UP IN SMOKE - BLONDE TABLE BEER - ANARCHY BREW CO.

My 6th from Anarchy of Morpeth, Northumberland. This is a bit of an oddball, its a collaboration with L Robson & Sons from Craster, Northumberland. They are world famous for their oak smoked kippers and salmon. The malt has been oak smoked by them, and it brings back horrific memories for me I'm afraid. Every Saturday night as a kid my Mum & Dad would cook kippers under the grill and the smell in the house was pure evil. I had to vacate the house for hours until it had gone. When I popped the cap on this baby I nearly died, that smell from all those years ago flew out of the bottle like a demented genie. Maybe it won't taste like it I thought, and it is beer. Sorry Anarchy its not for me. Its a light golden beer, with a unique smoky flavour - but I'm haunted forever by kippers so never again. 3% volume.

LINDEMANS Framboise 2.5abv
Just as you were saying to yourself does this bloke actually like beer,the answer comes oh boy yes he does.Not everybody likes lambic(fruit) beers but this ones a stonker.Really sharp raspberry fruit.Low in alcohol a  good after dinner drink.Amazing I will have another soon.A beer I have really enjoyed yippee 

WEST BERKSHIRE BREWERY Tamesis 4.9abv
A little light for a stout but not bad tasting just not a world beater.Not much to say for itself unfortunately.

OAK LEAF BREWERY Quercus Folium 4.0abv
Latin for oak leaf apparently ,not very brown for a brown ale.Not great either.Didn't like it much,felt a bit thin.

FULLERS GOLDEN PRIDE 8.5abv
What can I say too bloody sweet.I could not drink this.I hate throwing good beer down the sink,so I had no problem with this.Sorry fullers love London pride hate this

Dr HEXTERS Healer Strong bitter5.0 abv
If you thought I was a bit disappointed with the last one you will not be surprised that I liked this one even less.But its my fault not theirs.If you look at the photo you can see I disturbed the sediment.This alone was enough to ruin this beer.I think it might have been alright without my intervention.damn,I will have to give this another go.

RIDGEWAY BREWERY Bad King John 6.0abv
Yes if I haven't said this before,Porters ,Dark ales,Brown ales good.IPAs bad.This is a lovely black ale rich in flavours.Well done Ridgeway,Oxfordshire.Black as yer at,and power down to the bottom.Marvelous.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

BRANSCOMBE VALE BREWERY Draymans Best Bitter 4.2abv
I didnt take a photo but dont worry your not missing much.A light straw colour .Drinkable but not overflowing with flavour.I will not bother again.

Brewdog - Beer 15

Brewdog Dead Pony Club 3.8%

Session pale ale

I tried this a few years ago and didnt like it. I seem to remember that it was the worst beer ive ever had, and at the same time I also tried punk IPA and also thought the same. I realised that I'm now drinking lots of Punk IPA so thought I better give this a go again. Its not that as I remember it to be. It is slightly weak and therefore maybe watery but actually i didnt mind that. Would probably have more of this. Out of Punk IPA or this I would prefer Punk as it's a little stronger and doesn't have the watery taste.  

I will give this 6/10 overall as its very drinkable.

STRAITJACKET - PALE ALE - ANARCHY BREW CO.

My 5th from Anarchy of Morpeth, Northumberland. This is Straitjacket, a Pale Ale with big hop flavours. Pours a beautiful gold colour, the American hops really stand out and despite being 3.6% volume its a very satisfying drink. Mightily quaffable.

   

ANTI-VENOM IPA - ANARCHY BREW CO.

My 4th from Anarchy - this one an IPA, quite hard hitting as well. Huge hop aromas, and flavour too is very intense. Bold malt tones balance the heavy hops and an undercurrent of citrus rounds out the package. The label says Citra Star on steroids. Not had that one yet. I really want to.
Brewed by Anarchy Brew Co. in Morpeth, Northumberland.  6% volume.

Kriek Bier

Bocchus Kriek Bier 5.8%

A Belgian beer

I went today to the local supermarket to get essential supplies mostly beer and I saw this just thought why not. I notice that no one has reviewed a Belgian beer and I thought I should, its also my first time trying a fruit beer or a lambic beer.

The first thing I noticed that the head had slight red colour. The overwhelming smell was of cherries. Now I love eating cherries and thought I would like this. It has a good carbonation almost a lagery. The head stay the distance. I cant seem to drink huge mouthfuls of this. You get a big burst of cherries right from the start. I do like this a lot. I wouldnt or cant drink more than one of these. The after taste of cherries is to overpowering. I will need to cleanse my palate once i have finished this. This is one  for Andy  not me.

CASCADE - HOPPY BLONDE - ANARCHY BREW CO.

My 3rd from Anarchy and this is fine indeed. Quite a lively pour as you can see from the foamy head. It smells really vibrant and fresh. It is a light blonde beer, bursting with flavour. Big hop punch and balanced with a lingering grapefruit zestiness, and slightly bitter finish. Pretty much perfect.
Brewed by Anarchy Brew Co. in Morpeth, Northumberland. 4.1% volume.

IMPERIAL STRENGTH ANARCHY LAGER - ANARCHY BREW CO.

This is my 2nd beer of Anarchy's I have tried. Popped into their place whilst in Northumberland a couple of weeks ago, very friendly and passionate people. Love their whole thing with the artwork, labelling and beer names etc. They really care about what they do. Couldn't leave there empty handed so I purchased a dozen to try and this is the first up. This is a continental lager, I believe they do a Red and a Blue version, Blue being the session, less strong of the two. I've gone for the Red Imperial Strength 7% volume. Yowsers.  The label says if you're looking for a lager that tastes great and knocks your head off this is it. Wouldn't argue with that. It does have a continental flavour, its very full on and it doesn't pull any punches. I like it, couldn't drink 'em all night (be a very short night) but love the flavours. Lager with flavours who'd have thought!
Brewed by Anarchy Brew Co. in Morpeth, Northumberland. 7% volume.

TWO COCKS BREWERY 1643 Musket Bitter 3.8abv
1643 commemorates the battle of Newbury apparently and as with all two cocks beers you get a free coloured feather attached to the bottle.I think if their beers get too popular there will be lots of bald birds about.This Bitter is o.k. but a little light and underpowered.Decent for a session though.

SPRINGHEAD BREWERY The Leveller4.8abv
A trapist Belgian beer from Nottingham.I'm not sure how many Belgian trappists there are in Nottingham especially those who name beers after political movements,but they should continue to make beer because this is a bit of a minor treasure.They say burnt toffee flavour and its definitely there but not overpowering and the good maltiness and Bitter flavours are quite special.I think I bought this at the national brewing centre in Burton.

Brewdog - Beer 14

Brewdog  Restorative Beverage  for the Invalids and Convalescents 8.5%

Savage Double IPA 

Saving this one till last due to the strength.  A very interesting beer and you notice the strength. I guess I was disappointed with this due to the awesomeness of Cloudwater's DIPA series. I want lots of flavours from the hops and I'm not picking up on that. Brewdog's marketing for this beer was that it double ipa are used as a pick me up and I guess that works as I'm now awake. Also I'm not sure but to me this tastes like Born To Die, am I saying that they had to much born to die and put some of  it in cans don't know. This is a very good beer and I enjoyed drinking this. This time I'm glad I only got one of these.

NETTLE BEER - HIGH HOUSE FARM BREWERY

My fifth and final beer from High House Farm Brewery of Matfen, Northumberland and so far they have not disappointed. Saving the best till last?  Erm,,, its brewed from stinging nettles??!!  That's why I saved it till last. Oh well in for a penny...   Doesn't smell like its gonna kill you, and it pours a very lovely golden colour with a foamy white head. Its surprisingly okay, not sure I'd want 2 in a row but its certainly different. Kind of a honey/mead sort of tang to it, seems a bit numbing/astringent too.  Hope I'm not dying! Its been made here since 2006 to a 14th Century recipe and is supposed to cure gout and the common cold!  4.5% volume.

Brewdog - Beer 13

Brewdog Vagabond Gluten Free 4.5%

American Pale Ale

My first Gluten free beer and to my knowledge our first as well. My first thought was this is rather watery but actually its not. I guess i needed to let my taste buds get over the last. Its very citrusy. I'm finding this easier to drink than the Punk IPA thats not to say I don't like punk because I don't. Would have again but maybe not to many.

Brewdog - Beer 12

Brewdog Albino Squid Assassin 7.4%

Red Rye IPA 

This beer was bought from Brewdog's website, not sure if this is a exclusive or not. I have been saving this for the right and that never came about so I'm having now. This is brilliant first of you dont notice the strength and second there is a nice peppery smell. It slides down so smooth. I'm glad that I had this after 5am, as I would have been disappointed with 5am. This is a very good rye IPA possibly the best I've had. My only regret is that I didn't buy anymore, I only bought one thinking that if didn't like it I would be stuck with these beers. How wrong was I? 

On a another note I love the name. Must look to see if more are available.

Brewdog - Beer 11

Brewdog 5am Saint 5%

American Red Ale 

This evening im going to have a few beers from Brewdog. This one ive never had before i have seen it in the supermarket's  but i never had due to the fact that i didn't like their other two which are Punk Ipa and Dead Pony ( this one I've not reviewed yet). This beer has lots of people liking it and I can see why. It has lovely flavours of berries & chocolate & caramel all bouncing off each other. It's brilliant! Really dont know why I waited so long to try this.

BOX STEAM BREWERY Tunnel Vision 4.2
This is bitter so it must be better than an ipa right.And it is this is a pretty good bitter from this railway themed brewery.Its a bit on the amber and thus thinner side but not at all bad.All I have to say to you beer drinkers from around the world reading our blog is go to the dark side Luke.you wont regret it ,well perhaps a bit in the morning.

BOX STEAM BREWERY Derail Ale 5.2
Saurons cat has already reviewed this and I picked this up from the same farm shop he did,but unlike him I'm not that keen on ipa's.However again he was right this wasn't bad.But don't tell him.He will be insufferable if he thinks he knows better than me.As though he could ,right.RIGHT.

NEL'S BEST - BEST BITTER ALE - HIGH HOUSE FARM BREWERY

My 4th from High House Farm Brewery of Matfen, Northumberland. This one is great, I saw the best bitter ale bit on the  label and was expecting something I probably wouldn't like, however as you can see quite golden in colour. Named for the current farm Collie dog, this uses Goldings hops with malt to produce a golden hued ale, very drinkable, and a bitter (not majorly so) finish. 4.2 % volume and very good indeed.

AULD HEMP - TRADITIONAL BITTER - HIGH HOUSE FARM BREWERY

My 3rd from High House Farm of Matfen, Northumberland. This was their original beer, named after their original trusted farm Collie dog. An amber coloured session bitter, I'm not a huge bitter fan but this is OK. Smells very malty, decent creamy white head which laces the glass to the end of the road. Good carbonation, and a balanced bitter finish. Its 3.8% volume.

MATFEN MAGIC - PREMIUM BROWN ALE - HIGH HOUSE FARM BREWERY

My second from High House Farm of Matfen, Northumberland. This one a brown ale, again not really my cup of choice but broaden the horizon right? Made with Fuggles and Brambling Cross hops, this is certainly not short of flavour. It smells very intense, dark fruits and rich maltiness, the taste is just that - blackberries, burnt caramel, malt - actually pretty good. 4.8% volume.