I have to admit that I really only reviewed this because Simon of the Real Ale Guide shot a video of this being bottled, and seeing all those bottle fills gave me the psychosomatic response of wanting to drink this beer.
Simon's video of the bottling process can be found here.
Zymurgical Explorations grade: B
Showing posts with label English Pale Ale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label English Pale Ale. Show all posts
10 February 2011
03 February 2011
Boddington's Pub Ale | ZE Beer Review
While my grains were mashing on my brew day earlier this week, I decided to shoot a quick beer review. This one is for Boddington's Pub Ale, which is listed on BeerAdvocate as an English Pale Ale, but I've always thought of it as a bitter. Probably just me.
Zymurgical Explorations grade: B-
Zymurgical Explorations grade: B-
02 February 2011
Fuller's 1845 | ZE Beer Review
In this import month entry, I review a specialty ale from Fuller's in London. A stronger-than-average pale ale made to commemorate the founding of the modern era of their brewery.
Zymurgical Explorations grade: A
Zymurgical Explorations grade: A
17 November 2010
Newcastle Brown and Summer Ale
In the interest of getting both of these beers reviewed, I decided to do to reviews in a single video. Newcastle Brown is completely common, available in all fifty states as far as I know, but the Summer Ale is a new release that was only in selected markets last summer. Chris over at BGN sent me a bottle when he pulled my name out of a hat for his 400th subscriber contest.
In the middle of this vid I also give you my method for clearing my palate between beers, if you're at all interested.
Zymurgical Explorations grade (Newcastle Brown): C
Zymurgical Explorations grade (Newcastle Summer): C+
In the middle of this vid I also give you my method for clearing my palate between beers, if you're at all interested.
Zymurgical Explorations grade (Newcastle Brown): C
Zymurgical Explorations grade (Newcastle Summer): C+
08 October 2010
Fuller's London Pride
Fuller's London Pride
London, England
4.7% ABV
I was goofing off when I shot this one and pretended to be Simon from the Real Ale Guide for a minute. Crackin' head on this one, eh? Four point seven percent in the volume.
I kid, I kid.
Great session beer, one of my favorites of the kind. Almost a perfect comfort beer.
Zymurgical Explorations rating: 9.0/10
London, England
4.7% ABV
I was goofing off when I shot this one and pretended to be Simon from the Real Ale Guide for a minute. Crackin' head on this one, eh? Four point seven percent in the volume.
I kid, I kid.
Great session beer, one of my favorites of the kind. Almost a perfect comfort beer.
Zymurgical Explorations rating: 9.0/10
04 August 2010
Last Two Beer Reviews from Praha
Primator English Pale Ale (bottle)
and
Kocour Varnsdorf/Lausitzer Kirsch Porter
My internet access was down for the last two days I was in Prague, but I shot these two reviews before I left and uploaded them this morning.
First up was the Primator English Pale Ale. Tasted like a quite traditional English ale to me, finely crafted and with a nice fruity estery character, well-worth the search that I had to go on to find it.
My numerical rating: 6.5/10
Here's the review of the Pivovar Varnsdorf/Lausitzer Kirsch Porter. This was very disappointing, being a bit overly sweet and not having any strong porter characteristics, but that's why we actually try all these instead of just accepting them as given, right?
My numerical rating: 4.5/10
and
Kocour Varnsdorf/Lausitzer Kirsch Porter
My internet access was down for the last two days I was in Prague, but I shot these two reviews before I left and uploaded them this morning.
First up was the Primator English Pale Ale. Tasted like a quite traditional English ale to me, finely crafted and with a nice fruity estery character, well-worth the search that I had to go on to find it.
My numerical rating: 6.5/10
Here's the review of the Pivovar Varnsdorf/Lausitzer Kirsch Porter. This was very disappointing, being a bit overly sweet and not having any strong porter characteristics, but that's why we actually try all these instead of just accepting them as given, right?
My numerical rating: 4.5/10
22 April 2010
Hen's Tooth Ale
Hen's Tooth Ale (bottle)
Suffolk, UK
6.5% ABV
Scott gave me this bottle, telling me it was a sample from a vendor looking to sell these at the store. I took it home and figured, well, I've been drinking a lot of English Ales lately, guess one more won't hurt.
Pours rich reddish/orange, very hazy, with a thick brown-white head that thins but never really disappears. I've got to say that I love the presentation. Aroma is less pleasant -- when will breweries learn not to use clear bottles? A not-insignificant skunkiness permeates my nose at first, not so much that I don't get some sweet malty notes underneath.
Flavor is better, with a stronger hop bite than expected from an English Pale, mostly Kent Goldings and Fuggles I'm guessing. Strong sweet malt presence, hints of ripe fruit, and a significant yeasty quality, especially on the backend. Finishes bitter and slightly metallic. Mouthfeel is moderate, with a stiff carbonation and a strong hoppiness for an English Ale.
Is it fair to review a beer that has some skunked qualities? It's easy to argue against it, as the beer is clearly not in the state that the brewer intended, but it's also true that these bottles represent the state of the beer "in the wild," as it were. They brew the beer with significant hops, bottle it in clear bottles, and ship it halfway around the world -- to say that the condition of the beer is less than it would be straight out of the fermenter is to belabor the obvious. This bottle being a freebie from the vendor only makes this claim more specific, as the distributor clearly intended for this to be a sample bottle showcasing the beer's strengths. My review stands.
My overall BA rating: 3.5/5
Suffolk, UK
6.5% ABV
Scott gave me this bottle, telling me it was a sample from a vendor looking to sell these at the store. I took it home and figured, well, I've been drinking a lot of English Ales lately, guess one more won't hurt.
Pours rich reddish/orange, very hazy, with a thick brown-white head that thins but never really disappears. I've got to say that I love the presentation. Aroma is less pleasant -- when will breweries learn not to use clear bottles? A not-insignificant skunkiness permeates my nose at first, not so much that I don't get some sweet malty notes underneath.
Flavor is better, with a stronger hop bite than expected from an English Pale, mostly Kent Goldings and Fuggles I'm guessing. Strong sweet malt presence, hints of ripe fruit, and a significant yeasty quality, especially on the backend. Finishes bitter and slightly metallic. Mouthfeel is moderate, with a stiff carbonation and a strong hoppiness for an English Ale.
Is it fair to review a beer that has some skunked qualities? It's easy to argue against it, as the beer is clearly not in the state that the brewer intended, but it's also true that these bottles represent the state of the beer "in the wild," as it were. They brew the beer with significant hops, bottle it in clear bottles, and ship it halfway around the world -- to say that the condition of the beer is less than it would be straight out of the fermenter is to belabor the obvious. This bottle being a freebie from the vendor only makes this claim more specific, as the distributor clearly intended for this to be a sample bottle showcasing the beer's strengths. My review stands.
My overall BA rating: 3.5/5
29 March 2010
Fuller's London Pride
Fuller's London Pride (can)
London, England
4.7% ABV
We went to have a pint of Oberon this afternoon after lunch, as today's the release date. Tonight, though, I'm having a chill evening at home writing up a beer that I've been meaning to do for a couple of months now, but whenever I'm in a place to drink it something or other gets in the way.
I've been way into English beers lately, and I've reviewed a few of Fuller's other beers. They're all excellent, but this one might just be my favorite session beer at the moment. How does it stand up to the review process?
Pours golden yellow with a thick creamy white head that sticks around and leaves significant lacing. Very transparent. Smells coppery, sweet, with a nice dose of English hops modulated very well with the golden malt backbone. Aroma is overall rich, interesting, drawing me into the beer.
Tastes smooth, much like the aroma, with a bit of straw graininess to give the flavor some texture. Finishes sweet and slightly dry, with a drying aftertaste. Mouthfeel moderate, with a moderate carbonation and no significant hop bite.
It's hard to make a beer that's this simple and yet this delicious. I wouldn't call Fuller's London Pride a hugely complex beer, but this is definitely harder-than-it-looks territory. A nearly perfect beer for what it is, perhaps my favorite English Pale Ale.
My overall BA rating: 4.2/5
London, England
4.7% ABV
We went to have a pint of Oberon this afternoon after lunch, as today's the release date. Tonight, though, I'm having a chill evening at home writing up a beer that I've been meaning to do for a couple of months now, but whenever I'm in a place to drink it something or other gets in the way.
I've been way into English beers lately, and I've reviewed a few of Fuller's other beers. They're all excellent, but this one might just be my favorite session beer at the moment. How does it stand up to the review process?
Pours golden yellow with a thick creamy white head that sticks around and leaves significant lacing. Very transparent. Smells coppery, sweet, with a nice dose of English hops modulated very well with the golden malt backbone. Aroma is overall rich, interesting, drawing me into the beer.
Tastes smooth, much like the aroma, with a bit of straw graininess to give the flavor some texture. Finishes sweet and slightly dry, with a drying aftertaste. Mouthfeel moderate, with a moderate carbonation and no significant hop bite.
It's hard to make a beer that's this simple and yet this delicious. I wouldn't call Fuller's London Pride a hugely complex beer, but this is definitely harder-than-it-looks territory. A nearly perfect beer for what it is, perhaps my favorite English Pale Ale.
My overall BA rating: 4.2/5
14 August 2009
Beer Review, Denver Pale Ale
Great Divide Denver Pale Ale
Denver, CO
5.6% ABV
Appearance: Reddish-orange hue, very hazy with suspended carbonation, with a thick white bubbly head. Makes my mouth water just looking at it. 4.5/5
Smell: Crisp malts and hops, hints of caramel and probably Kent Goldings on the hop front. Some hints of citrus. 4.0/5
Taste: Some malty sweetness up-front, with a caramel backbone and a dry hoppy finish. Very nice, very clean, very refreshing. 4.5/5
Mouthfeel: Thicker than anticipated, heavy with carbonation. Hops tickle the mouth. Probably a bit thick as per style, but still quite nice. 4.0/5
Drinkability: One of my all-time favorite English Pale Ales, for sure. 4.5/5
Overall: 4.35/5
Denver, CO
5.6% ABV
Appearance: Reddish-orange hue, very hazy with suspended carbonation, with a thick white bubbly head. Makes my mouth water just looking at it. 4.5/5
Smell: Crisp malts and hops, hints of caramel and probably Kent Goldings on the hop front. Some hints of citrus. 4.0/5
Taste: Some malty sweetness up-front, with a caramel backbone and a dry hoppy finish. Very nice, very clean, very refreshing. 4.5/5
Mouthfeel: Thicker than anticipated, heavy with carbonation. Hops tickle the mouth. Probably a bit thick as per style, but still quite nice. 4.0/5
Drinkability: One of my all-time favorite English Pale Ales, for sure. 4.5/5
Overall: 4.35/5
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