On Sunday I picked up 3 local beers from the garden centre. Well, it was Fathers day which seemed a good enough excuse.
The first was 'Southville Hop' from the Bristol Beer Factory.
I have a particular fondness for American style ales. The hops they use have a strong, distinctive taste with citrus and floral aromas. This beer is made in the American Style but has a twist in that at 6.5% its strong. The combination works well giving all the hop aromas you would expect but with a bitterness and kick that adds its own character.
My only complaint is the yeast they use for bottle conditioning, the slightest movement disturbs it and I have never managed to poor a completely clear glass. But its not enough to stop me buying it and this has been one of my favourites for some time.
The other two are more traditional ales. 'Goats Leap' from
Cheddar Ales is a strong IPA (5.7%) with a full flavour and good body. It doesn't have any strong characteristics to speak of, but that's not a criticism. It's everything you would expect from a good IPA and I would happily drink this all day, or until unconsciousness made it impossible.
Finally, 'Thunderbridge Ale' (4.7%) from
Masters Brewery near Wellington. A dark ale that reminds me of another of my favourites, Exmoor Stag, although this is darker with a richer, full bodied, more caramel taste. Again, like Goats Leap it
just tastes right, if you know what I mean.
Three fine ales with different characters making a most agreeable end to Fathers day!
