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!

Revisiting Applecross in Scotland...

A review of 4 Applecross Craft Brewery (website) beers this time, but who can forget Jalfreziman's original descriptive guest blog from 4 years ago, nor the wonderful scenic images from Applecross Photographic Gallery (website), many thanks to them again too! 👍

So, David's (Jalfreziman) review of the brewery's ales begins with Applecross Gold (5.0%), the only one of their ales available to him on draught at the Applecross Inn, Shore Street, Applecross, Wester Ross IV54 8LR (website). From the name (and the image above) you can guess/see it's a golden/blonde ale. David says it has a slightly smoky taste to it, otherwise what you would expect from a blonde bitter; he gave it a score of 6/10. The photograph is borrowed from UNTAPPD, and many thanks to Dick Bloem, who's image it is, cheers Dick!

This is an image from the older Applecross blog of their 4.7% Dark Ale, Inner Sound, though from a bottle this time. David says it is nutty, malty, and a rich caramel. Indeed, his favourite in 2019, and in 2023 too, he's definitely not fickle, it's "very tasty" and marked 7/10 by him. 👍

The final 2 bottled beers sampled are Applecross Pale Ale (3.7%) and Sanctuary, a 4.0% Red Ale. Applecross Pale Ale does what it says on the label, an easy drinking session pale ale, which he gave a score of 5/6 to. And the Sanctuary does what it says on the label too, it's a nutty red ale which David gave a score of 6/10 to.

Many thanks and cheers to David for his reviews! 🍻