Hellabaloo,
so far in the last week I have received two large orders of tasty canned and bottled boohar. And although I still have plenty left I have to say that so far this experience has shown me the difference between the qualities and attributes of what I would describe as standard more mass marketed output, along with the delightful soupy happiness that I so enjoy.
I have, admittedly, never made the phrase in the title by the way - but I am well aware that although Asda near me sell a few good beers from BrewDog, FourPure, Vocation, Thornbridge and Harbour, the majority of their output is, as a large retailer, of cheap mass produced beers which people guzzle without any particular interest in how it is made or what it contains. I should point out as well that this is fine - I know that in the beer universe there is plenty of criticism of some people's choices - but that is not an issue that am explaining here. What am here to say is that my choice of beers this year especially, has shown me the benefits of the styles that I like, and alerted me to features in more traditional style beers that I like much less.....
I should first of all point out that I still like draught Bass and Marstons pedigree, especially if they are gravity dispensed from the cask. And when it comes to smaller breweries the list of favourites is never ending. In this case I should confirm that I have always liked Little Critters brewery beers in Sheffield. I know that some folks don't, and I admit that I have not really got on with their standard bitters, but their single hopped C Monster beers at 6% or similar, along with their excellent stouts and porters at 6.5 - 7%, have never disappointed. So whilst ordering a large number of brews from Dronfield Beer Stop recently I chose a can of Little Critters Incubus Series Vol 9, a pale ale at 5.6% made with Columbus, Citra and Waimea hops. Along with the other hoppy delights I had purchased from Turning Point, Pentrich, Pomona Island, Brew by Numbers, Northern Monk and the excellent Kernel, I fully expected this to be a cracking brew. But I noticed a specific difference in the hops, overall flavour and crucially the type of fruit and type of bitterness in the Incubus 9. And I realised that I was appreciating the outputs of other UK brewers far more....
I have recently tried a lot of other Sheffield brews by the way - including the wonderful Abbeydale Moonshine in a can. This is ironic because despite it's renowned lagery pale appearance, as well as it's excellent hoppiness, arguably in Abbeydale's portfolio this is one of the more traditional beers in their range. And having first drunk it in 1996 when not only my tastebuds, but also the expectations of the majority of other drinker's were different then, am happy to say that I still love it. I have also loved everything brewed at St Mars of the Desert in Attercliffe and they have often used Waimea and Citra in their excellent output, so this, along with firm favourite Columbus, persuaded me that I would enjoy this combination perfectly. Yet the beer was lacking any identifiable hop punch, and the fruitiness came out as a dry sweetness in the aftertaste. It seemed that it was a beer aimed, on the basis of this tasting, at a more traditional drinker. So overall I found it underwhelming.
I did think that this outlook may be explained away at once by the excellence of boohar produced by the firms listed above, but after receiving my second delivery, from Archer Road Beer Stop yesterday, featuring a gamut of the excellent Gamma, along with wonderful Abbeydale Voyager, I had to accept that I really appreciate smooth, cloudy, fruity and citrus bitterness, and that the ease of drinking in all such products inescapably satisfied my needs. Last night I finished my daily session on a can of Gamma Beep Boop Session IPA at 4% and found it had a simultaneously overwhelming but joyous hop and citrus mouthfeel. It was so easy to drink that I had to go to bed.....
I know that differences in appreciation of drinks are a natural response, and I have admittedly mocked myself for hardly ever drinking clear beers below 5%, but these two latest deliveries showed me the amazing abilities of different micro breweries and the possible intent of their produce. Am not criticising the ideas and intentions or indeed the output of Little Critters at all, and I hope nobody thinks that, instead am simply acknowledging that their current beer styles seem to lack the punch and mouthfeel of others. And that is fine, whilst also showing me the benefits of brewers such as the impeccable Gamma, producing quite incredible brews from their brewery in Denmark.
One of the few advantages of this lock down has been my available time and willingness to see what else is available online, as well as from excellent Sheffield stores and pubs to take out. Am thinking now that my choices have reassured me that some excellent beers are still available.
Lets hope that we can get back to the excellent pubs in Sheffield soon, in order that we can enjoy this and similar beers together in sunny beer gardens once again.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Showing posts with label Traditional beer styles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Traditional beer styles. Show all posts
Sunday, 31 May 2020
Friday, 10 April 2020
Abbeydale's first lower ABV beer
Eefnin all,
tonight I have been very pleased to open a mini keg of Abbeydale Absolution. Whilst writing up it's pouring on Faceache I claimed it was probably the first Abbeydale beer I ever tasted. I remember said event was at the Cask and Cutler, now the Wellington again, on Henry street. But am not so sure whether Abbeydale started out with both Absolution as well as Moonshine, or one or the other. And this got me thinking....
Nearly a year ago (give or take a few weeks) I had a grain injury, and readers may already be aware that this has affected my memory - initial tests suggested that both my recent and long term memories had been affected, but strangely, including references to old beermats by John Clarke in his recently re-ignited posts, I appear to be managing somewhat better with longer ago memories. Which in this case at least is good news - since the SCBIRT in Sheffield suggested it may take a further three to six years for me to recall more of my memories.
I remember when Abbeydale started. Neil and Sheila at the Cask and Cutler had got two casks of their very first output, and I remember trying and enjoying both of them. Unless it was just one? If I am right, am thinking that Patrick Morton used to brew or have some involvement with Kelham Island Brewery. This is something that he may also share with Canadian James who currently owns Neepsend brewery. Alas am not sure he ever was involved at Abbeydale but in fairness that matters little - because my dip into excellent Absolution tonight revived memories of a pre Daily bread beer from the same brewery.
It took me a while to remember, and I did think of asking my chums on Faceache if they could remember it's name. Am not 100% sure but I am likewise fairly certain that thy do not brew this anymore. So what was it called., and where did I try it?
It was called Matins, and, if my otherwise frothy memory comes out OK, I think this pale ale was 3.6%. Where I first tried it is a puzzle, because I tried it a number of times initially. However, the first time I can remember was at the wonderful Three Stage Heads in Wardlow Mires, probably in 1998, or 1999. WF was still driving coaches at that point and invited me to the Yondeman's cafe (or one of many other names) across the road from the pub for some Sunday morning scran, before he set off to pick up his passengers. After the nosh I distinctly remember nipping across to the Three Stags Heads just as it opened - I was very much the first customer of the day.
I recall that then, and on the 30th December that same year, the pub was served by a lass behind the bar whose name absolutely escapes me. Although it was twenty one and a half years ago. She was possibly a friend or family member of one of the two owners, and It was a short period where they had Matins on cask - I remember I had three pints of it due to its lower strength. My friend Christingpher also had some when we visited just before New Year's Eve. For reasons not that important, I also recall that this was my first ever visit to the Red Lion in Litton - taken over at least twice since and very much improved, I remember sitting outside, maudlin, with a half of something bland, and being very much surprised on my return to find that the pub had improved immensely. But I digress...
I recall that as well as the three pints or perhaps two pints and a half of Matins I moved up to the excellent Absolution. This and other experiences started a lengthy love of Absolution - which despite my well known desire for and stated appreciation of hoppy and fruity DIPA's, remains one of my favourite beers. When me and Tash went on our first ever night away we stayed in Litton and after a meal in the Red Lion we walked to the Stags and really enjoyed a night of Absolution and lemon peppered tomatoes sat listening to Jeff (or maybe Geoff) and Pat.
The next time I recall hearing a reference, never mind tasting Matins, I was in the Gardener Rest with Pat and Eddy and Tim and another guy who were setting up the Sheffield Brewery Company. I was tasting their decent standard pale ale and as they thought I may know my stuff, asked me for my opinions about the same against perhaps, the output of Abbeydale. They rightly recognised the excellence of their, at that time, astutely pale beers such as Moonshine, and suggested they might try and brew a slightly more traditional version of Matins. I admit that I had seen it less and less, and wasn't aware at that point of plans for Daily Bread, so I assumed it was still in production and suggested that it would have to be quite different, in order to compete.
Alas, at some stage in the noughties am certain Matins was scrapped, and at some time in the last twelve years they introduced Daily Bread as their lower gravity offering. Tonight's experience however, has shown me how much the excellent Absolution has meanwhile firmly stayed in my heart and palate thereafter.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
tonight I have been very pleased to open a mini keg of Abbeydale Absolution. Whilst writing up it's pouring on Faceache I claimed it was probably the first Abbeydale beer I ever tasted. I remember said event was at the Cask and Cutler, now the Wellington again, on Henry street. But am not so sure whether Abbeydale started out with both Absolution as well as Moonshine, or one or the other. And this got me thinking....
Nearly a year ago (give or take a few weeks) I had a grain injury, and readers may already be aware that this has affected my memory - initial tests suggested that both my recent and long term memories had been affected, but strangely, including references to old beermats by John Clarke in his recently re-ignited posts, I appear to be managing somewhat better with longer ago memories. Which in this case at least is good news - since the SCBIRT in Sheffield suggested it may take a further three to six years for me to recall more of my memories.
I remember when Abbeydale started. Neil and Sheila at the Cask and Cutler had got two casks of their very first output, and I remember trying and enjoying both of them. Unless it was just one? If I am right, am thinking that Patrick Morton used to brew or have some involvement with Kelham Island Brewery. This is something that he may also share with Canadian James who currently owns Neepsend brewery. Alas am not sure he ever was involved at Abbeydale but in fairness that matters little - because my dip into excellent Absolution tonight revived memories of a pre Daily bread beer from the same brewery.
It took me a while to remember, and I did think of asking my chums on Faceache if they could remember it's name. Am not 100% sure but I am likewise fairly certain that thy do not brew this anymore. So what was it called., and where did I try it?
It was called Matins, and, if my otherwise frothy memory comes out OK, I think this pale ale was 3.6%. Where I first tried it is a puzzle, because I tried it a number of times initially. However, the first time I can remember was at the wonderful Three Stage Heads in Wardlow Mires, probably in 1998, or 1999. WF was still driving coaches at that point and invited me to the Yondeman's cafe (or one of many other names) across the road from the pub for some Sunday morning scran, before he set off to pick up his passengers. After the nosh I distinctly remember nipping across to the Three Stags Heads just as it opened - I was very much the first customer of the day.
I recall that then, and on the 30th December that same year, the pub was served by a lass behind the bar whose name absolutely escapes me. Although it was twenty one and a half years ago. She was possibly a friend or family member of one of the two owners, and It was a short period where they had Matins on cask - I remember I had three pints of it due to its lower strength. My friend Christingpher also had some when we visited just before New Year's Eve. For reasons not that important, I also recall that this was my first ever visit to the Red Lion in Litton - taken over at least twice since and very much improved, I remember sitting outside, maudlin, with a half of something bland, and being very much surprised on my return to find that the pub had improved immensely. But I digress...
I recall that as well as the three pints or perhaps two pints and a half of Matins I moved up to the excellent Absolution. This and other experiences started a lengthy love of Absolution - which despite my well known desire for and stated appreciation of hoppy and fruity DIPA's, remains one of my favourite beers. When me and Tash went on our first ever night away we stayed in Litton and after a meal in the Red Lion we walked to the Stags and really enjoyed a night of Absolution and lemon peppered tomatoes sat listening to Jeff (or maybe Geoff) and Pat.
The next time I recall hearing a reference, never mind tasting Matins, I was in the Gardener Rest with Pat and Eddy and Tim and another guy who were setting up the Sheffield Brewery Company. I was tasting their decent standard pale ale and as they thought I may know my stuff, asked me for my opinions about the same against perhaps, the output of Abbeydale. They rightly recognised the excellence of their, at that time, astutely pale beers such as Moonshine, and suggested they might try and brew a slightly more traditional version of Matins. I admit that I had seen it less and less, and wasn't aware at that point of plans for Daily Bread, so I assumed it was still in production and suggested that it would have to be quite different, in order to compete.
Alas, at some stage in the noughties am certain Matins was scrapped, and at some time in the last twelve years they introduced Daily Bread as their lower gravity offering. Tonight's experience however, has shown me how much the excellent Absolution has meanwhile firmly stayed in my heart and palate thereafter.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Thursday, 9 April 2020
Man sups clear BCA without Citra or Mosaic - and enjoys it
Hullaguffaw,
Bottle Conditioned Beers, eh? What are they?
As someone who worked in a specialist off licence in the nineties and early noughties, I have to say my opinion of the same is not very high. As I mentioned in early posts, I was aware then and still, perhaps to a lesser extent, now, about a kind of "if it's got yeast in it the beer will be fine" approach, in what I have to say in too many occasions, were beers which seemed like they were produced by hobby bottlers.
Don't get me wrong - there were breweries, such as Marstons, the now long gone Eldridge Pope and King & Barnes, Harveys, Theakstons and surprisingly, the early noughties productions of White Shield, who managed to do perfectly and often admirably well at the style. But through perhaps a lack of knowledge about yeast and hand bottling and length of excellent flavours, storage, pourage and batch testing, I have to admit that eventually, I got fed up with trying bottle conditioned ales, or BCA's. Even recently when WF last went up to Scotland, as well as on his every trip down south, he still came back with small batch BCA's from everywhere - leading to unintentionally cloudy, exploding, unintentionally sour, lumpy and often piss pooer brews. Strange then, that I bought a BCA from Dronfield Beer Stop recently. Stranger too, that I enjoyed it.
I had seen on Faceache much mention of Eyam brewery beers, mainly at the Joiners arms (I think) in Bakewell. I still haven't been drinking in Bakewell since that place opened, and likewise I haven't tried any Eyam beers. I ordered a number of cans and two bottled German beers along with a single Eyam bottle of All Fall Down, described as a "Full boddied IPA". Since it was 6.5%, my usual starting strength, I figured it should be worth a try. And then I read the ingredients.
Its interesting to make this point, because as well as some breweries suggesting, either clearly or implicitly, that they don't list the hops yeast and malts used because they don't want other people to copy their output, that also I had come to appreciate the new outcomes of describing the flavour and aroma and appearance of their beers now I was used to it, so that a simple list of the same should cause me to worry. However, as with when I tried a selection of Lidl or Adi craft style beers almost all containing Crystal malt, and the predominence of the same, which stirred up some poor memories of beers tried in the nineties, I therefore have to admit that I still worry about the reliance upon and perhaps the usage of certain hops, and at the end of the day, all types of ingredient. So I found the list quite disappointing....
Solely for the purpose of this article, the beer featured the following:
Pacific Jade, Fuggles, Cascade, and Styrian Wolf hops. Now I don't possess any fear of Pacific jade, but I am not aware that its renowned for it's fruity bitterness. Fuggles, whilst good in green hop beers (I kid you not) is a very traditional flavour, Cascade can be good, but that often depends on whether its British or American, and Styrian Wolf reminds me of Styrian Goldings - see all of the above. I did note further down that it mentioned yeast, and I did appreciate this, and although there was what I can describe as a BCA aroma, there was definite bitterness in there, and on tasting it, quite a good blend of the same, along with mildly citrussy flavours.
Whats more, despite it's high gravity amongst similar styles of more traditional beers, I have to admit, it went down like pop. And actually, as I continued, neither of these two crucial aspects diminished, meaning I finished the glass a pleased and pleasantly surprised chap.
I should point out by the way, as people who know me should already be aware, that I started bowze drinking on traditional beer - Castle Eden Ale and Whitbread Trophy no less. And as current drinking companions will also know, I do like to start on cask from the past and later move onto kegs and cans of DIPAs and the like, thereafter. Its a number of decades since I have walked into a pub and thought - ooooh, a nice 3.6% traditional bitter would suit me lovely thanks - but whilst of course not the same, there are connections to that same beer style in this.
The final point to make is that as a result of the ongoing horror of non pubbing in which we currently flail, I wouldn't otherwise order such products from Sheffield or nearby beer establishments. And I can point out that every other of the number of beers I have thus far had, almost entirely in can (bar a mini keg of Abbeydale Voyager IPA) have likewise been absolutely wonderful.
So don't worry all - this self isolation has not changed my tastes and appreciation of all beers. Instead it has simply reminded me that features of the beer styles I usually avoid at all costs can also be combined with more modern ingredients, to produce excellent beer.
Well done to Eyam Brewery for this excellent brew. - the first bottle conditioned beer I have enjoyed for many a year!
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Bottle Conditioned Beers, eh? What are they?
As someone who worked in a specialist off licence in the nineties and early noughties, I have to say my opinion of the same is not very high. As I mentioned in early posts, I was aware then and still, perhaps to a lesser extent, now, about a kind of "if it's got yeast in it the beer will be fine" approach, in what I have to say in too many occasions, were beers which seemed like they were produced by hobby bottlers.
Don't get me wrong - there were breweries, such as Marstons, the now long gone Eldridge Pope and King & Barnes, Harveys, Theakstons and surprisingly, the early noughties productions of White Shield, who managed to do perfectly and often admirably well at the style. But through perhaps a lack of knowledge about yeast and hand bottling and length of excellent flavours, storage, pourage and batch testing, I have to admit that eventually, I got fed up with trying bottle conditioned ales, or BCA's. Even recently when WF last went up to Scotland, as well as on his every trip down south, he still came back with small batch BCA's from everywhere - leading to unintentionally cloudy, exploding, unintentionally sour, lumpy and often piss pooer brews. Strange then, that I bought a BCA from Dronfield Beer Stop recently. Stranger too, that I enjoyed it.
I had seen on Faceache much mention of Eyam brewery beers, mainly at the Joiners arms (I think) in Bakewell. I still haven't been drinking in Bakewell since that place opened, and likewise I haven't tried any Eyam beers. I ordered a number of cans and two bottled German beers along with a single Eyam bottle of All Fall Down, described as a "Full boddied IPA". Since it was 6.5%, my usual starting strength, I figured it should be worth a try. And then I read the ingredients.
Its interesting to make this point, because as well as some breweries suggesting, either clearly or implicitly, that they don't list the hops yeast and malts used because they don't want other people to copy their output, that also I had come to appreciate the new outcomes of describing the flavour and aroma and appearance of their beers now I was used to it, so that a simple list of the same should cause me to worry. However, as with when I tried a selection of Lidl or Adi craft style beers almost all containing Crystal malt, and the predominence of the same, which stirred up some poor memories of beers tried in the nineties, I therefore have to admit that I still worry about the reliance upon and perhaps the usage of certain hops, and at the end of the day, all types of ingredient. So I found the list quite disappointing....
Solely for the purpose of this article, the beer featured the following:
Pacific Jade, Fuggles, Cascade, and Styrian Wolf hops. Now I don't possess any fear of Pacific jade, but I am not aware that its renowned for it's fruity bitterness. Fuggles, whilst good in green hop beers (I kid you not) is a very traditional flavour, Cascade can be good, but that often depends on whether its British or American, and Styrian Wolf reminds me of Styrian Goldings - see all of the above. I did note further down that it mentioned yeast, and I did appreciate this, and although there was what I can describe as a BCA aroma, there was definite bitterness in there, and on tasting it, quite a good blend of the same, along with mildly citrussy flavours.
Whats more, despite it's high gravity amongst similar styles of more traditional beers, I have to admit, it went down like pop. And actually, as I continued, neither of these two crucial aspects diminished, meaning I finished the glass a pleased and pleasantly surprised chap.
I should point out by the way, as people who know me should already be aware, that I started bowze drinking on traditional beer - Castle Eden Ale and Whitbread Trophy no less. And as current drinking companions will also know, I do like to start on cask from the past and later move onto kegs and cans of DIPAs and the like, thereafter. Its a number of decades since I have walked into a pub and thought - ooooh, a nice 3.6% traditional bitter would suit me lovely thanks - but whilst of course not the same, there are connections to that same beer style in this.
The final point to make is that as a result of the ongoing horror of non pubbing in which we currently flail, I wouldn't otherwise order such products from Sheffield or nearby beer establishments. And I can point out that every other of the number of beers I have thus far had, almost entirely in can (bar a mini keg of Abbeydale Voyager IPA) have likewise been absolutely wonderful.
So don't worry all - this self isolation has not changed my tastes and appreciation of all beers. Instead it has simply reminded me that features of the beer styles I usually avoid at all costs can also be combined with more modern ingredients, to produce excellent beer.
Well done to Eyam Brewery for this excellent brew. - the first bottle conditioned beer I have enjoyed for many a year!
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
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