Big Ben

Brewery: Thwaites Brewery

Supplier: Beer52

Part of Thwaites' "Crafty Dan" selection which is their micro-brewery arm of this large brewery. This is their Brown ale that is named after the bell housed in the Clock Tower (renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012); they describe it as "a bitter-sweet resonance". I served this at room temperature.

Appearance: Very dark looking but becomes a ruby colour when you hold it up to the light. Tan with yellow hints head made of large bubbles causing it to dissipates quickly.

Aroma: Initially that classic sweet yeast smell you get from British ales, with hints of banana. This goes and you start to get the classic american style hopes coming through mixed with a savoury note like Marmite. 

Flavour: Week toffee on the front leading into an slightly salty jam-like sweetness. The front starts to go with drinking and the back turns more towards the classic malt flavour. Occasional glimpses of the more fruity hops coming in. 

Body: Thick enough, but it is badly carbonated making it a type of fizz that burns the back of your throat. 

Aftertaste: Sweet, but with a herbal/grassy hop note. Starts to become more salty and dry after a few sips. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 3, drinkable but that fizz makes it not that enjoyable; also the flavours start to go quite quickly. However, the maltyness and flavours would probably lend itself well to cook with.

Price Range: Another of the monthly beer subscription at £19 (usually £24) for 8 beers, so approximately £2.40 for a 330ml bottle. I wouldn't get this again.

Food Pairings: Some heavy meat that is not overly spiced, something like braised beef.

Tap 2 Mein Kristal

Brewery: Weisses Bräuhaus G. Schneider & Sohn

Supplier: Beers of Europe

This filtered wheat beer is made with 50% each of wheat malt and barley malt, it is hoped with a low amount of four different hops (Cascade, Hallertauer, Magnum, and Hallertauer Saphir). This was designed by the G. Schneider of the G. Schneider & Sohn (son) in the late 80's and first served in 1990. It has won multiple awards including a Gold in the World Beer Cup awards. I served this quite chilled.

Appearance: A very thin and light looking gold colour with a slight opaqueness. A steady stream of bubbles. It had a thin clear white head when pouring but that when completely within a matter of seconds, and completely is not an exaggeration. 

Aroma: Lots of typical German estery notes like banana and bubblegum, but with an underlying citrus smell probably coming from the Cascade. There is definitely a harsh sweetness to it, maybe acidic.

Flavour: The banana flavours are very dominant in this throughout, but there is a crispness that is trying to come through from the citrus but it is like it is about to burst through but then fails. The typical clove esters also develop. These flavours die down with drinking, so the beer becomes more of a wheaty craft lager-like beer.

Body: Very much a full bodied wheat beer, but with a crisp note at the beginning. 

Aftertaste: The malt starts to come through a bit more, tasting like a hint of barley sweets; however the banana is the dominant flavour. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, close to a 7 but not quite the banana is dominant but not as much as most wheat beers, it also has some flavours that try to come through that provide an interesting (and semi pleasant) mix.

Price Range: £2.39 for a 500ml bottle, not bad but a little pricey, I wouldn't get this bottle again but I would get others from this brewery.

Food Pairings: Some fried snack like chips (French Fries to you Americans), or you could take the German influences and have fried dumplings.

St. Lupulin

Brewery: Odell Brewing Co.

Supplier: Beers of Europe

Lupulin is the a section of the hop flower which holds the glands that contain the resins and essential oils. This pale ale is only produced by Odell for the summer months (May-Sept); this bottle was produced at the end of July and probably should have been drunk before now to get the most of the hop flavours. I served this slightly chilled.

Appearance: A slightly bronzed straw colour with a medium and lasting pure white head. A steady stream of tiny bubbles

Aroma: Smells divine, a very floral hoppyness that smells almost like rosewater, with a background of tart lemon. 

Flavour: Sweet resin with a decent supporting malt quality followed by a lemonade-esk note. Unfortunately these flavours seem to die down a bit and yield hints of a flavour similar to getting some perfume in your mouth (but this is only a slight hint). These flavours decrease more until it becomes less sweet (which is good) but unfortunately less in that hoppy flavour as well.

Body: Good crisp body with a bit of a nice thickness at the end.

Aftertaste: More of the lemonade taste mixed with a bit both floral and bittering hops

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 9, a really fantastic beer, but maybe a bit too sweet. However, it becomes more of an 8 with drinking. Very deserving of its name as it is an exceptional hoppy beer.

Price Range: £2.99 for a 355ml bottle, a very good price for a beer like this!

Food Pairings: The combination of sweetness and hops makes it difficult to pair as it would overpower many things. I would say something that combines a strong cheese with a sharp herb like chives; but I can't really think of anything like that at the moment.

Export Stout London 1890

Brewery: The Kernel Brewery

Supplier: Kris Wines

The Kernel is one of my favourite breweries in the UK, with great design, ethos, and most importantly beer. This is one of the Kernel Breweries year-round recipes based a recipe from a London Brewery in 1890; as the Kernel Brewery is based in London this is fitting. I served this at room temperature.

Appearance: An impenetrable black with a thin brown head that dissipates quickly.

Aroma: Toast and really dark chocolate on the nose, hints of nut that make it sort of a rich Nutella smell.

Flavour: A slightly slow start but then you get loads of burnt toast and chocolate on the back. The is a hint of something juicy, but none of that nut flavour you get in the nose.

Body: Super thick but it becomes a bit too dry on the aftertaste.

Aftertaste: The roasted notes continue through along with the dark chocolate. Hints of some hoppy bitterness as well.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 9, and a solid 9 at that.

Price Range: £2.99 per 330ml bottle, Bargain with a capital B!

Food Pairings: Like the Bedow Autumn Porter this is such a rich drink that it is well suited to be by itself. Because of the chocolate I would say that this would go best with a gooey chocolate brownie, even though the flavours are very similar.