I’ve decided to start blogging all my beers. I’ll split it up by months and just add them as I get them. The amount of description or detail will probably vary, but it’s more about getting them up there, and adding a few words of recommendation. I’ve started in April even though it’s almost over, so to avoid it being a bit too short, I’ve merged it with May.
First beer on the list is Fullers Chiswick, served in the best condition at The Centre Page by St Paul’s
The Alma in Islington has a beer festival, and I went there with my lovely Katie. Below are some of the beers.
Thornbridge - Wild Swan
Red Squirrel - London Porter
Mighty Oak - Oscar Wilde. One of my favourite ales overall, and a very tasty mild.
Milton Brewery - Minotaur. Another lovely mild for Mild May.
Milton Brewery - Nike. Dark and flavoursome.
Crouch Vale - Brewer's Gold. A deserving multi award winning hoppy beer.
Tring Brewery - Side Pocket For A Toad. My favourite brewery with a very hoppy session beer.
Kingston Beer and Cider Festival is on, and here are some of the beers I’m having (while writing)… May is Mild Month, so mild there will be. I decided to start rating the beers, so I should probably give a quick explanation of what the ratings mean: 5 – an amazing beer, that you would go well out of your way to drink again, 4 – a great beer that stands out from the general nice pint, 3 – a decent pint that you would order again, 2 – a mediocre beer that you would only drink if there were no other (better) options, 1 – a horrible beer that you would do your best to avoid in the future and might even tip away.
King - Royal Mild. A very pleasant mild. 4/5
Rudgate - Ruby Mild. Relatively strong and flavoursome mild. 4/5
Ossett - Dark Ruby. Unusually dark-flavoured mild almost with a coffee edge rounded by a smooth sweetness. 4/5
Coastal - Merry Maidens. Strong Cornish mild with fruity cherry undertones. Almost too strong. 3/5
Plain - Inntrigue. Very interesting full flavoured ale with fruit, biscuit and chocolate. Mysterious and surprising. 4/5
Welton - Light Duty. As the description says it's nothing like making love in a punt. Surprising amount of strong taste for a beer of only 2%. Not that pleasant though. 2/5
Surrey Hills - Greensand IPA. A fruity, hoppy and fresh IPA. 3/5
Before going to Boulogne we stopped in at The Antelope near Victoria for a drink.
18/5 2012 -George Gale - Spring Sprinter. While waiting for a bus to France. A very tasty, fresh spring beer. 4/5.
22/5 2012 – Cambridge Beer Festival is on and I’m there with the sun (and James).
Lord Conrad's - Hedgerow Hop. Tasty and hoppy golden beer. Great for a sunny day like today. 4/5
Moonshine - Harvest Moon Mild. A local very malty, tasty dark mild. 4/5
Felstar - Peckin' Order. Another amazing, golden larger with so much tasty flavour it's hard to believe it is indeed a larger. 4/5
Tring Brewery - Mansion Mild. My favourite brewery is back with this lovely mild. 4/5
Tring Brewery - Woodland Bell. A pleasant beerey golden beer. Slightly bitter and very fresh. 4/5
Binghams - Hot Dog Chilli Stout. Pleasant stout with a sharp spiciness without being unpleasant. 4/5
During the break of the Cambridge Beer Festival, we discovered that the Maypole have a beer festival on as well!
Tring Brewery - Blonde. This is one of my all time favourite beers from my favourite brewery. Sweet and tasty. 4/5.
Back at the beer festival and it’s even sunnier than before.
Brentwood - Summer Virgin. Very strong tasting bitter beer with some grapefruit. A bit harsh. 2/5.
Broughton - Dark Dunter. Dark licorice and sweetness dominate this exquisite old ale. 4/5.
Thornbridge - Sequoia. Another amazing fruity roasted beer. 4/5.
Gadds - Common Conspiracy. A bitter and flavoursome ale, with a crisp refreshing finish. 3/5.
Lord Conrad's - Gubbins. Strong tasting regular beer. 3/5
Back again at Cambridge Beer Festival, and having a breakfast beer:
XT - No 6. A scrumptious beer with lots of hops and malt. Great for breakfast. 5/5!
Hop Monster - Freak Show. Very hoppy beer with bitterness and slight grapefruit. 5/5
Hop Monster - Rochford Banshee. A rauchbier with a plenty of sweet flavour. Not too smokey. 4/5.
Moonshine - Red Watch. A sweet, malty beer with slight fruit. It's not obvious that it's made with blueberries. 3/5.
Lord Conrad's - Her MajesTea. A very special tea-infused beer, special for the jubilee. Very dry with an almost cocoa like bitterness. 3/5
Pickled Pig - Old Spot. For a change we're having a cider. A medium dry, very pleasant cider with lots of apple flavour. 4/5
Beartown - Black Bear. Smooth, ruby dark mild with fruit and slight licorice. 4/5
Buntingford - 92 Squadron. Tasty and hoppy golden beer with a citrus finish. 4/5