Now for more Moor Beer, their holiday offering Winter Blend
“Eat and drink too much during the holidays? Yeah, we’re all guilty, especially with all those great barley wines and winter warmers out around that time. Sometimes when your discipline is about to fail you need a more sane beer to brighten the cold days and long nights. This is the one you’re looking for – a beautifully blended Brown Ale. Fruity, nutty, chocolatey, and bitter, it’s perfect for the dark winter season. One landlord commented that it “still has that full on Moor flavour hit.” It’ll keep your taste buds satisfied and the rest of your body relieved. Great taste, less…”
English Brewery Tour # 3 – Bristol Beer Factory
10 Days ago we e-visited Magic Rock Brewery that I saw in a column from Tomm Carroll in the Celebrator magazine. Now another brewery he noted in that column is our final stop in Great Britain, Bristol Beer Factory.
The first beer that caught my eye being that I live in the Golden State was “The Bitter Californian is a hybrid between a traditional English Best Bitter and the wonderfully aromatic Californian Pale Ales. Our brewers, Chris (the bitter one?) and Brett (the Californian one) have combined their love of English malts and American hops to create a delicious new beer.”
I also love seeing a style like the Milk Stout being produced, “Sweet, black and extremely full-bodied. Unfermentable Lactose sugar (added during the boil) sweetens the Chocolate and Black Malt derived roast / burnt flavours.”
If you are an independent drinker you might want to visit and drink one of their independent beers from the old Ashton Gate Brewery.
English Brewery Tour # 2 – Magic Rock
I read about this West Yorkshire brewery from Tomm Carroll’s article in the most recent Celebrator magazine.
“Magic Rock Brewing Co. is the result of three peoples passion for beer. Brothers Richard and Jonny Burhouse aided by head brewer Stuart Ross were inspired to start the brewery by their love of great beer and the burgeoning U.S craft beer scene in particular. Driven by a desire to bring exciting characterful beers to their local market and beyond, brewing commenced mid 2011.”
The whimsical labels for their range of beers are fantastic and sound delicious as well….
Dark Arts: Surreal Stout “6% Dark Arts blends 4 malts and bags of whole hops to deliver a decadently deep and indulgent experience. A luxuriously smooth mouthfeel, is followed by spicy hop notes and full flavours of chocolate, liquorice, blackberries and figs. The finish is rich and satisfying with a lingering roasted bitterness. Our stout will convert you to the dark side.”
Cannonball: IPA “7.4% Cannonball is an India Pale Ale in the true tradition, high in alcohol and massively hopped to survive a long sea voyage. We don’ t want you to wait though, crack the cap and let the flavour explode on your palate. Tropically fruity, resinous hops compete against a sweet malty backbone, while a rasping bitterness builds to a mouth puckering crescendo. Our hop bomb might just blow you away…”
English Brewery Tour # 1 – Chapel Down
Our first English stop is a winery! But this winery also does beer. Chapel Down currently offer three curious beers including Curious IPA, Curious Porter and Curious Brew.
I heard about this vintner/brewer from this article in the Guardian.
And if Pete Brown approves then the beers must be pretty good.
Where Santa might Stop – Pear Tree Inn
While in England, St. Nick might stop at Banbury for a drink at the aptly named Pear Tree Inn (no mention of partridges). It is part of Hook Norton.
“This pretty 18th century pub, which also serves as the Brewery’s tap, is ideally located for use by the many walkers who pass by or visitors to the Hook Norton Brewery Visitor Centre.
The Pear Tree has a single, beamed bar with welcoming log fire. The Pear Tree is open all day and has the full range of Hook Norton beers.
Double bed in roomThe pub has three bed and breakfast rooms, which are much in demand during the summer months.
The pub is famed for its annual beer festival which is held every July.”
Halloween Beer # 1 – Newcastle Werewolf
The first Halloween beer to be reviewed comes from Newcastle. It is their new fall seasonal for the True Blood set….Werewolf
Gluten Free beer review # 3
The last video review of the month is St. Peter’s Sorgham.
The Werewolf (the beer)
You may have noticed last year that there was something other than Newcastle Brown on the market. A summer Newcastle. Well it was only the start.
Coming this fall (maybe in time for Halloween) will be Newcastle Werewolf…..
“What better way to toast the fall than to have a bottle of this formidable, dual character brew. At first, smooth with mellow overtones of sweet berry fruit, a bite of bitterness suddenly cuts through, long, deep and lingering. Brewed with rye malt, it is naturally ‘blood red’ in colour. Unlike te mythical wolf-like creature said to roam the bleak moorland surrounding Newcastle, this is real, so consider yourself warned!”
Tudor Brewing
As I have mentioned before, and I will mention it in the future (that is a promise). We cocky Yanks need to remember that ours is not the only country in the world and that we are not the only craft beer pioneers. The revolution is in Italy, Australia and in England too.
Which brings us to the Tudor Brewery in Wales.
They have three beers named after the peaks that surround the area that the beer is brewed in. And it’s real ale. Not the watered down Stella’s you will see in some pubs.
Here is their description of themselves and the beers…
“Our 2 barrel micro brewery is sited at the Kings Arms Inn on Tudor Street, Abergavenny. The brewery can be viewed from within the Inn. The 6 barrel brewery is located close by on Merthyr Road, Abergavenny.”
Skirrid
A robust medium strength dark hoppy beer at 4.2% abv. Appeals to real ale buffs and lovers of strong beer flavours. Great with seafood and cheese.
SugarLoaf
An amber medium dry beer with sweet aroma at 4.2% abv. A well rounded full bodied caramelised beer using local ingredients. Suitable with rare charbroiled steak and fresh hamburger.
Blorenge
A light summer ale with fresh scents and a clear blonde appearance. A session beer at 3.8% abv Appeals to the lager drinker if chilled 2 degrees below normal cask temperature. Lads and Lasses love it. Wonderful with hot curries and spiced dishes
Featured beer blog: Mark Dredge
Americans are awash in great beer. So much so that other locales are ignored somewhat simply because our ‘fridges and interwebs bookmarks are packed with great beer and great beer blogs.
But I suggest taking the time to read the Pencil and Spoon by Mark Dredge.
I talked with Mark briefly at the Beer Bloggers Conference last year and can tell you that he knows and is passionate about beer. And it shows in his writings.