Tag: England

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Review – Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout

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I have passed by this beer many times and picked up others from the shelves but recently, I picked this and the Old Brewery Pale Ale up to make my ‘fridge more British.

Here is what Samuel Smith of Tadcaster says about this beer, “Brewed with well water (the original well, sunk in 1758, is still in use with the hard water is drawn from 85 feet underground), the gently roasted organic chocolate malt and organic cocoa impart a delicious, smooth and creamy character, with inviting deep flavours and a delightful finish – this is the perfect marriage of satisfying stout and luxurious chocolate.”
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It pours a garnet brown with a tan head that fades really quickly. For a relatively low alcohol content of 5.0% abv it leaves some legs on the glass. A cocoa powder / milk chocolate aroma is pervasive. Every time I sniff, it comes across strong without overpowering the senses.

And that chocolate note is the first off the block when you take a sip. It lingers for a bit but then is followed by some coconut (almost Mounds candy bar). That initial two flavors are then quickly subsumed into a cloying sweetness that is then followed by a bitter metallic note. I am glad that it is complex with such a disparate set of flavors but I really like the first half and not so much the second.

For that reason, I have to give it a maybe buy. It may well work better with chocolate or vanilla cake where that sweetness can match up and hopefully dissipate a little.

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A Collectible Badger


One of the few nicknames that I knowingly carry is “badger”. Mostly because I get under my wife’s skin a bit too much so I follow the updates from anything Badger themed. And this came across my computer screen recently…

“On 26th November we are launching the first in our Badger Collector’s ale series. The Collector’s Edition 2012 is like no other ale and its journey has been a little out of the ordinary! It was brewed using four types of hop; Boadicea, Bramling Cross, Target and Goldings; then matured in an oak cask from the Somerset Cider Brandy Company, where a second fermentation took place. The beer was then taken from the cask and bottled into full-size champagne bottles to allow for a further tertiary fermentation and the full champagne process of riddling and disgorging, as carried out by the finest champagne houses.”

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Xmas 2012 – Moor Beer Co. / Winter Blend

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…”

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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.

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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…”

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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.”

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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!”