Happy New Beer!

 Have a Happy Hoppy New Year Beer folks, cheers! 😁

Christmas Whiskey, Oh Yes, Another One...

From the North of Ireland, Dunville's (website) Three Crowns (43.5%), a blended Irish Whiskey, with a second ageing in Oloroso Sherry casks. The original Three Crowns Whiskey had been discontinued in the 1930s after being around for 100 years, but the Echlinville Distillery acquired the Dunville name, and relaunched Three Crowns in 2016.

A deep golden colour and a sweet and slightly spicy aroma, with vanilla and fruit. To taste, it has a big full body with butterscotch commanding the hints of nutmeg, dried fruits and toffee. Very warming as it goes down, leaving a pleasant satisfying finish, slainte! 

Christmas Day Ale, and it's CRACKIN'

Merry Christmas by the way 😉this is my only cask ale today, from Derby pub/brewery Brunswick (website), which I didn't visit on my most recent trip to Derby (blog), but I have visited many times in the past, despite never blogging about the pub/brewery! Anyway, at the Dolphin Inn, Hastings earlier today (website), which I admit to leaving early (not too fond of very busy pubs, and it got busy!), but lovely to see owners' family members, and other friends, however, I wanted to write this blog, then eat and drink too much, Seasons Greetings! 😁

So Brunswick's Pick 'N' Mix (5.0%), a pale bitter brewed with 5 stonking hops always, but not sure if it was this version #10, or not (image from UNTAPPD), as the pump clip never arrived at the Dolphin, but #10 is the latest I can find out about on the internet! 😏 Whatever, it was pale, fruity++ and with a dry bitter finish, and those hops would do it, loved it, cheers!

Hoppy Christmas!

 Best wishes to all, cheers! 🍻

Happy Winter Solstice!

 Happy Winter Solstice 2024! See Live Science for more information, cheers!

December Whiskey of the Month

My 'first' December 'Whiskey of the Month' is from Dublin distillery Teeling, the first new distillery to open in Dublin for over 125 years in 2015 (website). Why my first of the month? I have to admit I already have another new whiskey for me put by in a kitchen cupboard for Christmas. 😉 Anyhow Teeling's Small Batch (46%). This triple distilled whiskey is a blend of 'hand-selected' grain and malt whiskeys, separately fully aged in ex-bourbon barrels, and then 'married' in Central American rum casks to develop and age for up to a further 12 months. 

The Small Batch is a bright golden colour, with a spicy rum, vanilla and dried fruit aroma. It is slightly sweet to taste, with subtle hints of rum, caramel and cinnamon flavours. Another very smooth and luxurious Irish whiskey, with a bit of warmth when going down the throat and, again, another easy to drink whiskey, slainte! 👍

Incidentally, my previous November Whiskey of the Month The Sexton (blog), I very recently saw on the shelf at The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street, Hastings TN34 3BN, a coincidence! 😲

St Andrews Day Chocolate and Biscoffi Stout!

Indeed, yesterday, before I had my St Andrews Day haggis, neeps and tatties (and Brussels sprouts 😉), I again visited The Jolly Fisherman in Hastings (yesterday's blog) and finished off with a stout (amongst other fine ales enjoyed) that had replaced the Celebration I had imbibed on Friday. This stout from Liverpool based Azvex Brewing Company (website) and their 5.8% Orbiting Treasure, a Chocolate and Biscoffi Stout.

It pretty much does what it says on the label, as you can see from the photograph, dark with a light brown head, met my opinion of the difference between a porter and a stout (blog), vegan friendly, but it was so rich and smooth, and dark, so that you wouldn't notice. I got the biscuit in the aroma, but not so much in the flavour, inverse with the chocolate, that came out big in the taste, finishing with a slightly bitter 'dark' chocolate taste, but subtle in the aroma. 😁

Another luxurious stout, thank you very much, cheers! 👍