BeerCast #22 – Oo Arr Wickwar

Usually on the BeerCast we take a theme for an episode and pick beers from four different producers. But this week we have four from the same brewer, as we showcase some of the ales made by Gloucestershire’s Wickwar Brewery. Founded by Ray Penny in 1990, they began in an old cooper’s shop in Wickwar, ten miles north of Bristol. Since moving to a larger location on the site of the Arnold Perrett&Co Brewery, they have expanded to produce eight regular cask ales, seven seasonals, and eight bottled beers. Our first of these is Cotswold Way, the official beer of the southwestern footpath. We then sample Wickwar’s Brand Oak Bitter, or BOB – the only bottle conditioned ale of the episode. Our third beer is another acronym, IKB, named after the great Victorian engineer Isombard Kingdom Brunel, and we end on a darker note with Mr Perrett’s Traditional Stout, honouring the original Wickwar brewer. On the panel this week with Richard and Shovels are Grooben and the returning Hopmeister Tom – himself a Gloucestershire native. Big thanks to Chris in Bristol for sending us the beers to sample.

1. Cotswold Way (4.2%abv)
Wickwar Brewery, Wickwar.
500ml glass bottle

What They Say – “Winner in it’s class at CAMRA’s Beer of Gloucestershire competition. An excellent choice among drinkers everywhere, no disappointments here. A rich, amber, smooth, well balanced beer with a terrific hoppy finish. If you require succour after rambling along the Cotswold Way, then it has to be the beer of the Cotswolds…” [Official Website] “Amber-coloured, it has a pleasant aroma of pale malt, hop and fruit. Good dry bitterness in the taste with some sweetness. Similar though less sweetness in the finish, with good hop content.” [Good Beer Guide]

What We Say…
Shovels – Subtle flavours going on, I really like it 7½
Grooben – Very malty smell, quite down the line really 5
Richard – Pungent smell and insipid taste, very watery 5
Tom – At best a bad pint of Scotch ale, it could be tinned 3

2. Brand Oak Bitter (BOB) (4.0%abv)
Wickwar Brewery, Wickwar.
500ml glass bottle

What They Say – “A distinct blend of hops, malt and citrus fruits. The slightly sweet taste turns into a fine, dry bitterness with a lasting finish. Very moreish and an award winning classic ale. Our brand leader.” [Official Website] “Amber-coloured, this has a distinctive blend of hop, malt and apple/pear citrus fruits. The slightly sweet taste turns into a fine, dry bitterness, with a smiliar malty-lasting finish.” [Good Beer Guide]

What We Say…
Richard – Genuinely interesting, sharp green smell and taste 6
Shovels – Cooking apple smell, fizzy but not bad at all 6
Grooben – Fizziness and fruitiness, it does taste of pears 6
Tom – Certainly distinctive, it tastes a lot stronger than 4% 5

3. IKB (4.5%abv)
Wickwar Brewery, Wickwar.
500ml glass bottle

What They Say – “Strong in multi-malt flavours, and very well balanced to produce rich fruit flavours of cherry and plum. IKB (Isambard Kindom Brunel) is the latest member of the Wickwar family. Introduced to the portfolio to help celebrate the opening of our new home at the Old Brewery. Engineered to perfection. An award winner in the making!” [Official Website] “A ruby red ale with a complex hop aroma and flavour derived from the use of three hop varieties. Flowery but well balanced.” [Good Beer Guide]

What We Say…
Tom – More of a cherry taste, I could drink a lot of that 8
Shovels – Full-bodied and with lots of flavours going on 8
Grooben – Head and shoulders above the rest 7½
Richard – Dark fruity malt flavours, it’s very nice 7

4. Mr Perrett’s Traditional Stout (5.9%abv)
Wickwar Brewery, Wickwar.
500ml glass bottle

What They Say – “A powerful stout with licorice and chocolate bursting throughout, and a very long finish. Dedicated to Arnold Perrett & Co. who brewed on the same site.” [Official Website] “Aroma and taste of smoky chocolate malts and peppery hops. Dark fruits of black cherry and blackcurrant give hints of sweetness to the dry, quite bitter, slightly spicy, well-balanced beer.” [Good Beer Guide]

What We Say…
Richard – Dark malty taste with lots of fruit coming through 7½
Shovels – Balances bitter and sweet quite nicely 7
Grooben – Nice, but not the expressive taste of other stouts 6½
Tom – I’m not a huge stout fan but this is pleasant enough 6

BeerCast panel verdict
IKB (30½/40)
Mr Perrett’s Traditional Stout (27/40)
Brand Oak Bitter (BOB) (23/40)
Cotswold Way (20½/40)

Panellists – (from top left) Shovels, Tom, Grooben, Richard

• Listen to the episode here: BeerCast #22 – Oo Arr Wickwar
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We’ll be back in a couple of weeks with an episode themed around beers with unusual added ingredients that aren’t fruit-based, and in a little longer our second brewery showcase from the Isle of Arran. Stay tuned for details…and please leave us comments on the blog or iTunes, or emails. Cheers!