Traditional scrumpy

This is a traditional cider taken straight from the barrel, which gives it its kick, and its vivid carroty hue. It's a dry cider made by Thatchers of Somerset, and weighs in at a substantial 6%.

Photo - Paul Evans

I love traditional cider and this is a great example, dry and sour on first acquaintance, with a blast of fresh apple aroma that brings you back for more.  There is sweetness in there somewhere, but this is definitely not a cider for the uninitiated, although once over the initial dryness, it's a very pleasing drink.

This cider is currently available at the Rummer Tavern in Cardiff, so if you like real cider, and are in the area you should seek it out.

Appearance: 8

Aroma: 6

Taste: 7

Overall: 21/30

Triple crown and wooden spoon

Whilst Wales were brushing aside the English rugby team at Twickenham on Saturday, a far more important battle was playing out in the living room of my flat in Cardiff. The 6 Nations Wales vs England beer tasting was a tense battle, but a definitive victor was crowned.

The Commercial Room beer tasters!
Photo - Paul Evans

The four participants* blind tested 4 bottle conditioned beers (2 from Wales, 2 from England) and rated them on appearance, aroma and taste.


Beer 1

Proper Black

St Austell Brewery

Black IPA, 6%

Photo - Paul Evans



Appearance: The beer was dark and had a coffee coloured, frothy head.

Aroma: Very floral and hoppy, slightly bitter.

Taste: It tasted hoppy, with hints of citrus fruits, charcoal, some spicy peppery notes, with a bitter-dry finish.

Verdict: As one of the tasters put it, this beer is 'an intriguing mind f**k', owing to the fact that it pours black like a stout or porter, and tastes hoppy and fruity like an IPA. This was a popular beer amongst the tasters, and the overall verdict was that Proper Black is a high quality beer.

Average Score: 22/30


Beer 2
Twin Ram
Pen-Lon Cottage Brewery
IPA, 4.6%

Photo - Paul Evans

Appearance: Deep gold/amber, with a creamy head. Two of the tasters though it looked a little like chicken stock, and on reflection it probably did.  Although pouring it from a Pyrex jug probably didn't help that perception!

Aroma: Fresh apples, cantaloupe melon, banana and pears.  We all agreed that it had a cider-like aroma.

Taste: Fruity and cider like with a dry aftertaste.  Caramelised bananas were also mentioned.

Verdict: A nice looking beer (when poured in a glass) with an interesting aroma. To describe it as an IPA is a bit much as it is nothing like a usual example, which makes it a confusing beer. Consequently we couldn't decide if we loved it, or hated it.

Average Score: 19/30


Beer 3
Pale Ale
The Kernel Brewery
Pale Ale, 5%

Photo - Paul Evans

Appearance: Cloudy, amber body with a nice clean, bright white head.

Aroma: Intensely hoppy and floral. Hints of elderflower and ripe berries. Two tasters thought it smelled like a country pub garden.

Taste: Fruity, sweet and lively in the mouth. It was crisp, with elderflower hints, finished with a not overly bitter aftertaste.

Verdict: An extremely impressive beer, very complex and ultimately delicious.  This was mentioned as the perfect summer beer.

Average Score: 23/30

Beer 4
Cwrw Dewi
Vale of Glamorgan Brewery
Dark Bitter, 5%

Photo - Paul Evans

Appearance: Dark ruby, with a frothy short lasting head.

Aroma: Slightly muted coffee and dark chocolate aromas.

Taste: Initially very bitter, with hints of coffee and cocoa.  A clean and breezy taste, that leads into mild nuttiness, slightly spoiled by the weak aftertaste.

Verdict: A nice looking beer that lacks a powerful headline flavour, and flatters to deceive.

Average Score: 20/30

So, we awere unanimous in awarding the overall win to the very impressive Pale Ale by the Kernel Brewery in South London, with a very honourable mention going to the interesting and original Proper Black.

The Welsh beers simply failed to ignite the taste buds, and consequently suffered an English battering.

Final match score averages:

England 46
Wales 39

*Thanks to Ross Evans, Ian Owen and Chris Weaver for their expert tasting skills.

Welsh beer tick list

A free giveaway on the Commecial Room today!

Click the link below to download (via DocStoc) your free cut out and keep, handy wallet sized, Welsh beer list card. There are 30 of Wales' best beers to seek out, and tick off.

Click this link to download the card, cheers!

Dear Dave

Some politics for the Friday guest post, as Ross Evans writes to the Prime Minister to offer an idea on how to curb alcohol abuse amongst young people in the UK.

Rt Hon David Cameron MP

10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

Dear Prime Minister,

RE: alcohol abuse

I have read with interest several articles of late concerning the level of alcohol abuse in the UK and its links with the availability of cheap alcohol, whilst not wanting to go into the minutia of the plethora of ideas for the control of perceived ‘problems’ with the current legislation I would like to propose, what I believe to be, a happy medium.

What I would like to propose is that we restrict the sale of alcohol at off-licence premises, i.e. supermarkets & Corner shops, to anyone under the age of 21 whilst keeping the current drinking age of 18 years of age in on-licenced premises. In doing so I believe the proposal will have a number of advantages which I outline below:

Firstly, and perhaps the most important, you will not be prohibiting young people to no alcohol at all, rather, their drinking will be done in a supervised and controlled environment, a“training” stage of their social drinking – for want of a better phrase.

Secondly, I believe that this proposal will not garner too much opposition from the Supermarket lobby, as they will still be able to sell alcohol to their target audience whilst pleasing those calling for a clamp down on alcohol abuse. This will drastically detract from the those who seek to buy large amounts of cheap alcohol to drink in an unsupervised environment.

Thirdly, I believe that this proposal would be beneficial and welcomed by the publican sector, as it would help to draw people back into our pubs, where they can still drink freely whilst under supervision.

As far as I can see, compared with other proposals this one would have a negligible impact on revenues for legitimate sellers of alcohol, and a minimal amount of change to current legislation. I would like to add a note that I have in no way conducted a feasibility study or impact assessment on this proposal, I merely think – from my years in the hospitality trade and growing up in the South Wales Valleys – that it could impact the most vulnerable whilst not penalising those who drink responsibly. I would also recommend that this be accompanied by harsher penalties for those licensees found selling to both under age and intoxicated people, similar to sanctions found in New Zealand.

Yours Sincerely,

Ross Evans

Ross Evans is a valleys expat relocated to Cardiff for political, cultural, leisure and drinking pursuits. Big food, Cider, Beer and Pub aficionado with a love of local provenance and strong branding. 

Kelpie

Kelpie is the Gaelic word for seaweed, and as you may have guessed, this is a beer made with fresh seaweed.  It is micro-brewed by the Williams Brothers at their brewery in Kelliebank, Alloa.

Photo - Paul Evans



It is a dark 4.4% beer, that's brewed with fresh seaweed, taken straight form the waters off the Argyll coast.  The seaweed is added at the mashing stage along with the malted and roasted barley.

Photo - Paul Evans

As stated it is very dark in appearance, with a coffee coloured foaming head. It has a distinct sea air aroma, and with the first sip it really is as if your senses are taking a stroll along the coast.  It is smooth and malty, with a sweet chocolate taste, balanced by a very slight coffee bitterness. Kelpie is silky smooth, with the sweet malt providing the headline taste.

It's moreish, different, and really rather good.

Appearance: 8
Aroma: 8
Taste: 8

Overall: 24/30

Tiny rebel brewing co

Last week, at the Commercial Inn in Risca, saw the launch of Wales' newest micro brewery.

I stumbled across Tiny Rebel Brewing on Twitter a few weeks ago, and I was instantly intrigued. The product branding was modern and fresh, and their philosophy of creating exciting and original beers really chimed with the type of beers I want to drink. It is also very encouraging to see this type of micro brewery spring up just down the road in Newport.



Branding
Photo - Paul Evans



It was a full house at the Commercial Inn, young and old, and even a few easily recognisable CAMRA members - the silver tankards are such a giveaway. A photographer was also on hand, who had installed and linked his camera with an i-pad, so you could instantly upload the launch photos to your desired social networking site, very modern.

The Commercial Room tasters!
Photo - Social Images



As a big India Pale Ale fan the Urban IPA was up first for me. It's a 5.5% amber coloured beer with a nice creamy white head. The initial aroma was hoppy and sweet, as was the first taste with recognisable malt and caramel notes. After the sweetness comes a massive hit of bitterness, it's the most dry finish to an IPA I've ever tried. It's a very modern beer (there's a theme emerging here) and if you like American style pale ale's and IPA's you'll love this.

Urban IPA
Photo - Paul Evans

Next I tried FUBAR which is a golden 4.4% beer.  It's very floral and hoppy, sweet at first with not quite as bitter a finish as Urban IPA. There is a definite spiciness in the finish which is a nice touch. Another good beer.



Fubar
Photo - Paul Evans



After trying the first few beers on tap at the bar, the prototype bottled beers were brought out to sample, along with some finger food which was delicious.  Mini burgers and pies, belly pork, and baskets of chips. The evening was well organised, with a good, jovial atmosphere.

We tried four prototype beers:

Smoked Oat Stout - a 4.8% stout made with fresh pine head oats.  This is an excellent stout, very complex and not overpoweringly smoky like a German Rauchbier.

Orange Weiss - this is a crisp wheat beer that's been infused with coriander.  It has huge flavour, and is a wheat beer made as it should be. Very tasty, aromatic, and refreshing. 5.6%

Full Nelson - a cracking single hop Nelson Sauvin Pale Ale. It's 5.2% and full of citrus fruit flavours with a great aroma to boot.

Chocoholic - this is a 6.8% speciality beer infused with cocoa.  It's got a rich, sumptuous dark  chocolate taste which is very moreish. A very good beer.

Pints & Samples
Photo - Ross Evans

So, all in all a very successful launch of what promises to be a very successful micro brewery. I was impressed with the beers, particularly Chocoholic and Full Nelson. Comparisons with Scotland's Brewdog are inevitable, but that's no bad thing. South East Wales has just found its very own unique, progressive and exciting brewers.

De Dolle arabier

I brought this strong 8.0% pure malt beer back from Brussels recently. It is made by the De Dolle Brouwers from the small village of Esen (not Essen) in Belgium.

A promising start when it poured, as its appearance in the tulip glass was excellent.  A nice amber/orange colour with a classic Belgian frothy head.  The aroma was slightly acidic, which this type of beer often is, so that didn't put me off.



Photo - Paul Evans



The initial taste was just bitter, and it remained bitter with a nasty alcohol aftertaste. Strong Beer is usually bread and butter for the Belgians but someone messed up here, as this beer is just nasty. Bitter from beginning to end, and possibly the first proper beer that I've ever disliked. Needless to say it went straight down the plughole, very disappointing.

Appearance: 7
Aroma: 4
Taste: 1

Overall: 12/30

Lagavulin 12 year old cask strength

Today's post is an 'after hours' article by Ian Owen.

Bukowski wrote that "whiskey makes the heart beat faster…" and such is the case when sampling this heavyweight single malt whisky (note: no "e") from Lagavulin. Bottled at a mighty – and natural - 58.2% ABV it really kicks a punch.

Photo - Ian Owen

The Lagavulin Distillery officially dates from 1816 and is located on the southern coast of Islay in the town of the same name, nestled within walking distance of the equally superb Laphroaig and Ardbeg distilleries.

Records show illicit distillation on the site from as early as 1742 and it is no wonder that this corner of Scotland now consistently produces some of the best single malts known to man.

Body: pale and thins easily when tipped to the rim.

Nose: sea air, oak and caramel sweetness.

Palate: the instant warming hit from the alcohol makes its way up the nose and down the throat but quickly makes way for mild spice, classic Islay peatiness and a hint of sour.

Overall: an excellent dram to complement the cold winter months which offers something different from the better known Lagavulin 16 year old. Some drinkers may benefit from a splash of spring water to tame the alcohol content, but I find that this mellows the delicate flavours a little too much.

Ian Owen was born in Merthyr Tydfil and currently lives in Cardiff.  He spends his leisure time training for marathons, cultivating his taste for fine ales, whiskies and wines, climbing mountains, watching sports, organising his next holidays and trying his very best to not fall off his bike.  Ian is an avid and knowledgeable supporter of live music and attends a variety of concerts and festivals in Wales, the UK and around the globe.

Delirium nocturnum

The bottle label states: "A beer brewed with love, is drank in the right mind." nice touch.

This is a beer brewed by the Huyghe Family Brewery, just outside Ghent in Belgium.  The brewery was founded in 1992, and has recently doubled its brewing capacity to 300,000 hectolitres.

 

Photo - Paul Evans

The beer is strong at 8.5% and is triple fermented.  It is dark brown in colour with a pleasing frothy head.  The aroma is sweet with identifiable caramel notes and liquorice. It also tasted very sweet with an initial syrupy alcohol hit, eventually balanced with a bitter treacle finish.

Appearance: 8
Aroma: 6
Taste: 8

Overall: 22/30

Pen-lon ramnesia

I'm a big fan of Pen-Lon's beer range, it is varied, interesting and original.

I love the name of this beer, very clever. Pen-Lon is a small cottage brewery based in Llanarth, Ceredigion.  They produce a varied range of bottle conditioned beers that are made via traditional methods, using locally produced ingredients.

Photo - Paul Evans

The recommended way of serving Ramnesia is to decant into a jug, leave for 5 minutes and then pour to produce a nice creamy head.  A strong beer at 5.6%, it is amber/orange in colour, reminiscent of some Belgian beers.  It has a fairly fruity aroma, like a tin of fruit salad or a blackcurrant jelly.  The taste is initially very sweet and creamy - it reminded me of a trifle! - this is nicely balanced with a slight bitter finish.

Appearance: 7
Aroma: 8
Taste: 8

Overall: 23/30

Around the world in 20 beers pt.2

You've had a week or so to try the first 10, here's the second part of my global beer tour:

11. Sri Lanka

Lion Stout, 8%

Lion Brewery, Biyagama

Strong, coffee and vanilla flavoured stout, with a robust chocolate finish. A handsome drink when poured with its cappuccino reminiscent head, sitting atop an almost black coloured body.

12. Germany

Salvator Doppelbock, 7.9%

Paulaner Brauhaus, Munich

Another country with an epic beer tradition and again difficult to pick just one beer. Salvator Doppelbock is my favourite German beer and up there in my all-time favourite list. It is reddish brown in colour, malty, with subtle hints of berries and dark fruits. Doppelbock differ from bock beers as they are stronger in ABV and darker in colour.

13. Canada

Moosehead Pale Ale, 5%

Moosehead Brewery, New Brunswick

A European inspired pale ale, which is golden in appearance and has a very fruity flavour, with a strong hoppy aroma.

14. Sweden

God Lager, 5.3%

Nils Oscar, Nykoping

A good quality lager beer brewed using Vienna malt. Golden straw in appearance, with honey and fresh bread aromas. A clean tasting beer which is crisp and refreshing.

Photo - Appellation Wines

15. Australia

Extra Strong Vintage Ale, 7.5%

Coopers Brewery, South Australia

A strong beer from a very historic brewery that still retains its familial links to this day. This is another beer that can be cellar stored, and it will improve for up to two years.

16. Lithuania

Svyturys Ekstra, 5.2%

Svyturys Brewery, Klaipeda

A light beer reminiscent of a pilsner, with a sweet caramel, hoppy flavour.

17. Japan

Yebisu, 5%

Sapporo Brewery, Tokyo

A very light golden colour, with a fresh and crisp taste. Heavily carbonated which can somewhat overpower the subtle citrus flavours, very refreshing nevertheless.

18. UK

Hardcore IPA, 9.2%

Brewdog, Fraserburgh

Brewdog say this beer has more hops and bitterness than any other beer brewed in the UK. It is very dry, with malt and toffee being the primary flavours.

19. South Africa

Robson’s Durban Pale Ale, 5.7%

Shongweni Brewery, KwaZulu-Natal

This beer was created as a revival of old British IPAs that were shipped to India via the Cape. Very hoppy, with challenger and cascade hops used in the brewing process. An attractive caramel hued beer with initial spicy notes, and a fruity finish.

20. Finland

Karhu A, 5.4%

Sinebrychoff Brewery, Kerava

Karhu is the Finnish word for Bear. This is a strong lager-beer with a slight sweet maltiness, and subtle almond aroma.

Photo - Paul Evans

Odessa

Since learning earlier in the week that Otley would be launching a new beer it became priority no.1 to taste it. Odessa is an Imperial Russian Stout that has been aged for 9 months in Welsh whisky casks, and weighs in at a hefty 7.4%



Photo - Paul Evans



When poured it is like liquid chocolate, and when settled it has the darkest body i've ever come across in a beer. We held it up to the light and it was as dense as quark-gluon plasma. The head is deliciously creamy and cofee coloured.



Photo - Paul Evans

There is a slight whisky/bourbon aroma which warms the nostrils.  There is a mild coffee and chocolate aroma but nothing overpowering, in truth it is slightly muted. However, this completely changes when it hits the taste buds, and burst into life.

Photo - Paul Evans

Odessa has a soft, creaminess with a lovely warming sensation. It is sweet at first, which leads into satisfying coffee and luxurious dark chocolate flavours.  This is a beer to be supped slowly, to savour the warming spiciness of the ginger and whisky that comes after each sip, and lingers to leave a deep glowing happiness inside.

This is a very special beer.

Appearance: 10
Aroma: 7
Taste: 9

Overall: 26/30

In defence of Brains

In the first guest post on this blog, Ross Evans writes in defence of the often maligned Brains presence in Cardiff, and its expanding portfolio across Wales.

Go anywhere in Cardiff and you won’t be able to go more than a block or two without coming across a Brains establishment. Maybe for this reason the mention of Brains can draw polemic points of view. If you listen to the less than silent minority you can be forgiven for thinking that Brains are somewhat disliked. However, the very fact that S A Brain & Co. still exist today means they must be doing something right.

The first Brains bar I worked and drank in was the Goat Major on the High Street in Cardiff, within spitting distance of both the Castle and the Millennium Stadium; this remains one of my favourite bars in the whole of Cardiff. The Goat Major is also one of my strongest arguments in defence of Brains.

Cardiff has developed a lot over the last 15 years. One of the most visual changes is seen in the city centre drinking and entertainment establishments. The emergence of large multi-national company owned ‘chain’ bars has drawn praise from quarters keen to see progress in Cardiff (think town planners) and howls of disaffection from residents. To the occasional weekend, sports, or pre-nuptial celebrating visitors to Cardiff these large chain bars are like manna from heaven, designed to coral large amounts of people into quick service drinking ports to then dance away on the dance floor to eardrum-busting beats. Cheap drinks and promotions are the name of the game. As Cardiff grew in stature as a tourist destination over the years, the city centre fell prey to the same trap that has engulfed many other city centres across the UK – the hegemony of multi-nationals and ‘vision’ of town planners on the cities of Britain has been as stark as it is soulless.

Where Cardiff is concerned there is still a shinning light, Brains. Whilst not uniquely, Brains –due to its not inconsiderable influence – has helped in no small way ensure that Cardiff keeps an element of individuality - albeit in a Brains Red Dragon-stamped one. Brains are one of the biggest real estate owners in Wales and none more so is this evident than in Cardiff. On, or just off, the main street in Cardiff, St Mary’s St (& the High St), there are no less than 10 drinking and eating establishments owned or operated by Brains and they offer quite a wide range of drinking environments. From the Goat Major with its classical gentleman’s club feel, or the Baroque finery of Barocco, to the warehouse-cum-grandeur offered by their flagship The Yard Bar & Kitchen (often renamed in recent times as The Grandslam Bar – in good years at least). Brains it seems has a bar to suit the mood.

Now it is often said that it is the very expanse of Brains in Cardiff is what makes it a bit ‘samey’ and that the only thing their venues serve is, well, Brains. It’s true that all Brains venues will offer Brains products in some shape or form, and why not – there are after all a plethora of alternate venues in Cardiff where you will find the ubiquitous Carling, Fosters, Carlsberg, Guinness, etc. In recent years, Brains have sought to mix things up a little. With drinks such as the new Brains Black, new seasonal ales and a new lease for experimenting that they have given to pubs such as the ‘new’ City Arms they are doing something a little different than the others and this might explain why, when times are hard on everyone, they are seeking to expand rather than contract.



Photo - the City Arms



Over the last two years I have been away from Cardiff, on the other side of the World no less! Whilst away from home I grew a new respect for the traditional British pub. ‘Why?’ you ask? There are, after all, bars in Countries across the World, especially in Countries with close ties with the UK. Well, a seemingly limitless supply of bars there may be, but a far cry from what we would know as a ‘pub’. For me a ‘pub’ is a bar that inspires more than a casual drink, ‘once in a blue moon’, a place where you go ‘where everyone knows your name, and everyone’s glad you came…’ All jokes aside, a pub needs to be somewhere you feel welcome enough you can go to on your own. A place where simple things like the publican remembers your name, drink or your last conversation; knowing that there will be other people at the pub who go there for the very same reasons. There are subtle but important things that separate some pubs, Brains ones included – for the most part, from their much bigger chain-bar neighbours. I suppose it is the ‘soul’ of the pub: The service and the hospitality, the clue is in the name of the industry!

So Brains, whilst not being perfect, offer Cardiff and indeed Wales an identity. With the small section of Cardiff I referred to earlier as an example, it is illustrated that Brains do indeed offer a variety of drinking environments, and by offering over 13 regular lines as well as a multitude of seasonal ales offer more selection than most. The ‘smaller’ venues of the Brains estate, places like the Goat Major, offer a familiar feel, friendly smile as well as good beer whilst the larger venues like the Yard offer comfortable alternative to their similar sized neighbours where you would be just as happy to have a meal or party the night away. The exciting new developments for me have been the development of the City Arms as more of a mecca for traditional ales, or of the Duke of Wellington into much more of a food-led gastro pub.

With their recent acquisition of Coffee #1, the highest Restaurant in Wales at the Meridian Tower in Swansea and a financial deal with Lloyds Bank, Brains look to be expanding when others look to consolidate and contract. I applaud the work Brains have done to date developing old venues and new beers; and I for one can think of worse alternatives in a Brains-less Cardiff.

Ross Evans is a valleys expat relocated to Cardiff for political, cultural, leisure and drinking pursuits. Big food, Cider, Beer and Pub aficionado with a love of local provenance and strong branding.

Hook norton double stout

This is one of the finest stouts I've ever tried. A very handsome looking beer, with a deep black body and a creamy off-white head.  It is 4.8% in strength and brewed with a variety of malts, including Maris Otter Pale, and black and brown malts, which combine to give it a deep and complex flavour.
 

Photo - Paul Evans

The aroma is predominantly of coffee and licorice, whilst the flavours are fulsome coffee, with hints of bitter grains and toasted fruits. This is an excellently complex beer.

Appearance: 8

Aroma: 8

Taste: 8

Overall: 24/30

Around the world in 20 beers pt.1

Here's a guide to 20 beers from around the world that you must try.

1. USA

Iron Rat Stout, 8%

Tampa Bay Brewing Company, Florida

This micro-brewery is located in Ybor City, a town with a distinct Latin flavour on the outskirts of Tampa Bay, which at one point was the world’s biggest cigar making centre. Iron Rat stout is a dark, strong, uncompromising beer with an attractive creamy head.



Tampa Bay Brewing Co.
Photo - Paul Evans

2. Estonia

Viru, 5%

A Le Coq Brewery, Tartu

A pilsner style beer which is made using natural spring water and grains from across the Baltic region. A crisp and refreshing beer, although its most attractive feature is the octagonal pyramid, art deco inspired bottle it is served in.

3. Austria

Samichlaus, 14%

Schloss Eggenberg, Vorchdorf

Was once the world’s strongest beer, but despite losing that title it still remains a rare and unique beer. Brewed only once a year - on December 6^{th -}  it is then stored for around 10 months before being bottled and ready to drink at the Christmas period. A deep mahogany beer that is warming and a real delight.

4. Brazil

Xingu Black Beer, 4.8%

Cervejaria Sul Brasileira, Santa Maria

Named after the Xingu River in the Amazon Rainforest. This is a dark lager beer with a sweet malty taste, slight hints of coffee and a liquorice aftertaste.

5. Spain

Mezquita, 7.2%

Alhambra Brewery, Cordoba

Alhambra is a quality Spanish craft brewer that sticks to traditional methods of beer making, allowing natural fermentation to occur. Mezquita is a beer made in homage to Belgian beers, with intense flavours and aromas.

6. New Zealand

Radler Bier, 5%

Monteith’s Brewing Company, Greymouth

Fashioned from a Bavarian recipe that was served in the 1920s by the owner of a guesthouse in the German Alps. This beer is very easy to drink as it has been infused with lemon juice, a southern hemisphere ‘lager and lime’ if you like.

7. Russia

Nine Extra (No.9), 8%

Baltika Brewery, St Petersburg

A light looking beer despite its strength, and as such it drinks very easily. Sweet and malty initially, which gives way to a biscuit and apple finish.

8. Mexico

Red Pig Ale, 5%

Mexicali Brewery, Tecate

Influenced by Amber Ales brewed in the USA, often referred to as ‘red’ beers, this ale is rich in taste with malty overtones. It has a fairly dry and bitter finish, but this is offset by its satisfying subtle sweetness.

Photo - Paul Evans

 

9. Belgium

Gueze Lambic, 5%

Cantillon Brewery, Brussels

The Belgians can do no wrong in my eyes when it comes to beer, and it’s virtually impossible to single out just one beer. Lambic beers offer something different in that they are spontaneous fermentation beers – sour beers. Usually kept in corked bottles, if you have a cellar they will also improve with age.

10. Iceland

Toasted Porter, 6%

Einstock Brewing Company, Akureyri

This brewery is located a mere 60 miles south of the Arctic Circle, delivering what the brewery claim to be ‘the purest water on earth.’

Thornbridge jaipur

I'm not sure if anything more can be said about this epic beer, often cited as one of the best beers in the world. Thornbridge brewery is based in Bakewell, Derbyshire. It's a multi award winning and very innovative brewery, and produces some cracking beers. Worthy of mention are Sequoia and Bracia (wighing in at a hefty 10%).



Photo - Paul Evans

At 5.9% Jaipur is the perfect strength for an IPA, it is pale straw in colour and has a spritzy white head. Jaipur is very fragrant, with a powerful hoppy blast initially, followed by tropical fruits, hints of honey and fresh cut grass.

The beer is lively on the palate after an initial mellow introduction.  There is a huge hit of hops that leaves an incredibly long lasting bitter finish. One of the best IPAs around.

Appearance: 7

Aroma: 8

Taste: 8

Overall: 23/30

Spaten oktoberfestbier

Spaten is a very successful German brewer that has been in existence for over 600 years. The brewery in Munich state that this beer, first brewed in 1872, is the world's first Oktoberfest beer. Interestingly, only beers brewed within the city limits of Munich can be defined as Oktoberfest beers. Luckily, you don't have to drink them within the city limits, as the brewery are one of Germany's leading beer exporters.



Photo  -Paul Evans

This beer has low carbonation, is golden amber in colour, and didn't have much of a head when poured.  On first taste it was rather creamy and smooth, with a medium body, and a slightly bitter short lasting finish.  The aroma is of white bread, malt and honey, with little or no trace of hops.



Photo - Paul Evans

Appearance: 7

Aroma: 6

Taste: 8

Overall: 21/30




Grant's cask edition whisky pt.1

Following my winter trip to Edinburgh i've become somewhat interested in whisky. This is the first review in the after hours series of articles, that looks at the world of whisky.

Country: Scotland
Distiller: William Grant & Sons
Type: Blended whisky
Cask: Ale cask
Strength: 40%



Photo - Paul Evans

Colour: Deep gold.

Aroma: Dried fruit, sweet and spicy, reminiscent of a Christmas pudding.

Taste:  Smooth vanilla creaminess initially, with hints of malt. There's a kick of spritzy fresh green apples and a mellow pear finish.

Verdict: A perfectly good blended whisky, finished in ale casks which is a nice touch, and provides it with a complexity of different aromas and flavours.

10 Welsh porters and stouts

The evenings are still dark, so there's plenty of time to enjoy the many great porters and stouts brewed in Wales.  Here are ten of the best:

1. Black, Neath Ales, 5.5%

Very dark in colour. Has a very moreish malty, creamy introduction. This gives way to an intensely hoppy, bitter finish. A great beer.

2. Telford Porter, Conwy Brewery, 5.6%

This was brewed to commemorate the opening of Thomas Telford’s suspension bridge in 1826. It is a warming beer, with hints of dried fruits, caramel and liquorice. Shortlisted for the Champion Winter Beer of Britain in 2011.

3. North Star Porter, Facers Brewery, 4%

A smooth, traditional porter from this Flintshire brewery. It has flavours of treacle, smooth coffee, and chocolate. A burnt toast finish adds a pleasing bitterness.

4. Blackberry Stout, Waen Brewery, 3.8%

Rich and dark. This is an award winning stout that has subtle autumnal fruit flavours.

5. Chocolate Stout, Pen Lon, 4.5%

A rather milky stout which is made with real chocolate. Very dark in colour and very smooth. It has a subtle caramel flavour, with hints of winter berries.

6. Merlins Brew, Coles Family Brewery, 4%

A rich stout, with a subtle and enjoyable coffee flavour and aroma. It has a very crisp, bitter finish.





Photo - Paul Evans

7. Original Stout, Brains, 4.1%

A full bodied old fashioned stout that has a chocolate and nutty aroma, and a bitter hop finish. This stout has strong coffee flavours with a hint of molasses.

8. Triple ‘s’, Untapped Brewing Co, 4.9%

Very dark, very rich, and very mellow. This Cardiff produced stout is surprisingly refreshing for a dark beer, whilst remaining impressively deep with flavour.

9. Night Beacon, Breconshire Brewery, 4.9%

Dark and smooth, with a subtle smoky finish. This rarely brewed beer has a mild coffee flavour and an attractive off-white frothy head.

10. 06 Porter, Otley, 6.6%

A dark and handsome beer that is brewed with four different malts. There are complex flavours of chocolate, coffee and chicory. An impressive beer.