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Christmas Ale Reviews

Sally Beresford from Wales has sent me these festive ales to review. Thank you Sally your gift is greatly appreciated.

Young’s
Christmas Pudding Ale
www.youngs.co.uk

Christmas beer is a funny kettle of fish. Its either really, really nice, really, really bad, or some where in between. Sadly this festive offering from Young’s is nothing special. Its marzipan overtones are immensely overpowering rather like a heavy bowl movement. It’s more of a dessert ale then the kind of beer to enjoy with your turkey. Overall an interesting brew but only for the adventurous.

3/10

Shepherd’s Neame
Christmas Ale
www.shepherd-neame.co.uk

This strong ale is tangy, sharp, and has a strong hint of orange. It reminds me of the French lager they used to sell at the Miners welfare my granddad went to. Christmas ale should have a depth to its flavour and overall this beer does not. It’s a nice colour but when did that really count for anything? Nice try but I expect better from the Shepherd’s Neame team.

4/10

Beer Reviews

Tomintoul Brewery. This Scottish Highland brewery produces some interesting beers. There’s nothing better than ale with character and Tomintoul brews beverages that have plenty of character both inside and outside the bottle.

Nessie’s Monster Mash 4.4%

Nessie subtle bitter hints make it very drinkable. This is a drink that turns your mouth in to a veritable party zone. Nessie’s carbon dioxide content is reminiscent of continental lager and this quality assures the drinker that several bottles could be sunk in an evening with out having to worry about ill effects the following day. It would be the ideal partner to a bag of barbecue crisps.

8/10

Stag 4.1%

Stag has a strong malty taste that is audibly severed by a sharp alcohol twang. As the beverage slides over your tongue fruity flavours erupt into your mouth while bitter undertones wrestle with your taste buds. This beer is not unlike a supped up alcoholic version of Dr Pepper. On swallowing your mouth feels as if this mighty beast has overpowered it yet it has enjoyed the experience and begs for more. In truth Stag is quite captivating in all departments and it is a beer that sits comfortably in a glass its pleasant light brown hues being complemented by a rich nose. It would go well with cheese and onion crisps.

9/10

Wild Cat 5.1%

This is a dark beer with a rich malty nose that is permeated by hints of yeast. I’m a fan of dark beers and Wild Cat does not disappoint. There is a real sense of balance to this Scottish brew. The main body of taste is driven by bitterness yet this is perfectly balanced by the glow of sweat black treacle. This is a brew that reminds the brain of bonfire toffee. Wild Cat is most defiantly a winter warmer.

8/10

Visit Tomintoul Brewery at: www.tomintoul/brewery.com

Our second batch of beers also hail from Scotland and are brewed by the Aviemore Brewery. Each 500ml bottle features the picture of a red bearded, sword swinging, Scottish warrior!

Cairngorm 5.0%

Cairngorm is a robust pale Scottish lager that would give most continental brews a run for their money. It is a crisp strong beer with a subtle sharpness and a pleasant sweat aroma. Cairngorm is well balanced whilst in the mouth and has an after taste not dissimilar to bonfire toffee. This lager would make an ideal session beer and its detailed rounded taste puts it heads above other UK bottled lagers.

The Wychwood Brewery supplied us with five great looking beers. They really do go to town with their packaging. The distinct names on the labels are complemented by fantastic artwork. They do a range of T-shirts featuring these designs and are running a promotion were you can get one at a knock down price if you send five bottle caps with your order. Ideal winter fashion for the distinguished drinker!

Goliath 4.7%

Goliath comes in a large manly 660ml bottle so you get a lot of booze for your money. It is a nice good quality bitter and its subtle hoppy flavour masks its impressive alcohol content. It belongs in the ‘very drinkable’ category due to its fresh smooth taste and lager like carbon dioxide content. When chilled it makes a wonderfully refreshing drink ideal for summer barbecues. This beer does not live up to its name but it could handle itself against that David chap any day of the week.

7/10

Circle Master 4.7%

Circle Master is an organic ale and the kind of good quality beer you expect from the Wychwood brewery. It has a sharp flavour that leaves a bitter aftertaste in the mouth. Circle Master is most certainly robust and it has that home brew quality which warms the heart and intoxicates the head. In these uncertain times of genetic modification and intensive horticulture the environmentally conscious drinker will welcome the production of an organic ale.

7/10

Hobgoblin 5.5%

Hobgoblin is not a drink for the faint hearted. If it were a cheese it would be Stilton. Hobgoblin is just the right side of dark and thankfully does not fall into the trap of tasting like burnt treacle. Its strong alcohol content is matched by its full sweat flavour. This rounded dark bitter embodies the distinct flavour of cocoa and this adds a devastating weapon to its already impressive arsenal. A great beer!

8/10

Black Wych 4.5%

Black Wych is a strong tasting stout that pummels your mouth like a sledgehammer. It is has an intricate burnt quality that will appeal to fans of tradition bottled stouts but it struggles to balance the conflict between bitter and sweat flavours. Black Wych is also a little too fizzy and defiantly not a drink that will be enjoyed by fans of smooth stouts. Nice try but no cigar.

5/10

Fiddler’s Elbow 5.2%

Our guest reviewer this month is Marilyn Brown. She sampled Fiddler’s Elbow. So Marilyn what did you think?
“A nice …what was it like? What colour was it? Oh it was a nice pale colour with a strong malty smell. It had a sharp, bitter, malty taste and was very enjoyable!”
Would you drink it again?
“I would yes.”
Marks out of ten?
“I’d give it 8/10.”

www.wychwood.co.uk