|
Star Spangled Beer in Cropton
From: InnSpire - Issue 52 – December 2004
Cropton brewery is based in
a little village of the same name, near Pickering in North Yorkshire. There
has been brewing on this site since 1613 but the present Cropton Brewery
began in the cellar of the New Inn in 1984. Production increased and they
moved to purpose built premises on adjacent farmland in 1994.
The full story can be found in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and at
www.croptonbrewery.co.uk
We arrived at the New Inn,
which is the brewery tap, and began with a pint of the excellent Scoresby
Stout (my favourite of the selection). Meals are served either in the bar,
the conservatory or in the separate restaurant. We opted for the bar menu
which offered a fine selection including Steak and Ale pie made with the
aforementioned stout and sausages made with Two Pints Bitter.
We asked if we could have a tour of the brewery and the lady behind the bar
showed us round via the beautiful beer garden before going through various
rooms, learning about how beer is brewed and what ingredients go into which
beers, all of which are suitable for vegans. The guide and brewer passed
round different types of malt and hops which we had to smell and feel (and
in some instances taste) whilst relating humorous anecdotes about the many
different types of beer, the brewery and its staff. The tour was just long
enough and contained enough information about the brewery and brewing
without getting too boring or technical.
On the way round we saw the bottling plant, the coppers, the fermenting
vessels and all the other parts of the brewery. It is quite a small place
and the tour took around three quarters of an hour to complete. It seemed a
great place to work! It was also a great place drink and visit too.
After the tour we enjoyed our meal and sampled their beers - four halves
included in the cost of the tour but of their cask and bottled beer
selection we tried five cask ales in total - Two Pints (the first beer
brewed at Cropton at 4% ABV), Monkman’s Slaughter (a strong beer at 6% ABV),
Scoresby Stout (a lovely dark stout at 4.2% ABV) and Yorkshire Moors (brewed
to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at
4.6% ABV).
 Although
Scoresby Stout was my favourite, my second favourite was a lighter beer
called Uncle Sams and definitely worthy of a review, especially after the
American Presidential elections! Uncle Sams is so called because it uses
American hops in the brewing process to create an American style Pale Ale.
This beer style is generally categorized to include beers that are of a
golden to pale copper colour, are made from American Hops and have a high
bitterness and hoppy aroma. They aren’t usually as strong as English or
India Pale Ales, which are generally higher in alcohol content. An
interesting fact is that it isn’t allowed to be called Uncle Sams in
America. For legal reasons the exported version is called Calamity Jane,
although both versions have the same picture on them ~ a cowgirl with
pistols.
Uncle Sams weighs in at 4.4% ABV (both in bottles and cask) and is brewed
using English Pale Ale Malt and American Cascade Hops (these are a cross
between Fuggles and Russian Serebrianker Hops) which give a higher level of
bitterness to beer. It is a pale golden coloured beer with a hint of amber.
I have only had the cask version and this has a lively, light cream oloured
head. The head is bubbly and quite long lasting ~ leaving some lacing on the
side of the glass as you drink. Aroma is predominantly hoppy, with floral
elements, along with fruit (grapefruit, lemons and peach among others) and a
faint scent of malt.
Texture is medium bodied, slightly carbonated and crisp and clean on the
palate. For such a pale beer there is quite a lot of flavour to Uncle Sams.
It is initially quite sharp and lemony, but this is balanced out by a finish
that is also lemony, bitter and hoppy. There is a pleasant grapefruit
flavour cutting through, backed up by flowery hoppiness. The aftertaste is
also quite bitter and has the same lemon and hop flavours that are present
throughout.
We started off with a half pint taster of this beer and ended up buying
another pint ~ a sure sign that we liked it! It was light, refreshing and
extremely tasty. If I was going to compare it to anything I’d had before I
would say it is quite similar to Pale Rider…and that has just been named as
the Champion Beer of Britain (at the Great British Beer Festival held at
Olympia in August), or Roosters Yankee. Both are pale and pretty hoppy and
are also extremely tasty despite looking so light I would say that Uncle
Sams would appeal to anyone who appreciates a good refreshing beer, but is
particularly suited to those who generally go for a lager style ale. I
especially liked the crisp taste. It had a refreshing effect and tasted
really clean and light. We were having lunch and the Uncle Sams complimented
our food nicely ~ a lovely flavour but none of the elements were too
overpowering.
We were drinking it in the afternoon and we didn’t feel too bad afterwards!
It isn’t too rich either as there is enough body to stop it being
wishy-washy and enough carbonization to give it a good mouth-feel.
Andrea Waterhouse
Gotta Bie Zatte Bie!
From: InnSpire - Issue 51 – October 2004
 Our
trip to Belgium was a massive success. I loved the buildings, the food, the
chocolates and the beer. Our only stumbling block was the encyclopaedia
sized beer menus and a lack of knowledge about what beers to try. Armed with
a copy of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide to Belgium and Holland, and a few good
friends with “the knowledge”, we traversed the strange and wonderful world
that is Belgian Beer!
We like dark beers, so while in Ghent, Rhoda suggested we try a beer called
Zatte Bie. Zatte Bie is brewed at the Bie Brewery in West Flanders. They are
based in Watou, not far from the border with France, near the town of
Poperinge. Production began in 1992 and it is still a small brewery in an
area known for hop growing and beer making. All their beers are bottled
conditioned, unpasteurised and unfiltered. They brew a good range of bottled
beers with wonderful names ~ for example, Helleketelbier (a pleasant amber
ale at 7% ABV), Hellekapelle (a pale beer at 5% ABV) and Plokkersbier (an
orange/amber ale at 7% ABV).
It is probably obvious to tell you that “bie” means “bee”, but Zatte Bie is
a little less obvious. The name actually means “Drunken Bee” ~ a reference
to the state you will get into if you drink too many bottles of this strong
beer! Zatte Bie weighs in at a mighty 9% and is brewed using a blend of
spices, a small amount of honey and six different types of malt (these range
from pale malts to very dark ones to give a depth of colour and flavour).
I’m not an expert on Belgium beers, but my friend told me that it is brewed
in the style of a Trappist beer (so called because they were brewed by
Trappist monks). It is also known as a “massive ale”, meaning that it is
dark, strong and thick.
Zatte Bie is a very dark beer, verging on the jet black, with a lingering
cream coloured head. It has a pleasant malty aroma, with hints of spiciness
and fruit ~ I detected rich cherry, apple and soft fruits lurking in there!
The texture is smooth and rich ~ somewhat akin to a lighter stout
consistency, or a heavier porter. It is very warming and has a lovely silky
mouth feel.
My initial thoughts when I tasted this beer were that it was very well
balanced with a good range of flavours. First I found it was smoky and
roasty, with a sizable amount of malt. Before too long your mouth gets a
tingle of spice, closely followed by rich fruit and a sweetness coming from
the added honey. Throughout, you can also taste a good base flavour from the
hops.
The sweetness isn’t too strong and although all the flavours are present,
none of them over power the other. This all combines to produce a finish
that is quite dry, yet refreshing and rich. The aftertaste is roasty too,
with a faint chocolate flavour.
I was really pleased with my bottle of Zatte Bie. We drank it outside in the
sun at a bar in Ghent ~ a deceptively large bar called the Hopduvel (Hop
Devil) on the Rokerelsstraat. The atmosphere, surroundings and company were
good and we enjoyed the beer immensely. We paid around 3 Euros for a 330ml
bottle ~ this is a very good price for a beer of this strength and
tastiness. Zatte Bie isn’t a beer for those who prefer lighter, wheatier
beers and lager style brews, but it is a must for the darker ale fan like
myself! I was impressed with the depth, balance and texture of the beer and
also with the pleasant smokiness that comes through. My friend who
recommended it is now kicking herself because we drank all the stock of it
in the little bar the next evening in Ostend before she got a chance to try
it herself!
The only problem is that it really is a strong beer! As long as you don’t
drink it too quickly or in too vast quantities you should survive the day
intact! It has a real kick to it, but it is deceptively drinkable….so, be
warned, or you may end up weaving around like the drunken bee on the bottle!
Brouwerij De Bie, Stoppelweg 26, 8978 Watou, Belgium. Tel: +32 57 38 86 66
www.brijdebie.be
Andrea Waterhouse
Golden Ales
From Issue 50 of InnSpire - our
Golden issue!
In honour of this special Gold issue of Innspire I have decided to alter the
format of my usual beer review and have a celebration of Gold themed beers.
There are quite a lot, so here is a brief selection of some of the beers
that I will be sampling in honour of our half century of magazines!
 Exmoor
Gold (5% ABV) Originally brewed to celebrate Exmoor Brewery’s 100th brew
of Exmoor Ale, this Somerset beer is golden in colour and made using no
additives and a single variety of non-coloured malt. A bitter-sweet, hoppy
little number, with a dry finish and citrus tones, Exmoor Gold is an award
winning former CAMRA Beer of the Year.
Golden Best (3.5% ABV) This gold coloured Mild from the Timothy
Taylor Brewery, based in Keighley, is often hard to find, but well worth it
when you do! A light Mild is quite rare and this one is a lovely golden
colour, with lots of hops, a refreshing fruity flavour and a dry finish.
Kelham Gold (3.8% ABV) A Sheffield beer from the Kelham Island
Brewery adjoining the Fat Cat pub on Alma Street. This is a light golden
beer that is pretty hoppy and very easy to drink!
Mompesson’s Gold (5% ABV) Oakham Ales from Peterborough bring us this
next golden beer. Mompesson’s Gold is named after Sir Giles Mompesson; a
former Chancellor of the Exchequer and the first one to impose a license on
pubs and inns. This is copper coloured ale, light with a floral aroma, a
mild, dry bitter taste and a citrus finish.
Jekyll’s Gold (4.3% ABV) An amber coloured beer from Hydes Brewery in
Manchester. A surprisingly full bodied beer that is smooth, tasty and easy
to drink. At 4.3% Jekyll’s Gold is a little stronger than some of the
lighter summer beers, but Jekyll’s nutty flavour makes it quite a favourite
of mine.
Guinea Gold (4.5% ABV) Guinea Gold is this summer’s seasonal special
from Hardys & Hansons. This is a (not surprisingly) golden coloured premium
bitter that just seems to be arriving in H & H pubs around the country.
Grainstore Gold (4.5% ABV) This light coloured beer comes from the
Grainstore Brewery based in Oakham, Rutland. I was drinking this the other
night in The Portland and it was very refreshing and hoppy. As with a lot of
this golden beers, Grainstore Gold is a seasonal ale and is only brewed
between May and October.
 Kodiak
Gold (4.0% ABV) This beer is brewed by the wonderfully named Beartown
Brewery (because the town it is based in had a Bear Warden) which can be
found in Congleton, Cheshire. Kodiak Gold is a straw coloured bitter, with a
citrus fruit aroma and a lovely sharp taste. It was also a former finalist
in the Great British Beer Festival.
I think that gives you a few golden ales to toast our 50th issue with. Look
out for Burton Bridge Golden Flame too (only available during the Olympics)
- it is a special 4.5% ABV beer.
Andrea Waterhouse
Multum in Parvo
 JHB
is brewed by Oakham Ales, which is based in Peterborough. They started up in
1993 (October to be precise) when a home brewer (John Wood) was made
redundant ~ he decided that he should use his knowledge to brew
commercially. After a few years the brewery changed hands and the beer range
and output increased. They bought a pub in 1998 and built a bigger brewery
to cope with demand ~ their beers had started to win awards at Beer
Festivals and their popularity had grown.
Some of the Oakham beers you may find include Old Tosspot (at 5.2% ABV and
named after the nickname given to drunkards), Mompesson’s Gold (at 5% ABV
and named after the first Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Bishop’s Farewell
(at 4.6% and brewed in honour of a retiring Bishop of Peterborough).
JHB, or Jeffrey Hudson Bitter, is named after a dwarf who lived in the
Rutland area during the 17th Century. He was apparently only 3 feet high and
was born in 1619. He had a really interesting life and died in 1682. If you
want to learn a bit more about this local Peterborough character you can
read the full story on the internet at
www.pcamra.demon.co.uk/phj/1/phj01-03.htm - JHB was created in his
honour. Jeffrey Hudson was a favourite of Queen Henrietta Maria (Charles I’s
wife) and was knighted by the King, during an illustrious career, that saw
him fight in battles and even sold into slavery.
JHB is a light beer that weighs in at 3.8% ABV, and ideal strength for a
“session ale”. It is brewed using English Challenger and Target hops for
bitterness and American Hood hops to impart a delicate aroma ~ it is very
heavily hopped and this shows in the strength of the aromas and flavour mix.
It a straw coloured beer ~ it is a very pale gold that is rather beautiful
to look at. The beer clears well and looks very crisp and clean in the
glass. The aroma is a pleasant citrus hoppiness that is fresh and
distinctive. The texture is light and refreshing making it easy and nice to
drink.
For a beer of this relatively low alcohol content, JHB has bags of flavour
and a good balance of taste elements. As in the aroma, the dominant flavour
is the citrus hops, combined with a lovely fruitiness (citrus fruits,
especially grapefruit). This is balanced by malt, with bitterness coming
through, along with a pleasant sweet element. Throughout there is a tangy
twang and a nice zesty flavour ~ the flavours are soft and light. The finish
is dry and bitter, leading to a lingering aftertaste that is fruity and
refreshing.
Although JHB isn’t a style of beer I automatically go for, it is one that I
always enjoy. I have many friends who, when at Beer Festivals, invariably
get a half of JHB to drink while deciding what to drink off of the beer
list. It is summery, refreshing and very easy to drink. Even though it isn’t
strong it is full flavoured and manages to be bitter, sweet and clean
tasting all at the same time. It is a well crafted beer that successfully
combines a number of flavours to produce an excellent product.
We drink JHB at a number of different places ~ some of our local pubs keep
it and it is a regular at the Beer Festivals we attend. Expect to pay around
£1.90 for the pleasure, although the cost does vary considerably. It is a
good beer to enjoy over an afternoon or evening’s drinking it has a pleasant
crisp excellent taste and I can still be sure of keeping a clear head!
JHB is one of those beers that will appeal to a cross section of drinkers.
Its light freshness makes it a popular choice among women drinkers ~ it is
promoted as a beer that is traditional, yet has an appeal to a modern
audience. I even gave my mum a taste at a recent Beer Festival and it
impressed a hardened lager drinker! Praise indeed!
Oakham Ales
80 Westgate,
Peterborough
PE1 2AN
Tel. (01733) 358300
www.pcamra.demon.co.uk/oakham
The title refers to the motto of Rutland and
means “Much in Little” and is perfect for a beer that has so much taste with
such a low gravity. It is also very appropriate when you think about the
origins of the beer’s name.
Andrea Waterhouse
Death Rides a Pale Horse
From: InnSpire - Issue 47 – February 2004
 Pale
Rider is produced by The Kelham Island Brewery based near to the Fat Cat pub
on Alma Street in Sheffield. They started up in 1990 using equipment from
Oxford Brewery and they became the first new brewery to start up in
Sheffield in the twentieth century. Increased success (and production) meant
that they had to move to bigger premises nearby in 1999, but the original
Brewhouse can still be visited (it is now a Visitor Centre). Kelham Island
are now viewed as Sheffield’s biggest brewery since the demise of Wards,
Stones, Hope & Anchor and Tennants, all since 1990.
Kelham Island don’t use any sugar in their
brewing process and their aim is to make beer using only pure ingredients.
Their range of beers now include four regular brews and a number of seasonal
ones ~ these include Easy Rider (a less alcoholic version of Pale Rider at
4.3% ABV), Bete Noire (a dark winter beer at 5.5% ABV) and Best Bitter (a
good standard bitter at 3.8% ABV). You should look out for some Kelham
Island beers at our Beer Festival at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield on
5th and 6th of February.
Pale Rider is named after the 1985 Clint
Eastwood western and was first brewed in 1993 as a Special beer for that
spring. It soon became so popular that Kelham Island made it part of their
regular beer selection and it’s now one of their most popular brands. The
beer weighs in at 5.3% ABV and is brewed using British and Continental malts
and a combination of hops (including North American hops). The ingredients
used are chosen to give the beer a pale colour and a distinctive taste. Pale
Rider is, as its name suggests, a pale beer ~ it is straw coloured with
quite a lively light coloured head that lasts pretty well. There’s quite a
bit of carbonation present and the texture is smooth and quite full bodied.
The aroma is rather hoppy, but this is mixed
with a maltiness and slightly fruity smell ~ the scent is quite strong, but
not unpleasant. It feels quite lively in the mouth too ~ it is a bit spicy
and makes your mouth feel slightly tingly; a bit like the sensation when you
eat a citrus fruit or something that is spiced.
What you have to remember is that Pale Rider
is deceptively strong! It is a beer with a lot of different flavours to get
your taste buds working. To start with I got the taste of citrus and then
the slight spiciness came through. There is a bit of fruitiness, a warm
spiciness and a slight floral quality that gives Pale Rider depth and
interest. This is followed by malt and a bit of sweetness, rather like
honey and a faint caramel flavour. This is all levelled out by the
distinct bitterness of the hops and what you are left with is a well crafted
and well balanced beer. The aftertaste is rather more bitter and the hops
dominate more at this stage, but there is also a remnant of the citrus (more
orangey this time) that was present in the initial mouthful. The overall
feel is refreshing and it is easy to forget you are drinking a beer of over
5%.
Andrea Waterhouse
This webpage was last updated on
Sunday, 02 September 2007
|
