The Ormskirk Baron: 2013

The Bruery White Oak

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

The Bruery White Oak [baron rating 4/5] - 11.5% gold ale,wheaty vanilla banana smell,syrupy zingy citrus vanilla taste,sour citrus finish

Listen to what Chris, Baron, Stephen & Leigh have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Chris (@beerquester) for handing this over for a baron rating!

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen [baron rating 5/5] - 5.2% brown ale,smoky banana clove smell,beechwood wheatbeer taste,smoky clove finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Aecht Schlenkerla beers from Beer Hawk

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30

Bottle conditioned with flat carbonation

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30 [baron rating 5/5] - 11.3% black ale,boozy choc coffee smell,oily sweet rich choc coffee taste,bittersweet finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to @HarviestounBrew from Harviestoun for handing this over for a baron rating!

Buy Harviestoun ales direct

Sharp's Quadrupel Ale

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Sharp's Quadrupel Ale [baron rating 5/5] - 10% ruby ale,fruity cola smell,balanced sweet choc fruity taste,dry smoky fruitcake finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to @SharpsBrewery from Sharp's Brewery for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Sharp's ales direct

Partizan IPA:Galaxy Centennial Chinook

Bottle conditioned with lively carbonation

Partizan IPA [baron rating 4/5] - 6.9% gold ale,tropical citrus smell,zingy citric lemon bitter grapefruit taste,fruity bittersweet finish

Buy Partizan ales from Ales By Mail

Harveys Imperial Extra Double Stout

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Harveys Imperial Extra Double Stout [baron rating 4/5] - 9% black ale,medicinal blackcurrant smell,thick oily choc taste,fruity smoky finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Harveys ales from Beer Hawk

Siren Liquid Mistress

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Siren Liquid Mistress [baron rating 2/5] - 5.8% ruby ale,solventy boiled sweets smell,syrupy Jammie Dodgers taste,slight sour bitter finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to eeBria (@eeBriaUK) for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Siren ales from EeBria

Salopian Kashmir

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Salopian Kashmir [baron rating 5/5] - 5.5% copper ale,tropical zesty herbal smell,clean grassy piney tropical taste,sweetish mango finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Jake (@SalopianBrewery) from Salopian Brewery for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Salopian ales from Holborn Ales

Valhalla Simmer Dim


Not bottle conditioned

Valhalla Simmer Dim [baron rating 4/5] - 4% amber ale,toffee smell,toffee mild herbal bittersweet taste,dry sweet tobacco finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Chris for bringing this round for a baron rating!

Buy Valhalla ales direct

Stewart St Giles

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Stewart St Giles [baron rating 3/5] - 5% dark amber ale,sultana dried fruit smell,prune bittersweet taste,juicy slightly medicinal finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Stewart ales from Beer Hawk

Looking forward to baron rating Salopian Kashmir

So here we are again with another bottled ale from Salopian in their "dark brown bottle, strong beer with funky label and no description" range, this time it's Kashmir:

Salopian Brewery

Kashmir - 5.5% hopped with Citra, Riwaka and Saaz

Kashmir is also the name of one of my favourite Led Zeppelin tracks:

Look out for a 'baron rating' for this Salopian Brewery beer soon, and a big thank you to Jake (@SalopianBrewery) for sending it through to me!

Buy Salopian ales from Holborn Ales

Durham Magus

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Durham Magus [baron rating 3/5] - 3.8% pale gold ale,tangerine smell,light dry spicy citrus (but thin body) taste,dry earthy bitter finish

Listen to what Chris, Stephen and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Durham beers from Beer Hawk

Marble Decadence 2011

Bottle conditioned with lively carbonation

Marble Decadence 2011 [baron rating 5/5] - 8.7% black ale,solvent Belgian smell,smooth choc vineous banana prickly taste,short zingy finish

Listen to what Chris, Baron, Stephen & Leigh have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Buy Marble ales from Source Deli

Siren Undercurrent

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Siren Undercurrent [baron rating 4/5] - 4.5% murky amber ale,peach apricot smell,sharp fruity dry grainy bitter taste,very dry finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to eeBria (@eeBriaUK) for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Siren ales from EeBria

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12

Not bottle conditioned

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12 [baron rating 5/5] - 8% black ale,choc sweet vanilla smell,fresh choc sweet vanilla syrup taste,zingy peppery finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Gemma (@SlurpBeer) from Slurp for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Harviestoun ales from Slurp

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen

Not bottle conditioned

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen [baron rating 5/5] - 5.1% ruby beer,smoked food smell,roasted smoky bittersweet taste,juicy smoky finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Aecht Schlenkerla beers from Beer Hawk

Stewart Embra

bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Stewart Embra [baron rating 3/5] - 5% amber ale,sugary toffee smell,peppery sugary bittersweet taste,very dry bitter finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Stewart ales from Beer Hawk

Salopian Black Ops

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Salopian Black Ops [baron rating 5/5] - 7.4% black ale,spicy green hop savoury herbs smell,oily choc roasted herbal taste,choc bitter finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Jake (@SalopianBrewery) from Salopian Brewery for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Salopian ales from Holborn Ales

Dark Star Imperial 2012

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Dark Star Imperial 2012 [baron rating 5/5] - 10.5% black ale,black cherry smell,smoky sweet cherry/plum taste,leather tobacco smoky finish

Listen to what Chris, Baron, Stephen & Leigh have to say about it

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Thank you to Chris & Leigh for bringing along these bottles for a baron rating!

Buy Dark Star ales from Holborn Ales

Looking forward to baron rating Salopian Black Ops

Here we have the next in their bottle-conditioned range which so far has been outstanding (Automaton [baron rating 5/5], Boomerang [baron rating 5/5] & Vertigo [baron rating 5/5]). Black Ops is an "imperial stout, bottled conditioned hopped as per bottle (see below) but also dry hopped with Sorachi Ace, The intention was for a big full flavour Imperial Russian Stout with oily resinous hops balancing the dark malt flavours."

Stunning looking label

Salopian Brewery

Black Ops - 7.4% brewed with Sorachi Ace, Brewers Gold and Amarillo

Look out for a 'baron rating' for this Salopian Brewery beer soon, and a big thank you to Jake (@SalopianBrewery) for sending it through to me!

Buy Salopian ales from Holborn Ales

Faversham Steam Whitstable Bay Blonde

Not bottle conditioned

Faversham Steam Whitstable Bay Blonde [baron rating 4/5] - 4.5% pale gold beer,grassy wet grass smell,sweetish lemon taste,mild zingy finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to John Humphreys (@ShepherdNeame) from ~~Shepherd Neame~~ Faversham Steam Brewery for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Shepherd Neame (& Faversham Steam) ales direct

Siren Half Mast QIPA

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Siren Half Mast QIPA [baron rating 5/5] - 2.7% copper ale,piney fresh grapefruit smell,fruity piney bitter taste,fading mild caramel finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to eeBria (@eeBriaUK) for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Siren ales from EeBria

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18

Not bottle conditioned

Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18 [baron rating 5/5] - 8% black ale,vanilla mild whisky smell,smooth rich choc truffle taste,warming long choc finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Gemma (@SlurpBeer) from Slurp for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Harviestoun ales from Slurp

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2013

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2013 [baron rating 5/5] - 9.6% dark amber ale,strawberry caramel smell,candied fruit very bitter taste,numbing finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Sierra Nevada ales from Beer Hawk

Thwaites Big Ben

Not bottle conditioned

Thwaites Big Ben [baron rating 4/5] - 5.8% ruby ale,plum demerara sugar smell,balanced dandelion & burdock taste,short stewed fruit finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

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Thank you to @Daniel_Thwaites from Thwaites Brewery for sending this through for a baron rating!

Spire Sgt. Pepper Stout

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Spire Sgt. Pepper Stout [baron rating 1/5] - 5.5% black ale,burnt choc liquorice smell,thin sour berry taste,sour black pepper heat finish

Note: We weren't the only ones who found this beer unmanageable, CAMRGB also reviewed it and found it the same.

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Spire ales from Beer Hawk

Coniston No. 9

12 month & 6 month old versions
Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Coniston No. 9 [baron rating 5/5] - 8.5% copper ale,boozy Cointreau smell,very balanced juicy fruity citrus peachy taste,slick fading finish

Listen to what Chris, Baron, Stephen & Leigh have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Ian Bradley (@ConistonBrewCo) from Coniston Brewery for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Coniston ales from Holborn Ales

Buxton Tsar

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Buxton Tsar [baron rating 5/5] - 9.5% black ale,boozy coffee beans berry hoppy smell,smooth rich choc berry taste,long smoky bitter taste

Listen to what Chris, Baron, Stephen & Leigh have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Leigh for bringing this round for a baron rating!

Buy Buxton ales from Holborn Ales

De Molen Tsarina Esra

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

De Molen Tsarina Esra [baron rating 5/5] - 11% black ale,vanilla icecream cherry smell,creamy red cherry taste,Black Forest gâteau finish

Listen to what Chris, Baron, Stephen & Leigh have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Chris for bringing this round for a baron rating!

Nogne O Imperial Stout

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Nogne O Imperial Stout [baron rating 5/5] - 9% black ale,sweet vanilla coffee choc smell,rich vanilla mocha coffee taste,liquorice finish

Listen to what Chris, Baron, Stephen & Leigh have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Nogne O ales from Beer Hawk

Thwaites Triple C

Not bottle conditioned

Thwaites Triple C [baron rating 5/5] - 5.3% gold ale,fresh citrus mild resin smell,zingy citrus caramel bitter taste,dry leafy bitter finish

Listen to what Chris, Baron, Stephen & Leigh have to say about it

Subscribe in iTunes

Thank you to @Daniel_Thwaites from Thwaites Brewery for sending this through for a baron rating!

Lefebvre Hopus

Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Lefebvre Hopus [baron rating 4/5] - 8.3% gold ale,syrupy hoppy apricot smell,fizzy sweet peachy bittersweet taste, zingy resinous finish

Bought whilst on holiday in Lake Garda, Italy

Southport Ruck & Maul

Southport Ruck & Maul [baron rating 3/5] - 4% copper ale,wheaty mild sweet citrus smell,peppery citrus mild pithy taste,juicy peppery finish

Buy Southport ales from Holborn Ales

Thornbridge Reverend & The Makers

Not bottle conditioned

Thornbridge Reverend & The Makers [baron rating 4/5] - 4.8% pale gold ale,wheaty smell,spicy floral bittersweet taste,bittersweet finish

Thank you to Chris France (@TheBeerHawk) from Beer Hawk for sending this through for a baron rating!

Buy Thornbridge ales from Beer Hawk

Ludlow Gold

Not bottle conditioned

Ludlow Gold [baron rating 3/5] - 4.2% gold ale,mild floral citrus smell,satsuma & mild lemon bittersweet taste,mild lemon bittersweet finish

Buy Ludlow ales from Holborn Ales

Looking forward to baron rating Thwaites Crafty Dan Micro Brewery ales

Thwaites have been producing some cracking ales over the past year or so, with them showing up at various beer festivals around the country.13 Guns was talk of 2012's Great British Beer Festival and Fallen Nun was very well received at this year's National Winter Ales Festival.

A gift pack from Thwaites arrived today (in a huge box, not sure the vast excess of packaging was really needed Thwaites!) branded up with the Crafty Dan Micro Brewery labelling. This is their separate 'micro brewery' allowing them to have more chance to experiment compared to when they are brewing on their normal large-scale kit.

The first three beers to come out under this new brand are detailed below, all three have clean smart distinctive branding with plenty of detail of the bottle about the type of beer the drinker will find inside and on the back of the gift box are some details of the types of food that they might pair well with:

Thwaites (Crafty Dan Micro) Brewery

13 Guns - 5.5% American IPA, Intensely hopy, rich mouth feel, malty flavours with soft tropical fruit aroma and taste. Intense piney and tropical flavours blend well with mixed spicy dishes, like curries
Big Ben - 5.8% brown ale, strong hop aroma one a sweet brown ale with a long bitter-sweet finish. Full and bittersweet flavours are a great match for grilled red meats
Triple C - 5.3% golden ale, full, smooth and balanced beer with an intense citrus hop aroma. Citrus and slightly bitter flavours balance the smoothness of a creamy cheese

Look out for 'baron ratings' of these beers soon, and a big thank you to @Daniel_Thwaites from Thwaites Brewery for sending these through to me!