Yesterday we announced the first of our pick of the best British beers launched in 2011 – Sharp’s Monsieur Rock (5.2%). Today we bring you our second (these are roughly in order of release). A beer we tasted at FyneFest in early June – but not from Argyll’s champion brewer – it was merely a guest at Fyne Ales’ festival…
Evenlode (6.2%) Thornbridge, Bakewell, Derbyshire
(cask, released April 2011)
It’s a BeerCast double for Derbyshire’s Thornbridge brewery, as they also featured in our best new beer awards in 2010. The peerless imperial stout St Petersburg (which had been launched in the bottle that summer) was an obvious highlight of last year. Thornbridge Evenlode is a 6.2% brown porter, and it stole the show at this summer’s FyneFest. Even more impressively, it was a debut brew from a new member of the Thornbridge team.
Back in March, Thornbridge Hall had just been successfully renovated. Amongst other improvements, their small-scale brew kit was again ready for action. Used alongside the main Riverside facility as a development brewery for beers such as the Alchemy series, it was inside the hall that ex-intern Giada Simioni formulated her first solo beer. Having joined British brewer of the year Stefano Cossi in late 2010, Giada’s first beer became Evenlode.
Looking every inch the classic porter (the photo above is my ‘half’ at FyneFest), it had a big roasty malt aroma, with a touch of almost spicy hop in evidence. Quite toasty on the palate, this beer was one of the smoothest I had all year. A milk chocolate mocha, slightly nutty and smoky at the end – and as with the Monsieur Rock, incredibly drinkable for 6.2%. So easy to go overboard with this one – if St Petersburg hadn’t been there on cask I’d have stayed on Evenlode all night – it was that good.
Join us tomorrow for the third in our series of best new British beers of 2011, as we head back to our Scottish homeland. Since producing Evenlode, both Giada and Stefano have left Thornbridge – but the Derbyshire juggernaut shows no sign of slowing down…
If 2010 saw the release of some wonderful beers on both sides of the Atlantic, this year has been even more memorable. As the range of imported beer increases, British breweries have been defying the recession and the taxman, to produce some fantastic new beers. Over the next six days we’ll be highlighting our pick of British beers launched in 2011, in order of their release. We begin all the way back in January – the epic snows were still cloaking Scotland, but down in Cornwall the product of a partnership was breaking the thaw…
Monsieur Rock (5.2%) Sharp’s Brewery, Rock, Cornwall
(500ml bottle, released January 2011)
Back in 2010, Sharp’s wonderfully experimental head brewer Stuart Howe departed these shores for a continental brewtrip of a lifetime. The man that brought the world Jellyfish Red and Offal Beer (amongst many, many other things) spent a significant amount of time with one of the grand old dukes of European brewing – Orval brewmaster Jean-Marie Rock. Their collaboration – produced in Cornwall when Jean-Marie came over to the UK – was Monsieur Rock.
A Saaz showcase, Monsieur Rock was lagered for six weeks amidst sackfuls of Czech hops. It was then run past the tasting panel at the Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Orval, not to mention their state of the art laboratory. Having passed with flying colours – and more importantly having been personally approved by the original Monsieur Rock – the beer that bore his name was released to the British drinking public.
Almost immediately, response on the blogs was overwhelmingly positive – and with good reason. Soft, grassy citrus aromas, before a creamy, lemon flavour with a lovely herbal edge from the Saaz. As we said in our review, it was hard to pin down into any particular category – it felt like a Belgian golden ale, but looked like a lager. The balance was beautiful – giving that softness that made it so drinkable. A fantastic beer, and a great way to start the year.
Join us tomorrow for our second best new British beer of 2011. Shortly after releasing Monsieur Rock, Sharp’s announced they had been taken over by Molson Coors UK – the implications of which have yet to fully pan out…
After our legislation-heavy 64th BeerCast, our intrepid podcasting heroes return with a slightly different, more carefree outing. MrB departed the island shores in July for his annual sojourn on the continent, and returned with a carload of French booze. Alongside the wine, Picon, and assorted liqueurs he also brought back plenty of artisian French beer – so we decamped to his Chateau in East Lothian and sampled a few. On today’s punctuation-heavy French BeerCast – La Johannique Blanche (5.0%), from the Brasserie des Râteliers; Cervoiserie Lancelot’s Bonnets Rouge (5.5%); Le Moulin de Saint-Martin Ambrée (6.5%), from the Brasserie of the same name; and finally the salt-water infused Mor Braz La Bière Cidrée (4.0%). On the panel today – Richarde, Grooben, and Monsieur B. Apologies for the sound quality, but stay tuned for the return of our annual feature – Can you Picon it?, after the end of the podcast…
1. La Johannique Blanche (5.0%abv) Brasserie des Râteliers, Amilly, Loiret.
330ml glass bottle
Râteliers means ‘rack’ in French – for instance Râteliers a bicyclette [Bike rack]. There’s also the popular saying…‘Manger a tous les râteliers’ [make the most of what comes along]. Due south of Paris, the small town of Amilly is the location for the Brasserie des Râteliers. La Johannique is a Biere Blanche D’Orleans – their local Belgian-style wit. Clearly, if you’ve just read this paragraph you’ll realise we could find out very little about this beer.
What They Say - “This blanche highlights its origins from local ingredients, including grain grown in nearby Beauce and malted in Pithiviers, and honey from La Ferté St Aubin added for the secondary fermentation in the bottle.” [Beer Advocate reviewer BoitSansSoif]
What We Say…
Richard – Bit of perfume, little bit of sweetness – very nice 7½
MrB – It’s nice even though it doesn’t have much of a taste 7
Grooben – I wouldn’t have been able to pick out the honey 6
You may not have heard of Morbihan – but it has an interesting secret. Of the 101 French departments, it’s the only one to not be named in French. Morbihan means ‘small sea’ in Breton – this area of north-west France has a proud heritage. Le Roc-Saint André (or Roz-Sant-Andrey to the locals) has a population of 861, but it also hosts a brewery – based in an abandoned gold mine, of all places. Cervoiserie Bernard Lancelot began in 1990, and are inspired by Celtic legends. Producing seven permanent, unfiltered, beers – Bonnets Rouge is named after the red hats worn by 17th Century Breton revolutionaries.
What They Say - “This beer at the slightly fruity flavor (brought by the elderberry), of malt, is embellished with a caramel note. It is also the elderberry which allows the beer to have its bright red color, a symbol of rebellion.” [Official Website]
What We Say…
Grooben – Subtle and fruity, really good looking beer too 7
Richard – Nice and refreshing, nothing wrong with that at all 7
MrB – Slight sharpness to it, presumably from the elderberries 6½
If Le Roc-Saint André is small, then Saint Martin de Bossenay is positively pocket-sized. In 2003, a native Belgian father/son partnership opened a brasserie in the village of 385 souls. Part of the region of Champagne-Ardenne, it’s heavily into wine growing due to the chalky soil – and also produces a lot of barley. Named after the local windmills, the Brasserie produce three classic Belgian styles – a blonde, a brune, and an ambreé .
What They Say - “Bottle-fermented, a natural deposit of yeast formed there. Red beer with character a strong, color is both deep and intense. It is best eaten cold (6-8 °C). A more pronounced flavor than its cousin the white wheat, it remains a beer of thirst, but is also ideal to accompany dishes such as sauerkraut, grilled meat, chitterlings, endive gratin.” [Official Website][via Google translate]
What We Say…
MrB – This is the best one so far 8
Richard – There’s a great malt component to this 8
Grooben – I’m a fan, it’s quite Belgian but doesn’t have the harsh Belgian-y-ness 8
4. La Bière Cidrée (4.0%abv) Mor Braz, Theix, Morbihan.
330ml glass bottle
We end the podcast back in Brittany, in the town of Theix (or Teiz). A quarter of the schoolchildren here attend fully bilingual schools, learning local tradition as well as their regular syllabus. One export famed from this region is Breton cider – so we put to the test an apple beer, but one with a difference. Mor Braz are owned by a Morbihan couple, so proud of their locale that they actually add seawater extract to their beers – for a ‘surprising’ taste. Apple fruit beer with seawater? Oui, monsieur…
What They Say - “What is the mystery of Cider Beer? The originality and lightness of beer brewed from seawater extracts, the flavour of apple and the sweetness of sugary hints. This beer should be enjoyed cold, but not ice-cold.” [Official Website]
What We Say…
Richard – It’s a bit like a condiment flavour, very strange 6
Grooben – Not as salty as I thought. It’s kind of pointless 5
MrB – Salty cider? It smells of the sea. I like it, but I’m not sure why – maybe it’s because we’re Scottish, and appreciate salt 5
Panellists – (clockwise from top left) Richard, MrB, Grooben
BeerCast panel verdict
Le Moulin de Saint-Martin Ambrée 24/30
Brasserie des Râteliers La Johannique Blanche 20½/30
Cervoiserie Lancelot Bonnets Rouge 20½/30
Mor Braz La Bière Cidrée 16/30
Please keep those comments and emails coming in, and check back in a couple of weeks for our next BeerCast – our fifth annual Christmas Special! Join the team as we get to grips with half a dozen festive ales, fit for the Christmas season. We promise to get the sound levels sorted out beforehand. Until then, enjoy your beer – and easy on the Picon.
Note to self…remember to take photo before drinking the beer
If you’ve been following the BeerCast for the past couple of weeks, you’ll (hopefully) know we’ve been talking a great deal about a recent piece of Government legislation. On the 1st of October, the UK Treasury raised duty on all beer over 7.5% – ostensibly to tackle ‘problem drinking’. We’ve written several posts on why we feel this is a bad idea (here, here and here) – and so today we’re holding a protest podcast. Richard, Shovels and Grooben get together to sample four British beers over 7.5%, and debate the state of UK alcohol taxation (along with vikings, addictive coffee and why you can never lose a greyhound). The four strong beers we drink responsibly are:- Sinclair Orkney Skull Splitter (8.5%), Traquair House Jacobite Ale (8.0%), Thornbridge St Petersburg (7.7%), and BrewDog Abstrakt AB:06 (11.2%). Fight the power!
Founded by Roger White in 1988, the award-winning Orkney brewery are another local producer who started in untypical surroundings – in this case an old school house in Sandwick. In June 2004 they merged with the Atlas Brewery of Kinlochleven, to form Highland and Islands Breweries – which in turn was taken over by the Sinclair Brewery Ltd in 2006. All the way back in January 2008, we sampled Orkney Dark Island as part of BeerCast #11. Drinkers in North America may know the brewery best for the very beer we’re sampling today – Skull Splitter is seemingly far more popular over the pond than back home.
What They Say - “Sophisticated, satiny smooth with a deceptively light character, it is a tribute to our colourful forbear Thorfinn Einarsson, the 7th Viking Earl of Orkney.” [Official Website]
What We Say…
Richard – Classic Skull Splitter aroma – sweet fruity caramel 7½
Shovels – Not as syrupy as I remember, good balance 7½
Grooben – I do like it but probably wouldn’t drink it much 6
2. Traquair Jacobite Ale (8.0%abv) Traquair House Brewery, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire.
330ml glass bottle
Traquair House is an extremely impressive, and very old, country estate about an hour south of Edinburgh. Famed in Scottish history for it’s association with the Jacobites, it also contains a thriving microbrewery – which begun in the 18th Century, brewing for the estate workers. The 20th Laird of Traquair re-founded the brewery in 1965, and they specialise in Scottish styles – that are all rich, dark, and above all – strong.
What They Say - “Brewed to celebrate the anniversary of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion the ale proved to be so popular it has become a permanent addition to the range. Based on an eighteenth century recipe the ale is spiced with coriander which gives a remarkably fresh aftertaste.” [Official Website]
What We Say…
Shovels – Spices linger at the end, needs a bit more body 7
Richard – Not as spicy as I was expecting, it’s a nice old ale7
Grooben – Doesn’t bash you around the head for an 8%er 7
The first Thornbridge beer to make it onto one of our BeerCasts was their chestnut honey ale Bracia, back in BeerCast #61. A 10% powerhouse of flavour, we’re following that with another of their big hitters – the fantastic Russian Imperial Stout St Petersburg (7.7%). We already know it’s fantastic, as it was awarded one of our much-prized Best New Beer Awards for 2010. Doesn’t mean we can’t put in on a podcast…
What They Say - “Rich and dark with smoke, subtle peatiness and the power of the dark malts. Molasses and liquorice and chocolate goodness all wrapped up in a smooth, warming liquid.” [Official Website]
What We Say…
Richard – Black, roasty, creamy, chocolatey, smoky, love it 9
Shovels – Lovely flavours – one of my favourite beers 8½
Grooben – Doesn’t have any bitterness at the back of the palate you get with some strong stouts 8½
BrewDog are without doubt the most talked-about brewery in Scotland, with their charismatic press releases and wacky ideas. Not afraid to experiment, there’s no denying they always elicit strong opinions. What is often overlooked amidst all the hoo-hah is that they have only been going for just over three years. Their ‘concept beer brand’ Abstrakt is already on the 7th version (a whisky aged Scotch Ale), the original, AB:01, made it to our most recent Beer of the Year Show, and AB:04 (a coffee, cacao and chili Imperial Stout) might just be the best beer they’ve ever made. Can AB:06 cut it?
What They Say - “AB06 is a 11.5% Imperial Black IPA which has been triple dry hopped. This beer is savage; boasting more bitterness and more hops than any BrewDog creation to date, combining loads of awesome malts and monumental amounts of our favourite hops.” [Official Website]
What We Say…
Shovels – You can definitely tell it’s dry hopped, love those hops 8½
Richard – Very good beer, this could be a great regular 8½
Grooben – Decent, but I expected it to be better 7
Panellists – (clockwise from top left) Shovels, Grooben, Richard
BeerCast panel verdict
Thornbridge St Petersburg 26/30
BrewDog Abstrakt AB:06 24/30
Sinclair Orkney Skullsplitter 21/30
Traquair House Jacobite Ale 21/30
Please keep those comments and emails coming in, and check back in a couple of weeks for our next podcast. In the meantime, keep drinking those strong beers wherever you are. In the UK, you can sign this petition against the duty rise. For the BBC article on responsible drinking we discussed during this episode – click here. We’ll be continuing with our strong beer month right the way throughout October. Fight the power!
We’re back after our summer podcast break with a cracking lineup of beers from three very enthusiastic British brewers – all of whom begin with the letter M (hence the dubious title of the podcast). Our 63rd edition focuses on the West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield – home to two very distinctive breweries. We also throw in a beer from Manchester – a mere 30miles across the Pennines. Beginning with Danger: Hops! (5.1%) from the prolific Mallinson’s Brewery, we move on to a new producer – Magic Rock – and sample High Wire (5.5%) and Cannonball (7.4%). In between those hoppy numbers we add the Mancunian interlude, in the shape of Marble’s Chocolate Marble (5.5%). On the panel this week, Richard, MrB, Stuart and Grooben.
Opened in May 2008 in a converted garage, Mallinsons are one of the busiest English breweries around, having released literally hundreds of beers (their website’s latest is #233 Io – a Sorachi Ace hopped blonde ale). Production is overseen by the brewster/owner – Tara Mallinson, ably assisted by her partner Elaine Yendall. Being so prolific, they need plenty of names for their beers – Io is the ninth ‘space themed’ – they have also done series on viaducts, wonders of the world, long rivers, and a classic British bus series. Since 2010 they have bottle conditioned four of their best sellers – Stadium Bitter, Station Bitter, Lindley Pale, and Danger: Hops!
What They Say - “A re-brew which is stronger and hoppier. Each cask is dry hopped with Citra. Pale straw coloured beer with a hoppy passion fruit and mango nose, a bitter strong taste and a long bitter citrus finish.” [Official Website]
What We Say…
Richard – Smells pineappley, quite sharp citrus on the taste 7
Stu – Danger Hops should slap you around the face a bit more 6
Grooben – Every Citra beer smells the same apart from this one 5
MrB – Not even mildly dangerous, it’s actually quite tasty 5
2. High Wire (5.5%abv) Magic Rock Brew Co, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
330ml glass bottle
Magic Rock Brewing are a brand new Yorkshire brewery, having also begun in Huddersfield, but in mid-2011. Brothers Richard and Jonny Burhouse founded the business, after employing ex-Kelham Island, Acorn and Crown head brewer Stuart Ross to be their head brewer. The Burhouse brothers already run the online beer shop mybrewerytap, and also their family business which wholesales new age gifts – leading to their brewery name Magic Rock. High Wire is their tribute to the pale ales of the West coast of America. But how does it compare?
What They Say - “Let your taste buds walk this test of balance. Mango, lychee and lip-smacking grapefruit flavours harmonise against a smoothly composed malt base, which develops into a crisply bitter finish. Are you ready for our tightrope of taste?” [Official Website]
What We Say…
MrB – There aren’t many beers in the UK like this, it’s really good 8
Richard – Not as hoppy as Sierra Nevada, good in it’s own right 7½
Stu – Not enough of a kick in the nuts, but I’m warming to it 7
Grooben – Smells great, I don’t think it’s flavoursome enough 6½
Our dark offering for the podcast doesn’t hail from Hudders, but then Manchester is only 30 or so miles away. The Grade 2 listed Marble Arch public house in the city has had a microbrewery operating since 1997. They have been a fantastic success story, winning numerous awards and going from strength to strength. All their beers are vegan, many are organic, and they are branded with distinctive pantone-eqsue labels that clearly state what they are about. Their session beer is rather brilliantly called Pint. Today however, we’re tasting their porter(ish) beer – Chocolate
What They Say - “Strong, rich and stout-like, full plated malts balance against an assertive bitterness. Organic.” [Label Tasting Notes] “Bittering herb notes blossom in the swallow, with dark roasty malt on the finish still characterised with a sweetish chocolatey slick and some gritty mineral notes.” [Des de Moor]
What We Say…
Richard – Chocolatey background, some bitter coffee in there, I think that’s great 8
Grooben – More flavoursome than other beers, I’m liking this 7½
Stu – Great full, rounded flavour, I’d drink a few of these 7½
MrB – Smells particularly malty, it’s like a session stout 7½
4. Cannonball (7.4%abv) Magic Rock Brew Co, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
330ml glass bottle
Magic Rock currently have a small plant situated in an adjacent building to their crystal business, and as they concentrate on American-style bold, hoppy beers, have a large hopback to get the flavours into their products. Cannonball is Magic Rock’s strong IPA – although they also release a 9.2% Imperial IPA called Human Cannonball. They also produce a 4.6% red ale called Rapture, a 6.0% stout called Dark Arts, and Curious, their 3.9% flagship pale ale. In case you hadn’t guessed it, they have a circus theme – and at a recent launch at the North Bar in Leeds the entire pub was converted into an impromptu big top.
What They Say - “Crack the cap and let the flavour explode on your palate. Tropically fruity, resinous hops compete against a sweet malty backbone, while a rasping bitterness builds to a mouth puckering crescendo. Our hop bomb might just blow you away…” [Official Website]
What We Say…
Stu – I like it better than their High Wire, this brewery has potential 7½
MrB – Sweet and toffeish, amazing that an English brewer is doing this 7½
Grooben – I just think you need to put more flavour in 7
Richard – These guys only just started, this is very impressive 7
Panellists – (clockwise from top left) Richard, MrB, Stu, Grooben
BeerCast panel verdict
Marble Chocolate Marble 30½/40
Magic Rock High Wire 29/40
Magic Rock Cannonball 29/40
Mallinsons Danger: Hops! 23/40
Please keep those comments and emails coming in, and check back in a couple of weeks for our next podcast, which should be from our Southern branch of BeerCasters – as they work their way through the beers of Edinburgh micro Knops Beer Company…
