Great pub views no.11

Photos - Paul Evans

 The Red Lion, Penderyn.

Black Cat

This is a 3.4% dark ruby ale by Moorehouse's of Burnley, Lancashire. It's very dark in appearance, with the ruby hue only obvious when held to the light. It has a frothy cappuccino like head.

Photo - Paul Evans

Photo - Paul Evans

The aroma was of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, roasted coffee and malts. The taste gave a strong bitter kick on first sip, with flavours of dark chocolate, smooth malt and mild coffee. There was a satisfying dry finish.

3*

Arty pints no.20

Photo - Paul Evans

A bottle of Gala Sweet Cider by the Coles Family Brewery, at their pub - the White Hart, Llanddarog.

Sando Dark

Sando Dark is an 8.8% beer produced by the Millers Brewery in Meegoda, Sri Lanka.

Photo - Paul Evans

The beer is a deep mahogany colour, with a thin, short lasting white head.  The aroma is of rich malts, raisins and currants, with a definite hint of whisky barrels.

Photo - Paul Evans

This beer has a strong alcohol bite at first which warms the mouth like a dram of whisky would.  The strong flavours fade to a fullsome maltiness, very reminiscent of a Belgian Abbey beer.

There are flavours of fruit cake, dried prunes with a pungent whisky aftertaste.

Photo - Paul Evans

I'm not too sure what to make of this beer. At first I though it was excellent, but the invading whisky flavours became too intrusive the more I drank of it.  It also gave me a nasty headache the following day. I do quite like the rather ludicrous branding though, so i'll give it an extra mark just for that.

2*

Arty pints no.19

Photo - Paul Evans

A pint of Skinner's Betty Stoggs at the Globe in Looe, Cornwall.

NZPA

This is a 6% New Zealand style Pale Ale from the Hawkshead Brewery of Staveley, Cumbria.

It is brewed with all New Zealand hops, including: Green bullet, Motueka, Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin.

Photo - Paul Evans

Its appearance is golden, very similar to a lager with a short lasting white head.

The aroma is of fresh hops and tropical fruits. There is an instant bitter hop hit that shakes the tongue on first tasting.  This mellows into tropical fruit flavours and bitter lemon.  There is a banana sweetness and creaminess in there also.  The finish is long lasting and satisfyingly bitter.

4*

Great pub views no.10

Photo - Paul Evans

The lounge of the Boar's Head in Tyla Garw, nr Pontyclun.

Gruut

This is a strong 8% Belgian Brown beer by the Gruut brewery, based in the centre of Ghent.  Gruut beers are claimed to be more healthy than normal beers as they are made with a mixture of spices, rather than hops.

Dark chestnut brown in appearance, with a short lasting head. The aroma is of caramel, toffee and chocolate.  It is a warming beer on first sip, sweet with a crisp bitter finish.



According to the label, a Gruut is an ancient Flemish coin
that was used to pay taxes on the richness of the beer.
Photo - Paul Evans



This is a decent Belgian beer - but I have tasted better - and the rather worrying slush brown appearance seriously lets it down.

2*

High Wire

This is a 5.5% West Coast Pale Ale, by Magic Rock Brewing.

Photo - Paul Evans

The beer's appearance is very pale, and lager like.  There was not much of a head evident.  The aroma is fruity and hoppy, with hints of elderflower.



The beer tasted of tropical fruits, with lychee and pink grapefruit the headline flavours. The beer is quite smooth and creamy in the mouth at first, which dissipates into a not overly bitter, grapefruit finish.

4*