The BeerCast

Yesterday we went south of the border for our second best new British beer of 2010 – Thornbridge’s awesome 7.7% imperial stout Saint Petersburg. Today we come back north to bring you the third in our best of 2010 series (in order of release) – the star of June’s Scottish Real Ale Festival, a golden session beer from Argyll.



Fyne Ales Jarl (4.0%)
Fyne Ales, Cairndow, Argyll
(cask only, released June 2010)

Every once in a while a beer turns up that proves why British beers are the best in the world. It’s all very well singing the praises of mighty abv concoctions (which we’re guilty of as much as the next beer website) – but people who snub ‘weaker’ beers for Imperial balsamic-infused walnut porters are missing out. Sometimes a beer like Jarl, the 4% summer seasonal from Argyll’s Fyne Ales, comes along and reminds you that session beers need not be bland or insipid.

One reason for this could be the involvement of one of the breakout hops of 2010 – Citra. This Sierra Nevada-backed powerhouse screams pineapple and tropical fruit from the off, with a lovely slightly bitter grapefruity aftertaste. Jarl was created for Fyne Ales’ summer beer festival in June, and made it down to Edinburgh for the annual SRAF – in fact it was so new it wasn’t even in the official guide. The Viking-themed Jarl (named after the Norse Earls who battled for much of Scotland) was definitely the find of the festival.

We’ve visited Fyne Ales a few times, as BeerCaster MrB hails from nearby Ardrishaig (nearby in Argyll terms, i.e. 30 miles away at the other end of the loch). The Delaps have been quietly winning plaudits and expanding their range further south for a few years now, which is great to see. Last month they collaborated on a beer with ex-Thornbridge brewer Kelly Ryan (who once worked at Fyne). FyneBridge Black IPA was very well received in London, and has recently been spotted at the Three Judges in Glasgow. They have also announced planning approval for a brewery tap, which is fantastic news for the future.




Join us tomorrow for the next in our ‘best of new brews’ feature. Due to the popularity of Jarl, Fyne Ales have decided to add it to their regular range from January 2011 on cask and February 2011 in bottles.

Fyne Ales website

Yesterday we announced the first of our pick of British beers launched in 2010 – BrewDog Abstrakt AB:01 (10.2%). Today we bring you our second (again, these are roughly in order of release) – and we’re moving south of the border for another UK producer who released a big-hitting series of beers this year.



Saint Petersburg (7.7%)
Thornbridge, Bakewell, Derbyshire
(500ml bottle, released April 2010)

Derbyshire’s Thornbridge Brewery are rapidly becoming one of the most consistent producers in the UK. Their multi-award winning Jaipur (5.9%) is one of those ‘must-order’ beers if the distinctive orange pump clip appears in your local, even before it won a gold medal at the 2010 GBBF. The rest of their cask range is also tremendous – Thornbridge’s two pale ales Hopton (4.3%) and Kipling (5.2%) are also well worth seeking out. Two of their rarer, stronger cask ales are Halcyon (7.7%) and St Petersburg (7.7%), and at the start of the year the decision was made to bottle these two beers for general release.

Fast-forward to the end of April, and the re-badged Halcyon 2009 Green Hop Harvest and Saint Petersburg hit the shelves. The first of these is a mighty Imperial IPA, that quickly won the plaudits from a majority of beer writers (including the BeerCast – our review is here). To be honest, it probably deserves to be in the best new beers of 2010, ranking alongside the peerless Sierra Nevada Estate series in terms of wet hop ales. But our personal pick was the second of the two releases – Saint Petersburg, a fantastic 7.7% Imperial Russian stout.

After pouring, the aromas alone would be worthy of a 2010 ‘best of’ list. Coffee, liquorice and peat are finely balanced by enough fruity hops to give it an amazing nose. Tastewise, it really doesn’t seem as high as 7.7%, the smooth mouthfeel doesn’t give away any punchy bitterness like other Russian Imperials. Instead, dark chocolate and coffee hints give way into a lovely slightly smoky dry finish. Saint Petersburg is one of the best imperial stouts to come out of the UK in a long time, and without doubt one of the highlights of 2010.

Join us tomorrow for the third in our ‘best of new brews’ feature. In November, Thornbridge announced that Saint Petersburg had won a gold medal in the European Beer Star awards in Germany.

Thornbridge Website

This year has seen the release of some wonderful beers on both sides of the Atlantic. The range of outstanding craft beers making the journey from North America is ever-increasing, and coupled with the fascinating beer scenes emerging from continental Europe, the UK has had to step up. Fortunately, brewers here have more than met the challenge. Over the next six days we’ll be highlighting our pick of British beers launched in 2010, in order of their release. We begin back in April with the first – a Belgian-style quad from the north-east of Scotland.



Abstrakt AB:01 (10.2%)
BrewDog, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
(375ml corked bottle, released April 2010)

BrewDog really need no introduction – the current enfent terribles of the British brewing scene have been charging forward this year. Enlarging their production facilities, opening bars, joining SIBA – and producing high alcohol beers purely for the sake of it. Inevitably with the Fraserburgh duo, public relations and marketing are partly produced by them and partly for them by the press – BrewDog have a ‘controversial’ tag pinned to their collar (which they seem to revel in).

But alongside the Portman Group baiting and one-upmanship with Schorschbräu, 2010 saw BrewDog begin to release a new series of beers – the Abstrakt range. First announced at the end of last year during their flotation campaign, it was born out of their desire to have a more structured way of releasing limited edition beers. All packaged and labelled the same way (apart from slight colour differences), these beers were designed to be laid down – again showing the influence of American craft beer in BrewDog’s ethos.

The first of these was released in April – Abstrakt AB:01 initially had a run of 3200 bottles, and was a vanilla bean-infused Belgian-style quadrupel. We featured it on our 50th BeerCast – and it’s still in the running for a place in our 2010 Beer of the Year Show. Despite being widely sold out, I have two bottles tucked in a cupboard so it will be interesting to see how the flavours have developed. Back in April it had a fantastic sweet sugary vanilla aroma, with a similar first hit on the palate. Alcohol built throughout, before a sweet vanilla finish. Crucially it never felt cloying as AB:01 is quite balanced – the alcohol kick at the end really works with the rich mouthfeel.

Of course, BrewDog released three other Abstrakts over the course of the year – the most recent AB:04 was simply stunning – a 15% chilli and coffee infused imperial stout. But for us, the first one – launched almost quietly amidst the abv controversy – showed so much promise for the range that made the release of each Abstrakt a calendar date for Scottish beer enthusiasts.




Join us tomorrow for the second in our ‘best of new brews’ feature. The latest Abstrakt, AB:05 releases on the 16th February 2011

Abstrakt Official Website

Our 54th BeerCast revolves around the theme of names – and highlights five unusually titled-beers. Our panel also discuss the wacky real ale stereotypes of such (genuine) examples as Crafty Shag and Hairy Helmet. Thankfully the examples tonight aren’t quite as extreme – although we do begin with Old Slap and Tickle (4.0%), produced by Integrated Bottling Solutions in Gloucestershire. We follow that with Marble Dobber (5.9%) from Manchester, and then head over the Pennines to Tadcaster for Samuel Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo (9.0%). Our fourth beer is Criminally Bad Elf (10.5%) from Ridgeway via Hepworth’s, before we finish with a bonus beer – the newly released Kernel Brewery IPA S.C.A.NS. (7.7%). On the panel today are Shovels, Richard, Grooben, and back for his third BeerCast appearance – Stuart.



1. Old Slap and Tickle (4.0%abv)
Integrated Bottling Solutions, Coleford, Gloucestershire.
500ml glass bottle

Integrated Bottling Solutions – or Branded Drinks – are a contract brewery previously known as the Wessex Craft Brewery Co-op. Based in Gloucestershire, most of their beers have unusual names (Jockstrap, Old Gee Spot, Old Shag) and ‘cheeky’ labels. They also used to brew beers for other producers, such as Freeminer. Old Slap and Tickle is a 4% bitter.

What’s In a Name? – Slap and Tickle -
A British euphemism for sexual activity, informal playful kissing or caressing, foreplay, or, now, often, sexual intercourse. Also refers to a funky style of bass guitar. “Slap And Tickle” was the fourth and final single released from Squeeze’s second album, Cool for Cats. [yourdictionary.com]

What They Say -
“Hops, malt & water slapped together. Enough to tickle anyone’s tastebuds.” [Official Website]

What We Say…
Shovels – Smells slightly smoky, and of burnt caramel 5
Grooben – Manages to be sweet and really bitter at once 4
Stu – Didn’t like the first taste, second not too bad 3
Richard – Soapy and medicinal, I don’t like that in any way 2

2. Marble Dobber (5.9%abv)
Marble Brewery, Manchester
500ml glass bottle

The Marble Arch on Rochdale Road is one of the most heralded pubs in Manchester. Nestled behind the main building is a small five barrel plant microbrewery, which many beer writers tipped to be worth watching in 2010. So it proved, as their range of organic and vegetarian-approved beers have been winning fans all over the blogosphere. Visitors to the pub can watch the brewing equipment operating behind glass display doors, and they produce a range of bottled beers for drinkers around the country. Dobber is one of their strongest, at 5.9% abv.

What’s In a Name? – Dobber -
A tool used to play bingo, a member of the working class in Scotland with poor taste in clothes and no social skills, an Australian who informs on others, a small electrical device that plugs into a larger one, a float used by anglers, a type of wasp, Scottish slang for the male genitalia, and…a large marble. [Wikipedia]

What They Say -
“The balance of hops provides a great aroma which follows through in the taste and lasts long afterwards. A massive beer in all senses and a perfect IPA.” [Official Website]

What We Say…
Richard – Big citrus hops, really can’t taste much alcohol 6½
Shovels – Hop stuff I like but grapefruit aftertaste I don’t 6½
Stu – Not as smooth as other IPA’s but I am enjoying it 6
Grooben – Gone too far with the citrusy acid thing for my taste 6

3. Samuel Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo (9.0%abv)
Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery, Tadcaster, Yorkshire.
500ml glass bottle

Taddy is home to two giant brewers – the distantly related John Smiths and Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery. The former are owned by Scottish and Newcastle, the latter are still independent – although they were started by members of the same family back in the mid-19th Century (Samuel being a cousin of John). These days, Sam Smith’s use Yorkshire square fermenters and retain their links to tradition by delivering their products on a shire horse-driven dray (within a certain distance of Tadcaster).

What’s In a Name? – Stingo -
”A fashionable slang word of the eighteenth century for strong beer originating in the North of England. It was first mentioned in literature before 1700, and derives from the word sting.” [encyclo.co.uk]

What They Say -
“Yorkshire Stingo is aged for at least a year, matured in these well-used oak casks in the brewery’s underground cellars deriving fruit, raisin, treacle toffee, Christmas pudding and slight oaky flavours, before being further naturally conditioned in bottle.” [Official Website]

What We Say…
Stu – I’m a man with a sweet tooth so I’m enjoying that 7½
Richard – Syrupy sweetness with some sherry in there as well 7½
Grooben – I’m usually dead against this kind of beer but it works 7
Shovels – Smells whisky-like, with some prunes. I was expecting it to be bad, but it’s quite well balanced 7

4. Criminally Bad Elf (10.5%abv)
Ridegway Brewery, South Stoke, Oxfordshire (brewed at Hepworth’s, Horsham, West Sussex)
500ml glass bottle

Ridgeway can be loosely pushed into two pigeonholes – as a phoenix brewery, and a cuckoo brewery. They were founded from the ashes of a defunct producer, as ex-Brakspear head brewer Peter Scholey left and managed to start up another company in his own right. He named the new operation Ridgeway, after the ancient upland pathway that meanders along the South Downs, first trod by the Druids. They contract brew, so Peter leases time from brewers with the capacity to spare, most commonly Sussex’s Hepworth. They export a lot of their beers to North America, and revel in the use of elf puns, increasing in strength from Bad Elf through Very Bad Elf, to Insanely Bad Elf. We featured Bad Elf on last year’s Christmas Special podcast.

What’s In a Name? – Criminally Bad Elf -
It turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, of course – wrong place at the wrong time…but Claus was soon back on the street with the polite apologies of the authorities – no questions asked. All’s well that ends well, surely, but still, the reporters wanted to know…it takes its toll, doesnt’t it? “Indeed” sighed Claus, “my elf is going crazy, and I fear I shall soon go crazy as well” And with that he hoisted a great flagon of his favorite barleywine-style ale, silently contemplating the future and straining to remember why he got into this particular line of work in the first place. [Official Website]

What We Say…
Shovels – Not quite criminally bad, but bad enough 3½
Grooben – Unpleasant aftertaste is not sitting right with me at all 3
Richard – Thick, syrupy, medicinal barleywine kick 3
Stu – Tastes like cough syrup and Special Brew, It’s not good and I’m not enjoying it 2

5. Kernel IPA S.C.A.NS. (5.5%abv)
The Kernel Brewery, Bermondsey, London.
330ml glass bottle

Two podcasts ago we featured London’s Kernel Brewery in a Kernel Showcase, after paying a visit to Evin O’Riordain’s Bermondsey brewery. If Marble were one to watch for 2010, Kernel are undoubtedly one to watch for 2011 – their mix of traditional recipes and strong abv’s without doubt appeal to craft beer fans everywhere. When you consider that Evin does everything himself – even hand-stamping each label – it’s a remarkable operation. In ordering some Kernel IPA C.S.C. (7.1%) for our upcoming Beer of the Year show, Evin told me his newest IPA – called S.C.A.NS. was even better. Clearly, we had to get some to find out…

What’s In a Name? – S.C.A.NS. -
Evin names his IPA’s after the hops that he adds to them – his IPA C.S.C. contains Centennial, Simcoe and Chinook for example. It makes a good quiz for hop fans (play along at home) – S.C.A.NS. contains Simcoe, Chinook, Apollo, and Nelson Sauvin.

What They Say -
“One of the finest Double IPA’s on the market from the up and coming Kernel Brewery. Drawing “wow” from brewers and beer lovers from afar, even hop-head Californian brewers. I can’t express how impressive this beer is. Hopped with Apollo, Simcoe, Chinook and Nelson Sauvin for a good hit of fruit over a refined malt body.” [BeerMerchants.com]

What We Say…
Richard – More bitter punchiness than CSC, there’s a bit more malty sweetness 7½
Shovels – How good a smell is that? Not as citrusy as the Dobber 7
Stu – One of the best beers I’ve ever smelled, this would make a great Glade plug-in 6½
Grooben – I think I preferred CSC, this one may be too far for my personal taste as it’s slightly too bitter 6

Panellists – (clockwise from top left) Richard, Shovels, Stuart, Grooben

BeerCast panel verdict
Samuel Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo 29/40
Kernel India Pale Ale S.C.A.NS. 27/40
Marble Dobber 25/40
IBS Old Slap and Tickle 14/40
Ridgeway Criminally Bad Elf 12½/40

Thanks to Jeff Pickthall at Pump Clip Parade for the photos of wacky beer names and pump clips. You can also visit Jeff’s regular beer blog – It’s Just the Beer Talking

Please keep those comments and emails coming in, and check back next week for our fourth annual Christmas Special – half a dozen festive warmers for our panel to enjoy, before the excitement of our 2010 Beer of the Year Show in January. Will any of the Christmas beers make a late surge into the final four? Stay tuned…

This afternoon Fraserburgh’s BrewDog announced that their second bar would be opening in Edinburgh, following the Aberdeen flagship that began trading in October. After a search of several cities, the unlikely facade of the old Chasers Bar in the Cowgate was chosen. I say unlikely – being based in Edinburgh we’ve seen Little Saigon* in full effect over the years – but maybe it fits the BrewDog ethos. There’ll be plenty of lager drinkers down there to convert, that’s for sure. But it will do tremendously well being in a recognised drinking corridor, and is close enough to Hollyrood 9A for the craft beer fans to join them together into a big-abv crawl. BrewDog Edinburgh is scheduled to open in April 2011, and we’ll be there to cover the opening night.



(* description of the Cowgate from Ian Rankin’s Dead Souls…)

“There were clubs still open . . . teenagers spilling on to the road. The police had names for the Cowgate when it got like this: Little Saigon; the blood bank; Hell on Earth. Even the patrol cars went in twos. Whoops and yells: a couple of girls in short dresses. One lad was down on his knees in the road, begging to be noticed.”