September Whisky of the Month!

Not another whisky/whiskey I hear you say! Well, yes, this is the September Whisky of the Month, from the Isle of Skye, off the West Coast of Scotland. From Talisker (website), where the distillery has been since 1830, and their 45.8% Talisker Skye Single Malt Whisky, and yes, I've gone for a Scottish whisky this month, because I saw it at a decent price, maybe.😉

The Talisker Skye is a deep golden colour, following ageing in used bourbon casks, and with hints of smoked peat and honey in the aroma. At first taste, it is smooth, soft, and slightly sweet, with hints of smokiness, citrus, black pepper spiciness, and butterscotch coming through, to a subtly heated spicy finish, to warm the cockles, pretty satisfying... Sláinte! 😁

Peanut's at the Vat and Fiddle!

Yes, literally, a cat called Peanut keeps turning up at a pub and brewery 33 miles away from his home, he loves the ambience and company, apparently... He first turned up there on the 9th of July, after being missing from his home in Lincolnshire for 6 days already, apparently enjoying his first birthday at the pub, the Vat and Fiddle in Nottingham (website). He was reunited with his owners after it was realised that he was 'chipped' but he returned to the pub again within 3 days of going missing a second time (BBC). It is a complete mystery how he travels between the 2 places, but he certainly remembered the way back, don't be surprised if he returns yet again! 

I have a long history with Tynemill and Castle Rock Brewery (website) going back to well before I started blogging, indeed my local pub 25 years ago is one of theirs, the New Barrack Tavern in Sheffield (website), although it wasn't owned by Castle Rock on my first visit there 30 years ago, but acquired since. I got on really well with their manager and his wife, and have a Castle Rock polo shirt given to me by them, without having the necessary points (they run a loyalty scheme). And I first visited the Vat and Fiddle towards the end of the last millennium, before going to a football match at Nottingham Forest with my then wife, where on that occasion we met another friend we've both kept as a friend since, Paul. So, Castle Rock, and I have mentioned their ales before, have made quite an impression on my life, a bit like Peanut's life! 🐱

Castle Rock Brewery do brew some excellent cask ales, including the 2 you are most likely to see around the country, Harvest Pale and Elsie Mo, and I have written about their ales before, for example on my older blog. The Harvest Pale (3.8%) is a very light and very drinkable citrussy session ale, brewed with Centennial (hopslist), Cascade (hopslist) and Chinook (hopslist) hops. The Elsie Mo is a stronger 4.7% golden ale, still very citrussy but more complex, and very drinkable too, and brewed with First Gold (hopslist), Challenger (hopslist), and Slovenian Aurora (hopslist) and Bobek (hopslist) hops. Look out for them, cheers! 😁

Image from the Vat and Fiddle facebook page.

Black Thaw - Another Black IPA

On my older blog, lost to me to edit anymore, thank you Google/Gmail (😒), I had written about Black IPAs before, and it's still available to view, it appears (blog). Anyway, similarly, I shall not waffle about oxymorons, but will paraphrase what I said then about how Black IPAs are brewed, as explained to me by Brett, who used to work at Hastings Brewery (which no longer exists). The way he brewed Black IPAs, he used malt that had been de-husked, allowing some colour, but not to have the roasted malt flavour, then he chucked in a significant amount of hops, for example, Cascade, Columbus and Galaxy, to ensure an APA style flavour.

Well, the hops used for Burnt Mill's (website) Black IPA, their Black Thaw (6.0%) are Centennial (hopslist), Citra (hopslist) and Erebus (hopsteiner). The end result, I felt, was a bit like a cross between a Black IPA and a Porter, there was a hint of liquorice and dark fruits, body more like a Porter (well it is 6.0%!), and a mixture of citrus and dark fruits in the finish, which is a wee bit dry and bitter, not too sweet, not bad at all, cheers! 😁

If you haven't already read it, this blog is my opinion about stouts/porters.

Belgian Beer Week 2025

National Beer Days, International Beer Days, IPA Days, Belgian Beer Weekend, presently we are in Belgian Beer Week 2025 (website), the celebratory drinking doesn't stop! 😉 So what better than a Quadrupel Trappist ale to celebrate with?!? The 10.0% Quadrupel from La Trappe (website) is indeed a Trappist ale, and a pretty good one to choose too, and which La Trappe claims to be the first Quadrupel in the World! 

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. 👍

Nice one, cheers, and Happy Belgian Beer Week! 😁

The Real 'If Only I Had The Time To Understand!'

The Real? Oh, have a look back to this blog for an explanation-ish. 😉 

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! 😁

St Bernard's Day: 20th August.

2 suggestions for St Bernard's Day (more about at the bottom of this blog), first I decided to go back to the darker English Trappist Ale for today, brewed by Cistercian monks at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Leicestershire (website), this Tynt Meadow is a 7.4% trappist ale. Dark ruby red/mahogany colour with a big fruity aroma and flavour. Not the citrus fruits I normally enjoy, but rich darker fruits, with a touch of chocolate and malt/toffee in the taste, plenty of body and smooth, and slightly sweet to drink, Tynt Meadow is bottled conditioned, consequently having a long shelf life, so store in a cool place, drink quite chilled, and pour out carefully, unless you enjoy the addition of yeast particles from the lees...

The second suggestion which I have written about very recently (blog), so will precis that information here, is from Brouwerij St Bernadus (website), their St Bernadus ABT 12 (10.0%). Strictly, not a Trappist beer, although they had brewed Trappist ales for the Trappist monks at Westvleteren from 1946 to 1992. In 1998 Hans Depypere bought the business and it has flourished since. The St Bernadus ABT 12 is a very deep dark coloured red Quadrupel, brewed with hops grown in their own hop field. This has a slightly malty/fruity aroma, again, a bit sweet, but with a dry slightly bitter finish. Tasting of dark plum and damson fruits, indeed, a Christmas Pudding of a beer as many Quadrupels tend to be, very rich and tasty!

So, who was St Bernard? Bernard of Clairvaux was a 12th century monk, then Abbot, who was a principle in the foundation of the Knights Templar, and in the creation of the Cistercian Order that broke from the Benedictines. Indeed, the Cistercians are also called Bernardines, after Bernard of Clairvaux, or White Monks, as they dropped the black cowl warn by Benedictines. Unsurprisingly, St Bernard is patron saint of the Cistercians and Knights Templar, and also patron saint of bees, beekeepers, and candle makers/chandlers. There you are. 👍

So, to celebrate, maybe raise a glass of Tynt Meadow or St Bernadus, cheers! 🍺

Clonakilty Whiskey...

Yes, yes, I know, I've already written about a whiskey this month (blog), but I was drinking in the Hastings Jolly Fisherman (blog) yesterday, and Oliver waved a not yet opened bottle in front of me, and tempted me to buy a glass of it. I'm easily tempted, no control! 😉 So there it was, distilled in County Cork by Clonakilty (website), their 46.0% Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, I'll have some of that, thank you very much! 

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, sláinte!

Classic English Hop back after 100 Years!

I saw on the BBC website, that a grandparent of hops around the world, the Farnham White Bine (above image from Hogs Back website - info at Ed's Beer Site), has been resurrected after a hundred years, and is growing in the hop fields of Hogs Back Brewery (website), alongside their Cascade (British Hop Association) and Fuggle (British Hop Association) hops.

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 😕), 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! 😁

August Whiskey of the Month.

"About time!" I hear from some. 😉 I had even surprised myself when I realised I have not reviewed this mainstay of Irish whiskeys! Oh well, it's here now as my August Whiskey of the Month, Jameson whiskey (website) which used to be distilled at their Jameson Distillery, Bow Street, Dublin 7. However, since 1976, when they merged with Powers and Cork Distillers to form Irish Distillers (website), like many other well known Irish whiskey brands, now it is distilled at their Midleton Distillery near Cork (website).

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, sláinte! 😉

IPA Day Ale, cheers!

My IPA Day ale of choice yesterday evening (blog) was enjoyed at the Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock a Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW (website), and was brewed by Yorkshire brewery Rooster's Brewing Co (website), whose excellent ales I have been drinking since the late 1990s. The ale, from this very reliable brewery, who brew 'vegan friendly' ales that always turn out totally clear, was their 4.3% Old Faithful Pale Ale. Brewed with 3 hops: Bramling Cross from England (hopslist); Cluster from the USA (hopslist); and Pacific Gem from New Zealand (hopslist). Consequently producing a pale clear ale with citrus, lemon and grapefruit, and just a hint of darker fruits in the taste, and with a lovely dry bitter finish, nice one! 

Happy International IPA Day, plus one, cheers! 😁

International IPA Day 2025

Today is IPA Day 2025 (daysoftheyear), when we celebrate India Pale Ales, indeed, celebrated on the first Thursday of August every year now, and how IPAs have been influenced by craft brewers, and hops, from the USA. IPAs were originally brewed to be transported by boat on the long trip to India from Britain in the 18th century, thus had plenty of strength and plenty of hops as a preservative, to help survive the long journey. The idea of IPA Day has its origins in 2011, the brain child of American beer enthusiast and author, Ashley Routson*, who I send my thanks to for making me also take advantage of this day every year in Britain too, cheers!

With thanks to Pints and Panels (website) for the image above, the evolution of the IPA, from a slightly darker English hoppy beer transported to India, to the later U.S. craft brewery influenced paler versions, or, as I prefer to call them, APAs. I know where I'm going to imbibe later on, so may just report back on my IPA Day ales sometime very soon, cheers m'dears! 🍺

*Ashley Routson, The Beer Wench's Guide to Beer: An Unpretentious Guide to Craft Beer.

Pink Grapefruit Ale from Kent Brewery!

I have written about Kent Brewery (website) ales many times before, indeed, they are one of my favourite dependable breweries for the quality of their ales, paler ales especially for me. But a recent visit to the Rye Waterworks (blog) saw me drink the slightly hazy 4.9% Kent Pamplemousse, brewed with pink grapefruit and citrusy hops, although I can't discover which hops were used, apologies, but I would be surprised if they were not from the USA. And if you're wondering about the name, 'pamplemousse' equals 'grapefruit' in French. 😁

It may look 'flat' in the photograph above, but it wasn't, indeed, it was just a full pint served to me, and ales are gravity fed at the Waterworks, so only a little head, although it did keep lacing all the way down the glass. OK, Pamplemousse is more orange than pink, but pink grapefruits produce a red juice, so I would describe this as an extra fruity, citrusy American Pale Ale style (APA), and I doubt if I'm wrong about the hops, but what do I know. 😉 So, pale and hoppy, very fruity, with a nice dry bitter finish and refreshing, another nice one Kent Brewery, cheers! 👍

Apologies - International Beer Day 2025 Yesterday!

Sorry I missed this, I had the wrong date marked in my diary. 😕 But Happy International Beer Day for yesterday! 🍺 Which should have been, and probably was elsewhere, a day of global celebration of beer (website). Indeed, the first Friday in August has been International Beer Day since 2013, a celebratory day created by Jesse Avshalomov at his local bar in Santa Cruz in California in 2007 (used to be August the 5th previously), you have to love those drinkers across the North Atlantic who suggest I celebrate drinking beer so regularly! 

The purpose of the day is to gather with others and enjoy a few beers and to celebrate the variety of beers available, and to celebrate those who brew, manage, and serve beer to us, not forgetting the wonderful pubs and bars where we drink. As Simon Difford suggests, let's raise a glass "to Beer, a drink that brings the world together." (diffordsguide) 🍻

But I did have a pint of ale yesterday, from a brewery I had never heard of, at my local 'local' The Prince Albert in central Hastings (blog). The ale, pump clip first image above, was from West Sussex brewery North Garden (website), Peaks (4.5%), an English Pale Ale, so brewed with English hops, which I presume are the same as for its stronger sibling Peaks Extra Pale Ale (4.8%); that is, Olicana (British Hop Association) and Harlequin (British Hop Association).

Or maybe not, on looking at the few reviews I could find, which suggest a paler beer than I drank (likely reviews of the Extra Pale Ale), although English Pale Ales are usually darker than the APAs that have been dominating the IPA name in recent times. The Peaks I drank was quite a deep copper colour, very much like a traditional IPA should be, and was, indeed, a bitter ale, like a traditional IPA would have been at the outset. Also, I didn't get the tropical fruit flavours you would expect with hops used like Olicana and Harlequin, so very likely more traditional English hops were used. However, the brewery's website doesn't help me at all, I can only go by what I was served, which was a bitter traditional English ale. Happy Beer Day Plus One, cheers! 😁

Sheffield: Congratulations to Brian at the Bath Hotel!

I've thought about using the image above for many years now, which is of my pal Rick the Dentist, on the left, with Brian Johnson the Landlord, in the Bath Hotel, 66-68 Victoria St, Sheffield S3 7QL (website). Rick sent this photograph to me soon after I moved away from Sheffield, just to make me jealous, no doubt. 😉 This is one of my favourite pubs in Sheffield, where I have had many good times over the years, and it's great that Brian is back running the pub again after a number of years during which he had leased it to Thornbridge Brewery, because his warm welcome always makes you feel at home (eg visiting last year - blog).

So why the 'congratulations' to Brian then? Well, call me a late messenger, but he won the local CAMRA Central Sheffield Pub of the Year 2024 last year, and more recently I saw in Sheffield CAMRA's Beer Matters July 2025, this year too (Sheffield CAMRA). Nice one Brian! 👍

This has reminded me that I need to visit again very soon, looking forward to seeing you again Brian, and whoever else I bump into, cheers! 🍺

Also, you'll likely have worked out I've been to Sheffield recently, blog soon. 😁

Belgian Beers Making Up For Monday!

To make up for Monday's falling back on weaker, brewed for abroad, 6.0% Leffe for Belgian National Day (blog), I dropped into The Jolly Fisherman (blog) the next day, and had 2 more impressive Belgian beers. First the Trappistes Rochefort 10 (website), with records written that brewing starting at the now nearly 800 years old monastery by 1595, the monks previously working on farming and mining only. During the revolutionary period from 1789, the monks fled from French troops, not returning until 1889. Looting and destruction of their original church meant they built a new church and brewery and, as farming failed to meet the monastery's financial needs, they supplemented their income by selling their beers. By 1952 professional brewing became their main source of income, and a new brewery was built in 1960.

Since 2020 brewing has been at a brand new 'state of the art' brewhouse, from whence came the Rochefort 10 I drank on Tuesday, a Quadrupel, a mere 11.3% in strength 😉 with the '10' coming from an older Belgian measurement of wort density. A deep reddish brown in colour, a bottle conditioned beer, with a spicy, fruity and slightly smoky, aroma. It's pretty much full of dark spicy fruits in the taste, a little chocolate too, my notes on the day say "Black Forest Gateau in a glass" and quite right too, plenty of body, rich and luxurious, gorgeous! 😁

Second, from Brouwerij St Bernadus (website), the St Bernadus ABT 12 (10.0%), situated in Watou in Flanders, with a complicated more modern history. You could be forgiven for thinking this is a Trappist beer, but you would be wrong! They started brewing Trappist ales, under different ownership, for the Trappist monks at Westvleteren in 1946, but in 1992 the International Trappist Association (website) set up with rules agreed, including that to be authenticated, Trappist ales had to be brewed in a Trappist monastery and either brewed by, or brewing supervised by, monks. For 6 years they had trouble keeping the brewery going...

Then, in 1998 Hans Depypere bought the business, and it has flourished since, with a new brewing hall added in 2014 (history). The St Bernadus ABT 12 is a very deep dark coloured red Quadrupel, brewed with Hallertau Magnum hops (hopslist) for bitterness, and Goldings for aroma (hopslist); all hops used are grown in their own hop field. With a slightly malty/fruity aroma, it's a bit sweet, but has a dry slightly bitter finish. Tasting of dark plum and damson fruits, a Christmas Pudding of a beer as many Quadrupels tend to be, very rich and tasty!

Cheers m'dears! 🍺

Happy Belgium National Day!

The 21st of July is 'National Day' in Belgium, the anniversary of the swearing in of King Leopold I, the first recognised King of Belgium nearly 200 years ago, in 1831, following the revolution the previous year against the last of many empires encompassing Belgians over hundreds of years, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Therefore, much celebration will be had in Belgium today as it is a public holiday, nowhere more so than in Brussels (The Brussels Times). 

Sadly I cannot make it to Belgium today, although I will be making another visit in the not too distant future, consequently today I had to go shopping for Belgian beer, and this (above) is what I returned from the shops with. I had to go shopping because the first two places I would have gone to for Belgian beers in Hastings would have been the Eel & Bear (blog) and The Jolly Fisherman (blog), who both sell an impressive array of bottled beers. Sadly, both are also closed on Mondays, so woe is me, I was unprepared... 😣

BUT, next year will be different, no doubt, as Belgium National Day falls on a Tuesday! 😁

Anyway, I bought 4 bottles of an Abbey style beer this year, brewed by Leffe (website), where brewing has been ongoing only since 1240 😉 and that is their 6.0% Blonde. Sadly, not as potent as the 6.6% Leffe Blonde we drank back in September (blog), but my brother Dan had brought those back with him from Brussels, we get weaker stuff served up in Britain. 😒 This is pretty much a 'go to' beer for Dan as it's very dependable. Even though a wee bit less body and strength than the Belgians enjoy, there are still hints of caramel and spices in the aroma and taste, particularly cloves, a very gentle bitterness, and a slightly dry finish, nice one.👍

So, Happy Belgium National Day! Cheers 🍻

I Love Clitheroe!

Well, someone does, because Rod, who is moving there sometime soon-ish, brought me back a can of Clitheroe brewery Bowland (website) 4.0% I Love Clitheroe IPA. As I can't find anything about it on the brewery's website, I'm guessing it's re-badged either Hen Harrier (4.0%), or more probably Buster IPA (4.0%), although it looks darker than either of them, so no idea! 😏 It hasn't been 'fined' or filtered, so a wee bit cloudy, and suitable for 'vegans' no doubt. A very fruity aroma and taste, sweet to start off with, which stays to the end, with only a wee bitterness at the finish, many thanks for treating me again Rod, and cheers m'dears! 🍺

I have since been advised that this is Bowland Buster IPA, cheers Rod! 👍

More Dark Beers, I Kid You Not!

3 dark beers from around the country, and all enjoyed in Hastings Jolly Fisherman (blog), first, the 4.2% cask conditioned 'Classic Porter' London Thunder brewed by Roosters in Yorkshire (website). The name coming from the fact that the porter beer 'style' was developed for the porters of Victorian markets in London, I presume. As you can see it is a very deep dark red, the opacity probably enhanced by it being an un-fined 'vegan' ale. I got roasted oats in the aroma, and liquorice too, and liquorice even more noticeable in the taste with a wee bit of chocolate too, although both flavours quite subtle. Apparently brewed with 7 different varieties of malt, and English hops, although the hops used aren't shared with the public. London Thunder is a pleasant, and surprisingly not heavy at all, easy to drink dark porter, not bad at all folks.

From not so far away from Hastings in the South Downs of Sussex, and the first of 2 crafty keg beers, this 7.3% 'Export Stout' Blessed State brewed by Burning Sky (website). This has cacao nibs and a blend of coffee beans added to the brew, and has significantly more body and depth of flavours. Rich, and chocolate dominated for me, with just a hint of coffee. Pretty damn good!

I'll add a link to the blog where I discuss porters and stouts below too.

Finally, from Bavaria in Germany, was the luxurious (you knew one had to come 😉) 14.4% Barrel Aged 'Imperial Stout' Black Rainbow brewed by FrauGruber Brewing (website). There's a mouthful, in more ways than one... A strong dark beer, aged in casks, with dark fruits and roasted hazelnuts, pecan and coconut, noticeable in the aroma and taste, but not as much chocolate to the taste as the previous beer has, and, indeed, luxurious!

The last beer I wrongly called If Only I Had The Time To Understand at first, and which will be written about in a later blog, sorry not my error folks, I thank you.

I discuss my opinion concerning the difference between a porter and a stout in this blog, feel free to read, and comment if you wish, cheers m'dears!

Paler Beers in Hastings

I've written about Britain's first Trappist ale before (blog), and now Tynt Meadow (website) are brewing a 5.0% Blond Ale, again in a Trappist style, but with an English 'twist' adding English hops and yeast to the malt produced from English barley. A deep golden blonde colour, a wee haze (bottle conditioned), and a little sweetness with a hint of caramel, vanilla, spice and fruity mandarin, completed with a dry slightly bitter finish, nice one, and unique!

Next is from Sussex brewery Burning Sky (website), and Plateau, full of flavour and only 3.5%, very much a session ale! Plateau is the brainchild of Mark Tranter, legendary fine tuner of Dark Star Hophead when he worked there, and is very similar to the original Hophead from when it was brewed in Brighton. However, it is a little weaker in alcoholic strength, but the flavour is more pronounced than the current Hophead, thanks to the hops added. Mark says it is "hopped at different stages of the brew with a mix bag of US and NZ hops..." and, of course, influenced by his experience and finesse. A pale golden bitter, very easy to drink, with grapefruit noticeable in the aroma and taste, and very refreshing and decent indeed.

From another Sussex brewery, indeed, from the Hastings based FILO Brewing Company (website) and imbibed in their own pub, the 4.0% Hop Cat, which pretty much does what it says on the label. Indeed, this is a light pale ale, with plenty of citrus fruit in the aroma and taste, very easy to drink with a nice subtle bitter finish, and refreshing, oh yes!

The next 2 beers are both from Bristol Beer Factory (website) over in the West Country, the first being their 4.2% Launch Approval, brewed with U.S. Loral (Yakima Valley Hops) and German Mandarina Bavaria (hopslist) hops. A pale ale, with floral and peppery hints in the aroma and taste, and citrus, notably orange, in the flavour. Another excellent session ale from this very dependable brewery, refreshing with a light dry bitter finish, nice one.

Dune Twist, is a more substantial 5.0% IPA from Bristol Beer Factory, and is also brewed with hops from 2 different countries, this time with N.Z. Nelson Sauvin (hopslist) and U.S. El Dorado (hopslist). Plenty of body and flavour, as you would expect, with tropical and citrus fruits in the aroma and taste, very smooth, but with a nice crisp dry bitter finish, quality!

Starting to prepare for Oktoberfest 😉 2 German beers, first is a Helles style lager from one of the older breweries in Germany, having brewed beers for nearly 700 years since its foundation in 1328! Augustiner Brau (website) Lagerbier Hell (5.2%), from Munich, is brewed with Bavarian malt and hops. This has a hint of wheat in the aroma and is a pale straw colour, indeed, 'a very tasty beer' was the first thing I noted, with a hint of citrus in the taste, mildly hoppy and slightly sweet, but refreshing and certainly not too bitter. A secondary fermentation ensures this beer has a lively sparkle, finishing off with a nice dry crispness, pretty good!

The final beer here, and the second from Germany, is brewed by Badische Staatsbrauerie Rothaus (website) in the southwest German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, in the Black Forest Mountain Range. Although the brewery was founded in 1791 by the Benedictine monastery of St. Blasien, it is now owned by the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Anyway, to their 5.1% Rothaus Pils which is, unsurprisingly, a Pilsner style lager, consequently hoppier than the Helles, although not significantly so. Brewed with malt from locally grown barley, and local spring water from the Black Forest, and Tettnanger (hopslist) and Hallertau (hopslist) hops, producing a slightly floral and spicy aroma and taste. Another refreshing beer, with hints of wheat in the taste and a crisp slightly bitter finish, very nice indeed, cheers! 😁

The first and last 2 beers were bought in the Eel & Bear (blog), the Plateau was imbibed at the Prince Albert (blog), the Hop Cat was from the First In Last Out (blog), and the 2 Bristol Beer Factory ales were enjoyed in the Dolphin Inn, which I have written about many times (eg blog).

July Whiskey of the Month

So, back to Irish whiskey for July and Molly Malone (website) Small Batch, just 40.0%, I believe developed particularly for the market across the North Atlantic, which is a blend of triple distilled whiskeys using Irish malts and grains from a few Irish distilleries; I haven't been able to confirm which distilleries, apologies. The Molly Malone Whiskey Company started up in 2019, but was set up by a family, Lombard-Chibnall, with many years of experience in wines and spirits going back to the late 17th century. Molly Malone Small Batch Whiskey is matured in 'second fill' oak bourbon casks on Achill Island, off the west coast of Ireland, and bottled there too.

Molly Malone Small Batch is quite light to drink, with a slightly acidic citrus and apple aroma, bitter-sweet at first taste, but with a gorgeous sweet flavour in the mouth, with vanilla and butterscotch, and hints of coconut, smoked oak, oranges, lemons, limes, pears and apple. Warm and smooth, and very easy to drink down, maybe too easy, sláinte! 😉

Dark Beers in Hastings...

I was going to post a blog about 'beers and ciders' in Hastings, but decided to divide it into 3 different blogs, and I'm missing out some recent beers and ciders, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it folks. 😉 So I'm starting with 7 darker beers, and kicking off with this cask ale from East Sussex based Three Acre Brewery (website). I drank this at the Dolphin Inn, Hastings (written about many times by me, eg blog), their 4.6% Skylark Stout, which I thought was more like a porter, and I have discussed the difference between stouts and porters in this blog a while back. Brewed with English hops according to Three Acre, a deep chestnut colour, smooth, and nutty with hints of chocolate and coffee in the taste. Not bad at all folks! 

The second beer I am writing about was enjoyed at The Jolly Fisherman in Hastings: see this blog for the pub's history, but no longer a B&B or providing food, although there are some excellent bar snacks available. This was from Polly's Brew Co (website) in North Wales and their 6.0% Winter Slope Stout, as I've already said my piece about porters and stouts I'll not repeat myself! A mixture in the grist of black, chocolate and crystal extra dark malts, and oats, dominate the taste. My notes say it all: "slightly toasted flavour with a hint of chocolate, very tasty and full bodied, yet smooth and easy to drink, surprisingly easy to knock back!"

This is a rather excellent beer from Manchester's Sureshot Brewing (website), their 11.0% Imperial Stout, Beware Oblivion is at Hand, indeed! Brewed with vanilla and cacao nibs, strangely not a lot of aroma, but packed with flavour, maybe my nose was overloaded at the time, 😉 I noted a hint of coffee, however, predominantly chocolate in the taste, and luxurious!

Next is another 'Imperial Stout' Wookie Mistake (11.0%), a collaboration between Electric Bear Brewing of Bath (website) and Emperor's Brewery, from Coalville near Leicester, who are currently on facebook; website being set up. Apparently, this beer is salted, which I didn't detect, and only discovered on checking Electric Bear's website. Indeed, the full flavour and sweetness of chocolate dominated, the chocolate coming from cacao nibs added to the brew, and a hint of caramel in the taste from caramel essence. Yes, another luxurious dark beer! 😁

The strongest and most luxurious of the 'Imperial Stouts' reviewed here comes from Yorkshire brewers, based in Leeds, Tartarus Beers (website), and their Bokkenrijder Triple Chocolate Imperial Stout (12.2%), another collaboration, this time with Dutch Bargain of the Netherlands (website). As you can see, I bought this as a takeaway, and I see from the Tartarus website they brew another same strength stout too, and an even stronger one, and even a stronger IPA! 😲 The Bokkenrijder is brewed with cacao nibs and vanilla, and cacao powder is added too, so yes, plenty of chocolate in the aroma and taste, luxurious indeed, nice one. 👍

Finally, yes I lazily have included only one photograph for 2 beers, one of which came home with me. 😉 At the pub, so in that glass, was this blog's penultimate brew, another collaboration, this time between Cloudwater Brew Co of Manchester (website) and Puhaste Beer of Estonia (website), and their 7.0% Behind The Sun And The Stars, brewed for Baltic Porter Day. Yes, definitely a porter, the aroma had a hint of coffee, dark fruits and chocolate, with chocolate dominating the flavour, strangely lighter and more refreshing than I expected, very good.

The final beer above, in the bottle, was another 'carry out' for me, from the historic Schlenkerla brewpub in Bamberg, Germany (website), and their more modest 5.1% Aecht Schelnkerla Rauchbier Marzen. This is a bottom fermented, thus lager style, lightly smoked beer, deep red in colour, with a smoky aroma and taste, a hint of toast to my taste, and a dry finish. I've even had 2 friends since tell me they've visited the pub/brewery, not that I'm jealous, cheers! 😁

There you go, a fairly diverse selection for me. 😉

Beer in Cans: Reviews for Friends, Honest!

I've been asked my opinion of these 2 beers, the first, presumably, for possible addition to the crafty keg beers they sell, the other an alcohol-free/very low alcohol alternative, maybe Wingman too. 😏 Wingman, a 'Session IPA' (4.3%), is brewed by the near legendary Scottish brewery Brewdog (website). This is a pale golden ale, it was pretty clear, but I did pour carefully, and I think there was maybe wee remnants in the bottom of the can when I rinsed it for recycling!

Wingman is pretty much an APA style IPA, that is bursting with pine and tropical and citrus fruit aromas, unsurprising as the hops used from the USA are Simcoe (hopslist), Ahtanum (hopslist), Chinook (hopslist), Citra (hopslist), Mosaic (hopslist), and HBC692 (Yakima Chief)! Big body and flavour too, hint of pine, with plenty of grapefruit, peach and mango, and a nice dry bitter finish. Pretty damn good, oh yes, as hinted at, you can get it low alcohol too (0.5%).

The specifically 'alcohol free' beer is from the North London brewer of the ubiquitous Neck Oil, Beavertown (website), and their 0.3% Lazer Crush. However, Lazer Crush is not brewed in London, but is brewed for them in Belgium by De Proefbrouwerij (website), who apparently brew many alcohol free beers for a number of other breweries too! 

As you can see, Lazer Crush is paler than the Wingman, slightly hazier, but similar in aromas and taste, just, unsurprisingly, a bit thin, lacking body. More citrus than forest fruits in the aroma, but plenty of grapefruit, some orange, and hints of melon and mango in the taste, thanks to the use of Azacca (hopslist), Amarillo (hopslist) and Citra hops (hopslist). So a bit more citrus flavours than the Wingman, but I did notice less body, despite the big hoppy additions, though it was very crisp and refreshing, not bad at all, cheers! 👍

Aah... Memories of when you could get Brewdog ales in cask...

The Drewe Arms, Drewsteignton, Devon

I have just finished reading the most recent Issue 68/Summer 2025 of the CAMRA BEER magazine, which has an article concerning 6 public houses that they have given Heritage Awards to, particularly acknowledging the efforts of those who have saved or revitalised these historic pubs. It's pretty difficult to get to read CAMRA (website) stuff, if not a member, so I am adding this link to the local paper, the Crediton Courier, that provides similar content regarding the only 1 of the 6 that I have been to, as far as my memory tells me. Indeed, yes, only 1! 😕

These 2 images of the pub in question. the Drewe Arms (website) and church next door, Holy Trinity (North Dartmoor Parishes), are both from Holiday in Dartmoor, many thanks to them, much appreciated. Because it is ages since I've visited this part of Dartmoor, probably not since the 1980s, that I do not have my own digital photographs of the pub and village. And you will presume from what I have written so far that this pub, actual address The Square, Drewsteignton EX6 6QN, is on Dartmoor, indeed, near to the north-eastern edge.

The building that became the Drewe Arms was built in the 17th century, with refurbishments in the 19th and 20th centuries and, unsurprisingly, is Grade II Listed. In the 19th century it was called the New Inn, presumably there used to be another inn locally, or it replaced a previous pub following refurbishment. It became the Drewe Arms a hundred years ago, after a brief spell as the Druid Arms. When I first visited in the late 1970s, Mabel Mudge was the licensee, having been so since 1919, first with her husband for 32 years until he passed away, then alone for another 43 years until she retired in 1994 aged 99 years old, and being the longest serving landlady in the country (75 years!), much respect to her. 

The pub, as far as I'm aware, has been sympathetically kept. From 1994 it was managed by a few companies until the local community bought this wonderful old pub in 2023, and now manage the Drewe Arms as a community asset, hence the Heritage Award, nice one. 👍

Having seen images of the interior, it looks to have the same feel, a room to your left as you enter, the bar and cellar behind a doorway to your left just afterwards, with a stable door and small 'surface' on which to deposit your glass, pleasantly basic. 😁 I remember Mabel well, indeed, you could hardly forget her, or the atmosphere of this friendly warm wee pub, and I visited at different times of the year when I lived in Devon. This is so much an addition to places to return to, with hearty congratulations to the local folk who have kept this going, cheers m'dears! 🍺

Hoppy Beer Day Britain!

Indeed, happy Beer Day Britain 2025 (website), an annual event that has been going on for ten years now, on June the 15th every year, and instigated by beer sommelier and writer Jane Peyton, cheers Jane! The day is supported by many drinkers and organisations, including the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

This day is on the same date (please forget about the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752 😉) as the signing of the Magna Carta (National Archives), which said in Article 35 "Let there be throughout our kingdom a single measure for wine and a single measure for ale..." 🍺no coincidence methinks! Of course, historically, drinking ale was generally more healthy than drinking untreated water, so the importance of beer in British society was very understandable, not to forget the importance of the public house. As I regularly say, go to a village you've never visited, look out for the church tower or spire, and the village pub, or pubs, will be nearby, although the sad loss of pubs in recent years doesn't make this so for every village now.

Whatever your favourite style of beer, raise a glass at 19.00 hours and say "Cheers to Beer!"

Cheers folks! 😁 #CheersToBeer