BeerCast #30 – Hebridean Showcase
Our 30th BeerCast podcast is a second attempt to showcase the wares from a single brewer. We tried that previously for Gloucestershire’s Wickwar Brewery in BeerCast #22. This time, friend of the BeerCast Gary managed to persuade the head of the Hebridean Brewery to let us have a foursome of his finest, and these take centre stage in our podcast today. Andy Ribbens founded the operation in 2001 on the Isle of Lewis, and from their Stornoway base they are the only legal alcohol producer in the Western Isles. From their range we sample today – Clansman Ale (3.9%), Islander Strong Premium Ale (4.8%), Celtic Black Ale (3.9%), and finally Beserker Export Pale Ale (7.5%). These varying styles and types of beer produced interesting results. On the panel today are regulars Richard, MrB, Shovels and Grooben.
1. Clansman Ale (3.9%abv)
Hebridean Brewery, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
500ml glass bottle
What They Say…
“Golden Hebridean bitter, brewed with Scottish malts. Lightly bittered, a session beer with a light golden colour. Good all day beer, plenty of hop and malt character, with lots of malt in the finish. Brewed to make you want more – so go-on, give in, you know you want to!” [Official Website] “A light Hebridean beer, brewed with Scottish malts and lightly hopped to give a subtle bittering.” [Good Beer Guide]
What We Say…
MrB – It’s a pleasant session ale with a strange aftertaste 7
Grooben – Not sure about it, but your palate would acclimatise 6
Shovels – Nice until you get to the bitter aftertaste 6
Richard – Astringancy detracts from it’s session beeryness 5½
2. Islander Strong Premium Ale (4.8%abv)
Hebridean Brewery, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
500ml glass bottle
What They Say…
“Brewed with special coloured Scots malt, deep ruby in colour and predominantly malty with robust hopping to match. Complex like the Hebrides themselves, with hidden rewards waiting for those who search them out.” [Official Website] “A malty, fruity strong bitter drinking dangerously below its ABV.” [Good Beer Guide]
What We Say…
MrB – Refreshing and slightly wheatbeery, I like that a lot 8
Richard – Not ruby, but is similar to a dry northern bitter 7½
Shovels – There’s an orange hint to it but it’s alright 7½
Grooben – Tastes like the Clansman with added orangepeel 7
3. Celtic Black Ale (3.9%abv)
Hebridean Brewery, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
500ml glass bottle
What They Say…
“A dark porter style ale full of flavour, balancing an aromatic hop combined with a subtle bite and a pleasantly smooth caramel after taste.” [Official Website]
What We Say…
MrB – The first dark beer I’ve ever found to be refreshing 7
Shovels – A session porter, no bitterness to it at all 5
Grooben – It’s like a dark lager you could brush your teeth with 5
Richard – Dark but insipid, tastes vaguely beery 4
4. Beserker Export Pale Ale (7.5%abv)
Hebridean Brewery, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.
500ml glass bottle
What They Say…
“A real India pale ale based on 150 year old recipies. Light in colour but strong in flavour. Malty with an intense hop to match. Conditioned over a number of weeks to develop full and complex flavour.” [Official Website] “This malty, fruity winter warmer is packed full of flavour, with toffee apple and caramel notes right through to the long, satisfying aftertaste.” [Good Beer Guide]
What We Say…
MrB – I think it’s an unexpectedly nice warming surprise 7½
Richard – A malty, bitter aftertaste to it with some warmth 4
Grooben – Strong and sweet without a bitter punch to offset 4
Shovels – I can’t find anything redeeming about it at all, the more I drink the more I don’t want it 1½
BeerCast panel verdict
Islander Strong Premium Ale (30/40)
Clansman Ale (24½/40)
Celtic Black Ale (21/40)
Beserker Export Pale Ale (17/40)
Panellists – (from top left) Shovels, MrB, Grooben, Richard
- Listen to the episode here: BeerCast #30 – Hebridean Showcase
- Subscribe to the podcasts in iTunes or our site feed
We’ll be back in a couple of weeks with our next podcast, episode 31. Stay tuned for details…and please leave us comments on the blog or iTunes, or emails. Cheers!
