indeed, it has a warming effect all through the drinking experience from nose, to mouth to stomach, although very smooth! I, as I seem to, noticed butterscotch in the taste predominantly, with hints of vanilla, nuts and cinnamon too, I like it, slΓ‘inte! π