Beers to note - April 2017

Black Eel (Twickenham) - 5.0% | Cask Pint
The last pint in a three pint lunch time on a nice warm spring day and though it may black it wasn't a heavy body. Added to this the stein glass it was served in and the pub surrounding, and it all made for an excellent pint.



Birra Chiara (Brodie's) - 5.0% | Keg Pint
I've not been a massive fan of the Brodie's beers. I want to love them but can only ever manage one or two before I have to switch off them. This time I notice that Brodie's now had Keg beers and thought I would give them a go. After careful selection (point at anything) I select the Birra Chiara which turned out to be very much like a euro lager but with an extra hit. It went down very nicely whilst watching the football in the Old Coffee House.



London Pride Unfiltered (Fullers) - 4.1% | Keg Half Pint
So after holding off, temptation set in and I finally had a pint of London Pride Unfiltered. I had easily held off as to me Pride is one of the ales I never order due to the off taste it has. So I only had a half pint expecting the worse and surprisingly I liked it. The keg version was much more maltier and that off taste normally in Pride was more subdued. I got to the bottom of my half quite easily and ordered another half.




Whitstable Bay Black Oyster Stout (Shep Neame) - 4.2% | Keg Pint
I wasn't even aware that Shep Neame had made a Black Oyster Stout in their Whitstable Bay range so when I happened upon this I jumped straight at the opportunity. This stout is more creamy than the standard Shep Neame Double Stout but a straight comparison between the two is not possible as both are great. It's a shame these other Whitstable Bay beers aren't more commonly available in Shep Neame pubs.





Stout (Pirate Life) - 7.1% | Keg Half Pint

I only opted for a half due to the high ABV. The beer had a beautiful tan head and dark body. There is a lovely roasted smell coming off the beer. The taste is slightly bitter but with a nice malt kick.



DIPA v13 (Cloudwater Brew Co) - 9.0% | Keg 1/3 Pint
I finally had me a DIPA from Cloudwater, and it might so happen to be their last in this line. The pub was only selling in thirds due to the ABV and this is sensible. The beer is cloudy (as expected) and has an amazing citrus smell. The hops come straight through in the taste alongside a bitter orange taste.




BBC1 (Brentwood Brewing Company) - 1.5% | Cask Half Pint
Well I don't think I've ever come across a beer with this low an ABV. At 1.5% I knew what to expect. There was a weak but nice aroma coming from the beer but it severely lacked in the taste department



.




Vintage Ale 2016 (Fullers) - 8.5% | Bottle 1/3 Sharer of 500ml
I had this previously on tap at GBBF but now it was time to crack open one of the bottles for a tasting. The beer was malty and dark with a clear alcohol punch coming through. Perhaps leaving to age the other bottle for longer is called for so that the flavours can develop more.





Apricot Jungle (Grafton) - 4.8% | Cask Half Pint
I had this fruit beer at the Reading beer festival and it proved very popular. The smell is spot on and the taste even better. I had this as an early starter (more like breakfast) and it went down a treat.






Old Tom (Robinsons) - 8.5% | Cask Half Pint
I've seen Old Tom in all the shops but as it's available always in bottle I've shun the need to buy and try this classic Ale. At Reading this beer was on cask and it finally called for me to tuck in to it. Although 8.5% ABV it didn't taste like it. Wonderful plum notes coming through along with a nice warming feel after. This is a top notch ale.






Afgan Pale Ale (Grey Trees) - 5.4% | Cask Half Pint
The beer with no tasting notes at the beer festival and worth a punt. This was the best Pale Ale at the festival I tried a fruity aroma that carries through into the taste and made for a wonderful beer.