Phoenix Pale Ale

Brewery: Sly Fox Brewing Company

Supplier: Kris Wines

I had not heard of Sly Fox before seeing them in this shop. This is their Year-round pale ale, brewed with with American grown Centennial and Cascade hops. Served straight out of the fridge.

Appearance: A very slightly opaque orange-copper colour, with a medium off-white head the is reasonably short lived.

Aroma: Hints of that typical hop resin smell with and underlying note of honey; this is quite a subtle smell, probably due to the cold.

Flavour: A smooth and powerful blend of hops and malt, similar to the taste of honey, with a very small hint of roast and sweet dough. With more drinking there seems to be a hint of unfermented wort, which actually works well.

Body: Light but still present enough to support it, a bit more heavier on the back, which is nice.

Aftertaste: Starts to present a nice averaged bitterness

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 8, just as it borders on a 7, not too strong a flavour (which is what you want in a pale ale) and those flavours are all nice with a complimenting bitters. Quite heavy for a pale ale, so good for Spring/Autumn.

Price Range: £2.99 for a 355ml can, I would definitely get it again.

Food Pairings: Beef and barley stew. Some of the flavours would match and the freshness would break through the heaviness of the stew.

Kelpie

Brewery: Williams Bros. Brewing Co.

Supplier: Beers of Europe

This is an old style Scottish beer for which the idea came from when the Scottish coastal breweries used seaweed to fertilize their fields. This has dark brown base and has bladderwrack seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus) included in the mashtun. I served this at room temperature.

Appearance: Very dark with ruby edges when you hold it to the light, a medium tan head that fades quickly.

Aroma: Metallic, but not in the bad way. Some grape and bread dough notes, and a hint of coffee. 

Flavour: Like an intense mineral water on the front with some savoury and coffee like notes on the back. The is a little bit of a salted taste but more like the taste you would get in salted caramel.

Body: Very smooth, with the perfect carbonation.

Aftertaste: The sweetness seems to transcend into the aftertaste along with a savoury note that I cannot place.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, close to a 5, nice and drinkable with a unique taste in the background.

Price Range: £1.89 for a 500ml bottle, a really good price for this.

Food Pairings: I don't know if this is the sea theme influencing me but Moules à la Provençale would go well, with the roasted notes going with the tomato base, and the salt and savoury notes going with the Moules themselves.

O9 Blonde

Brewery: Otley Brewing Company

Supplier: Beer52

This is from a little brewery down in Wales from an all family brewery. There is a bit of confusion out there as to what style of beer this is, but judging by the ingredients I would say that this is a Witbier, especially as it is spiced with Orange and Coriander. I served this only very slightly chilled.

Appearance: Very light, with a bit of gold (darker than most Witbiers) and super clear. There is a lot of carbonation with a medium but short-lived white head. I don't usually mention the bottle appearance but there was a lovely wine bottle-like foil around it, but with a badly fitting label. 

Aroma: Quite sweet and fruity, like pear, with a floral note. This is mixed with a less pleasant cider-like note.

Flavour: Not much flavour at the front just a thick wheat profile, towards the end there is hints of mellow citrus, the best description I can think of is an orange flavoured pear (without the citric acid).

Body: A nice thick wheat body.

Aftertaste: This sweet orange lasts through, but sometimes changes into an unpleasant cider-like note.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 5, nice and definitely more than drinkable, but not much to it and it is a bit like barley water. It smells a lot more flavoursome than it tastes. Would be better served straight out of the fridge.

Price Range: Part of a monthly beer subscription at £19 (usually £24) for 8 beers, so that would make this approximately £2.40 for a 500ml bottle; not a bad price for a decent beer, I would definitely get this in a pub but wouldn't go out of my way to find it, or buy bottles of it.

Food Pairings: Something very delicate, I would agree with Beer52 that it would be best served with white fish, I would say white flatfish like sole would go well.

Bitter

Brewery: Nøgne Ø

Supplier: Kris Wines

With the brewery name "Nøgne Ø" translating to naked Isle, this is their all-year round interpretation of an English Bitter; using Maris Otter malts East Kent Golding hops (both British commodities). I served this slightly chilled as they recommend.

Appearance: Deep dirty gold with a HUGE off-white head that is very long lasting, so much so that it made it very difficult to pour. 

Aroma: Smells spirit like, a bit like Rum and Raisin. Hints of musty yeast are also present. 

Flavour: Lots of rum on the front and then a mix of honey and roasted notes on the back. They is a very harsh bitterness that comes out but almost like a layer under the other flavours.

Body: Hard to identify through the bitterness, but it is quite average in body.

Aftertaste: Definitely more boozy raisins on the back with a very soap like bitterness

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 4, quite nice with interesting flavours but way too harsh a bitterness and a nasty soap flavour.

Price Range: £1.99 for a 500ml bottle, a very competitive price for a drinkable beer, not the best though.

Food Pairings: Tricky as the bitterness throws it off a bit, but a dessert would probably be best; something like apple-pie.

Prima Pils

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company

Supplier: Beers of Europe

This is Victory's German Pilsner made with all German malt and a liberal amount of European hops. The name Prima supposedly comes from when they first tried the beer; as Prima is a German exclamation of joy. I served this straight out of the fridge.

Appearance: A slightly hazy pale yellow colour with little to no head but lots of fizz.

Aroma: Definitely that lager quality mixed with a little bits of herby hops and an increasing amount of something similar (but not quite) that barnyard funk you get from lambics.

Flavour: Not much on the front and then a lemony fresh end with a hint of a grassy/hay note. 

Body: Quite a thick body for a lager but it goes quite well.

Aftertaste: Very refreshing but with a nice and strong bitterness; this goes into a tartness, similar to semi-ripe peaches and lemon.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 7, for a lager this is really good (and quite close to an 8); nice and well rounded lager with a nice bitterness.

Price Range: £2.69 for a 355ml bottle, a good price for a very nice and refreshing beer.

Food Pairings: This would go great with whitefish, has to be something without strong flavours.

Porter

Brewery: Founders Brewing Co.

Supplier: Beers of Europe

This is founds only bottled all-year round dark beer; and has the slogan "Dark, Rich & Sexy". I served this at room temperature.

Appearance: Pitch black with a thin short-lasting head, quite carbonated.

Aroma: Sweet with grapes and chocolate, with hints of raisins and honey.

Flavour: Dark chocolate on the front, followed by roasted coffee, and finishing with huge amounts of honey. These flavours disappear with drinking.

Body: A bit thin with a harsh type of fizz. 

Aftertaste: The honey dominates with some chocolate notes, these flavours also disappear with time.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 4, nice and simple, but the flavours don't really last.

Price Range: £2.49 for a 355ml bottle, not a bad price for not a bad beer.

Food Pairings: Definitly one to have with a dessert, prefrably a creamy (but non-chocolate/coffee) pudding.

Dale's Pale Ale

Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery

Supplier: Beers of Europe

The Oskar Blues Brewery is the brewery said to have started the Canning Revolution in 2002 by putting this beer into a can; this ale is said to be "voluminously hopped". I served this straight out of the fridge

Appearance: A slightly murky orangy gold colour with an medium, off-white head that is long lasting. 

Aroma: The hints of sweet hop resin and honey. 

Flavour: Not much on the front, just a crisp taste. Sweet hop resin mixed with candied orange on the back. Hints of black pepper in it as well. These flavours lessen with drinking.

Body: Quite think with some clangyness on the back, not what I would expect from this style but not bad. A little over-carbonated.

Aftertaste: This taste last into the after taste but then develops into a slight pleasant bitterness with some not unpleasant green notes. The bitterness becomes more pronounced with drinking.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 7, a very nice beer but to me it seems more of an IPA; very close to an 8, but the carbonation reduces the flavour (and thus the score) a bit too much. This beer opens up a lot more with a bit of warmth so I would recommend serving it only slightly cooled.

Price Range: £3.19 for a 355 ml can, a bit too much for what it is; especially as cans make it easier to transport. I would get it again, but not at that price.

Food Pairings: They recommend serving this with a burger or seafood. I would agree on the burger front but not with all seafood; crustaceans yes, but not fish.

Wrasslers XXXX

Brewery: Porterhouse Brewing Co.

Supplier: Beers of Europe

The XXXX is supposed to denote the strength and depth of the beer, and Wrasslers is to commemorate Michael Collins' favourite tipple by Wrasslers of Clonakilty. They say that this is a representation of an old style Irish Dry "like your grandfather used to drink". I served this at room temperature.

Appearance: Thick black with a thin mocha head that lasts, careful as there is lots of lumpy sediment. 

Aroma: Mainly coffee notes but there is a certain astringent green scent in it that I can't place, possible associated with the hops they use.

Flavour: Initially a coffee flavour but one of the harsh acidic coffee bean, after that there is not much more in flavour. An unpleasant herbal medicine taste starts to develop slightly with drinking. 

Body:  Quite average in body although a bit bitty. 

Aftertaste: This coffee bean flavour gets amplified and there is a hint of grass.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 4, drinkable but not great.

Price Range: £1.89 for a 330ml bottle, well in this case you get what you pay for; it's drinkable and has a very affordable price.

Food Pairings: Something with a load of paprika in, like a rogan josh. This beer would actually be quite good as a cooking beer (except for deserts).

Löwen Weisse

Brewery: Löwenbräu

Supplier: Beers of Europe

From a company that was founded in 1383 but is now owned by Anheuser–Busch InBev. This is their Hefeweizen. I served this straight from the fridge.

Appearance: Slightly opaque amber colour with gold around the edge, thin white head that goes fairly quickly.

Aroma: Banana and bubble gum on the nose, not much off.

Flavour: A little watery on the front and then a peppery sweet malt on the back, this is a really nice sweetness a bit like you get in a milkshake. 

Body: Clean and crisp.

Aftertaste: A very clean and so there is not much aftertaste.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, not depthful but a very drinkable and nice, a very clean hefe.

Price Range: £1.99 for a 500ml bottle, very good price for a good drinker.

Food Pairings: Strong meaty and bready flavours like a boiled ham sandwich on rye bread.

Duvel Tripel Hop 2013

Brewery: Duvel Moortgat

Supplier: Beers of Europe

Happy New Year Everyone! Thought I would do one I was planing to do in 2013. Part of their "Tripel Hop" series, where they brew the normal Duvel Recipe but with the addition of a third type of hop (as opposed to the two). For the 2013 series they chose to do this with the Sorachi Ace hop. I probably should have drunk this earlier as hoppy beers are better fresh (in my opinion). I served this slightly chilled, some of the sediment did get mixed up in it as I accidentally turned it a bit.

Appearance: Gold and murky with a thick airy white head that stays. Lots of bubbles.

Aroma: That thick lemon rind nose synonymous with Sorachi Ace, coupled with a bit of a funk.

Flavour: Light on the front with a balanced blend of the Belgian esters you get in Duvel with some lemon rind. A little sourness on the front with drinking, and the malt on the front seems to shine through.

Body: A nice chewiness but maybe not the best fit for this style.

Aftertaste: The Belgian notes are much more dominant in the aftertaste with the lemon fading completely. Some dryness towards the end.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 7, not as hoppy as some Belgian IPAs (or as I would have hoped) but the balance of flavours was good. Dangerously sessionable for its percentage. I could see myself giving an 8 if I had this again. If you let it warm up a little it becomes dryer, and also much more malty and a little more lemony.

Price Range: £3.69 for 330ml bottle, a bit too much for a bottle; I wouldn't get it again but I would definitely get the next years variety.

Food Pairings: A light creamy pasta (not cheesy, although it would still be good with it), the lemon would go well with the cream and the malt with the pasta.