The wonders of malted barley, wheat and hops.

Thought it was time for me to do a 'beer review'. I've saved the last dozen or so bottles and put them in a picture...I know there is at least ONE person out there who actually will think this is interesting...for the rest of you pretend I'm talking about bike racing.

OK, OK...there's only 10 in this photo. I guess I'll have to do a 2nd review-post in a week or so. Basically, I"m working my way thru the beer aisle at the local ASDA grocery store (similar to an Albertsons or Vons, or any other large US chain), trying out as many local brews as possible. Of note, I did not arrange the bottles in any particular order (except for the first and last ones I mean), it's just how they came out out of my 'recycle bag'. After this review they will all head to the recycling center as they can be proud: their job is done.

And so, let the reviews begin.

Starting on the left just happens to be my FAVORITE beer in the whole wide world: Theakstons Old Peculiar. The Theakston brewery is about 20 miles away in the town of Masham. It's been brewing beer on the same site for over 200 years, and is still family owned (to the best of my knowledge). I toured the brewery when I was here 5 years ago, and might go back again if the lousy weather holds up next weekend (rather than doing a bike ride in freezing weather). Old Peculiar (or OP as it's commonly referred to) is a dark English Ale, and is Theakstons most popular beer. At the pubs it's served from the hand engine pulled out of the cask (meaning no external CO2 is used as is typical of 'bar beers'). Cask ales are slightly less fizzy, but typically VERY smooth. Also almost all beers here come from the "beer Cellar" where they are kept, rather than a refrigerated room. REAL beers don't need to be ice cold, as it masks the subtle flavors and aromas.  OP is a nice dark color, with slight hints of chocolaty and a very slight sweet taste from the malt. The bottle-version isn't quite the same as the cask drawn, but is still a very nice bottle-conditioned ale (alcohol content: 5.6%).

Next: Belhaven Brewery's Wee Heavy. This is a Scottish beer. The brewery was established in 1719 and is one of Scotland's oldest surviving regional brewers. Wee Heavy has a "Rich deep flavor derived from the greater proportion of malted barley to hops which characterized Scottish Ales of the 19th century". It has a heavy-sweet taste which really augments it's slightly stronger alcohol content (6.5%). This is certainly in my top 5 ALL TIME favorite beers, and I believe it's imported to the US. The color is darker than a copper ale, but not quite considered a 'dark' ale.

This next beer is imported to the US and I've seen it in the stores: Wychwood brewery's Hobgoblin. This is a "Traditionally Crafted Ruby Beer". "The Legendary Hobgoblin is a blend of smooth, rich flavours from chocolate & crystal malts, combined with a refreshing bitterness from English Fuggles hops & a dash of citrus aroma from Styrian Goldings...a beer of mischievous character". This is a nice brown ale, and has a 5.2% alc content.

#4 is called Nightmare, from Nick Staffords Hambleton Ales brewery founded in 1857. It's a premium Yorkshire Stout, which is a "bottled version of the classic Championship Winter Beer of Britain 1997: a smooth, massively flavoured creamy drink, best served on the warm side allowing full appreciation of the roasted barley rearing out of the flour malt brew". It sits at 5% alc content, and if you like stouts (and I DO), this is truly a winner!

#5 is also from a Yorkshire brewery, it's a Cragg Vale Bitter from Little Valley brewery. This is an organic bottle conditioned bitter sitting at 4.2%. "Cragg Vale Bitter is a rich, red-brown coloured ale with a full and rounded malty body. Using Challenger and Goldings hops, this beer is crisp and fruity with a clean bitter finish".This one was a little lighter than all the previous selections, but sometimes that's just what the Dr. ordered. VERY nice!

#6 is a Batemans XXXB (pronounced "Triple X-B). This was recommended by my local friend (and  is his favorite.....plus, it's brewed in his home town of Lincolnshire). This is a "Classic Premium Pale Ale", and sits at 4.8% alc. It has won the CAMRA Premium Beer of the Year (Champion Beer of Britain) five times. It's a copper red bitter brewed by the Batemans family since 1874. This is a very nice Pale ale, and not quite as 'hoppy' as I expected from a pale ale. If I run out of new beers to try (and even if I don't most likely) I'll surely pick up another bottle (or 3) of this jewel!

Next up is Saltaire Brewery's Triple Chochoholic. This is a speciatly chocholate Stout with EXTRA chocolate. Needless to say, this beer has lots of chocolate overtones. Saltaire is also a Yorkshire brewery, and this particular vintage sits at 4.8% alc. It's the SIBA (no idea what that stands for) Winner 2010 Supreme Champion. It's VERY smooth, and if you like stouts that are extra chocolatey, then this is for you!

Up next is Manns Brown Ale. This one is by FAR the lowest alc at a lowly 2.8% (kids beer). "Manns is the original Brown Ale, first brewed at the Mann's Whitechapel brewery in 1902. The historic recipe produces a dark, rich, full bodied ale with a luscious flavour and hits of roasted creamy toffee". Quite honestly, this was the cheapest to buy of all my beers thus far, and was pretty decent. The lower alc content doesn't affect the taste at all, and it was very drinkable.

2nd to last in this picture is Shepherd Neame brewery's Spitfire. This brewery was established in 1698, and is Britain's oldest brewer. This is a premium Kentish ale, and is named after the Spitfire airplane which fought in the skies above Kent in the Battle of Britain. It's a dark amber to auburn in color, has hints of fruit and toffee aroma, and is somewhat hoppy and bitter. It sits at 4.5% alc, and was a nice addition to my "Tour of Britain's Beers".

And last (but CERTAINLY not least) is Black Sheep Ale. This is also brewed in Masham, in fact, right across the street from Theakstons Brewery. Many generations ago there was a rift in the Theakstons family, and there was a split. They moved across the street and started their own brewery. Black Sheep Ale is "the culmination of six generations of brewing expertise". This is a very nice bitter with a light copper color, and is typical of a nice English pub bitter. It's 4.4% alc is right in there with standard English ales. You might notice that I separated this particular bottle at the far end of the picture as it and the OP were having words in the recycle bag. Apparently the family rift is still ongoing.

Not shown in this picture (sadly) is Black Sheep's Riggwelter, which is Black Sheep's version of Old Peculiar. I had a Riggwelter and then an Old Peculiar (one after another) this last Saturday evening, and quite honestly, they are both EXTREMELY good. I think the Riggwelter is slightly lighter in both colour and flavour, and it's alc content is 5.7%, which is right in there with it's esteemed older brother OP. It's billed as a "Strong Yorkshire Ale" and is just BARELY behind (by a hair) OP as my FAVORITE beer. Between these two, it's whatever is cheaper. 

And so, this wraps up my FIRST ever beer review column. I'm down to LESS than 3 weeks to go here if you can believe it! And our weather is taking a SERIOUS turn for the worst. A week ago we were in the mid 70's, and TOMORROW's high is supposed to be only 38...what's up with THAT? So, no bike rides for the Mattster for the next few days. We might actually get SNOW on Weds, as it works it's way down from Scotland tomorrow afternoon. Maybe I'll hoof my way up to ASDA tomorrow after work and see what's calling for me in the beer aisle.

And one final note (to slip in just a tiny bit of cycling): HEAL FAST FABIAN! Gosh....I can't recall him EVER being hurt before! Some VERY bad timing for sure...smack in the middle of the Classics. But Boo Boo is having a real banner year, wasn't sure he had it left in him. Have a great week!

Cheers!