Cheddar Ales Beer Festival

Cheddar Ales beer festival went pretty well again this year. Numbers were down but with wind strong enough to tear up trees and small cars what can you expect?! The beer range was quality yet again. Some interesting beers to try. A couple stuck in my mind as I've been waiting to try beers from those particular breweries. First: Redemption Urban Dusk. Really nice, deep chestnut coloured bitter. Predominantly nutty flavour with slightly sweet caramel notes. Use of brambling hops give some dark fruit flavours to offset a lingering bitter finish. 4.6%. I really enjoyed this beer! Second: New Highland Brewery Orkney Blast. I've had the Scapa flow before and was very impressed so was looking forward to trying this one. Didn't disappoint. Pale golden ale, spicy hop and honey flavours with a good malt body.Stronger than it seems at 6.0%abv. Third:....Moor Beer Nor' Hop. Almost not fair to write about this one as it's quite possible my favourite beer but....here goes. Brewed as the counterpoint to Southern Star, this ultra-pale ale is brewed with a limited availability hop from America to impart apronounced floral and citric quality to the beer, with honey and elderflower in the nose. 4.3% abv. Delicious!!!! http://www.westcountryales.co.uk/Moor-Beer-Northern-Star

thank god for winter

I don't know about everyone else but i look forward to winter for one main reason. The snow? long winter nights in front of a log fire.....crisp beautiful mornings?
Well, yes to all of the above as it happens but mainly it's for the beer.
I do love a winter ale. A dark, spicy, strong and luscious winter ale.


As I own a beer shop I do tend to be spoilt. It also means that i tend to stick to the local brews as much as possible so here, in no particular order of favoritism, are my top 5 West country winter brews.

1) R.C.H. Brewery -Ale Mary: A dark, rich, spicy bottle conditioned beer with a warm sweet aroma of cloves, coriander and ginger. Touches of rum on the palate. 6.0% ABV

http://www.westcountryales.co.uk/epages/es119866.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es119866_shop/Products/053

2) Moor Beer -Old Freddie Walker: Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2004, and one of Roger Protz's "300 Beers To Try Before You Die". One for the connoisseur! A rich, dark, full - bodied old ale that really has to be tasted to be appreciated. This beer is usually the first to sell out at beer festivals, thanks to its blend of Pale, Lager, Crystal, Wheat and Black malts that are fermented with an English yeast. Liberty hops are added in abundance to provide a healthy dose of bitterness. Bottle Conditioned. 7.5% abv, 660ml

http://www.westcountryales.co.uk/epages/es119866.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es119866_shop/Products/120

3) Bristol Beer factory -ULTIMATE STOUT - 7.7% ABV This is Belgian style dark beer. An Ultimate Stout, strong black, unctuous and delicious. Hints of coffee, chocolate & dark fruits, made using a Belgian yeast & roasted malts. This beer is the Ultimate after-dinner treat, drink from a brandy snifter, sat in your most comfortable chair, preferably by a roaring fire, & savour the aromas & flavours.

http://www.westcountryales.co.uk/epages/es119866.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es119866_shop/Products/4006

4) Arbor Ales -Oyster Stout 4.6%: multi-award winning Oyster Stout is brewed with ten different grains, including oats, wheat and a few specialty malts. Fuggles, East Kent Golding and Bramling Cross hops are added during the boil along with fresh oysters, shells and all, during the last fifteen minutes. 4.6%abv 500ml

http://www.westcountryales.co.uk/epages/es119866.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es119866_shop/Products/7638

5) Cheddar Ales - Totty Pot: a rich, dark porter with a deeply satisfying roasted malt character and subtle hop highlights. It is brewed using the best quality Maris Otter, wheat and dark malts and hopped with a blend of English whole hops. 4.5% abv 500ml

http://www.westcountryales.co.uk/epages/es119866.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es119866_shop/Products/091

Beer Snobbery

You know one thing that still annoys me? Even after years of being in the beer trade? Beer Snobbery.

What to drink. When to drink it. How to drink it. What glass to drink it from. Must be bottle conditioned. Must be room temperature.....and so on, ad nausiam.

As far as i'm concerned it's all down to personal likes and dislikes. Sure there are guidelines but nothing I would say to stick to rigidly. Personally I prefer to drink my beer either at room temp or slightly chilled. Yes, for certain beers I believe that the glassware can enhance the experience but in no way would I attempt to lecture or God forbid convert someone else to what amount to my own personal preferences!
You like drinking stout at 4c. Fine, up to you. You don't like bottle conditioned beers...fine as well. i can understand that. I've tried some truly dreadful bottle conditioned beers in the past that, if they'd been drunk twice by someone then i'd have to question that person's sanity (or tastebuds).
Anyway, rant over. I'm going to drink a Moor Beer Fusion...from a brandy glass...at room temperature........and it'll damn well taste good!