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| Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation |
Wild Beer Sourdough [baron rating /5] - 3.6% gold ale,peachy funky yeasty smell,sour citrus lemon taste,tangy clean finish
Conwy Shipwreck IPA
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| Bottle conditioned with lively carbonation |
Conwy Shipwreck IPA [baron rating /5] - 5% copper ale,soapy lemon mild sulphur smell,purfumed sharp citrus taste,zesty floral finish
Rocky Head Imitera IPA
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| Bottle conditioned with lively carbonation |
Rocky Head Imitera IPA [baron rating /5] - 7.2% copper ale,yeasty tropical fruit smell,sweet fruity peppery bitter taste,dry herbal finish
Thank you to Paul Kruzycki from Ales By Mail for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Rocky Head ales from Ales By Mail
Buy Rocky Head ales from Ales By Mail
Bollington Long Hop
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| Not bottle conditioned |
Bollington Long Hop [baron rating /5] - 3.9% gold ale,straw mild citrus smell,zesty sweet lemon bitter taste,dry pithy long bitter finish
Looking forward to baron rating Shepherd Neame's Barley Wine
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Shepherd Neame have really taken the beer blogger & writer thing on-board and every few months a small group of us get the latest beer that they have produced or imported to write about, sample and provide feedback about (which is great!).
Considering the size of the brewery you would expect them to be overly corporate with marketing folk that "just don't get it" but they couldn't be further from this. John Humphreys (Communications Manager) is a great chap, very likeable, listens to you rather than just talking at you, and provides a lot of information about what Sheps are up to.
The next in their releases arrived today and it's something quite special indeed. A 10% barley wine brewed with Swedish brewery Sigtuna Brygghus. It was brewed with a whole mix of malts (pale ale,Vienna, biscuit, brown & carabohemian) and then hopped with Sigtuna's signature Magnum as well as UK Challenger, Fuggles & Shephead Neame's signature East Kent Goldings - more details can be found on the Beer Sweden website.
Shepherd Neame Brewery
Buy Shepherd Neame ales direct
Considering the size of the brewery you would expect them to be overly corporate with marketing folk that "just don't get it" but they couldn't be further from this. John Humphreys (Communications Manager) is a great chap, very likeable, listens to you rather than just talking at you, and provides a lot of information about what Sheps are up to.
The next in their releases arrived today and it's something quite special indeed. A 10% barley wine brewed with Swedish brewery Sigtuna Brygghus. It was brewed with a whole mix of malts (pale ale,Vienna, biscuit, brown & carabohemian) and then hopped with Sigtuna's signature Magnum as well as UK Challenger, Fuggles & Shephead Neame's signature East Kent Goldings - more details can be found on the Beer Sweden website.
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| A lovely bottle in a lovely box - class! |
- Barley Wine - 10% barley wine aged in Blanton's bourbon barrels for six months
Buy Shepherd Neame ales direct
Ska Decadent IPA
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| Not bottle conditioned |
Ska Decadent IPA [baron rating /5] - 10% copper ale,syrupy resinous savoury smell,syrupy resin caramel taste,long fruity resinous finish
To be honest, I was rather disapointed with this beer, I'd heard such great things from @villabone and @sourcedelipaul that when I ordered this beer I was very excited. I waited for the right time where I could sit, think, and appreciate the beer but as soon as I opened it, I knew it was past it's best. The 'fresh hop' aspect was missing and in it's place was the syrupy resin that you get from the amount of malt required to make a beer of this strength. It was nice but nothing like I expected it to be, and I was quite disappointed. I suppose it's what you get when you buy a bottle of beer that has been shipped halfway round the world and sat for who knows how long in various warehouses along the way. As BB King once 'sang': "The Hop Is Gone"
Buy Ska ales from Ales By Mail
Bert Frank As Apollo
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| Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation |
Bert Frank As Apollo [baron rating /5] - 4% gold ale,fruity sweet caramel smell,balanced fruity bittersweet taste,dry bittersweet finish
Thank you to homebrewer 'Bert' for handing this over for a baron rating!
Nobby's Wild West
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| Bottle conditioned with mild carbonation |
Nobby's Wild West [baron rating /5] - 4.6% dark amber ale,sultana caramel smell,balanced sticky caramel taste,juicy fruit sweetish finish
Thank you to Andrew (@TheAleRoom) from The Ale Room for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Nobby's ales from The Ale Room
Buy Nobby's ales from The Ale Room
BrewDog/Mikkeller I Hardcore You
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| Not bottle conditioned |
BrewDog I Hardcore You [baron rating /5] - 9.5% amber ale,boozy resinous smell,sweet tropical brutal bitter taste,bittersweet resin finish
Buy BrewDog ales direct
Honest Brew Cool For Cats
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| Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation |
Honest Brew Cool For Cats [baron rating /5] - 6% black ale,sugary dark choc smell,silky creamy choc taste,mild cherry bitter choc finish
Thank you to Andrew from Honest Brew for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Honest Brew ales direct
Buy Honest Brew ales direct
McGargles Gravy Maevey's Pilsner
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| Not bottle conditioned |
McGargles Gravy Maevey's Pilsner [baron rating /5] - 5% coppper ale,mild sweet apple smell,citrus bittersweet taste,cloying sweet finish
This is not a pilsner in any aspect!
Bexar County Falcon IPA
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| Bottle conditioned with slight carbonation |
Bexar County Falcon IPA [baron rating /5] - 7.7% gold ale,satsuma smell,watery spicy satsuma taste,dry spearmint finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it
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I emailed the brewer to see if what we found was to be expected,here's his reply:
Subscribe in iTunes
I emailed the brewer to see if what we found was to be expected,here's his reply:
I've tried two bottles today... One before listening to your review again and one while listening to your review.
So I'm a little in the fence on this one. I don't think you got a duff bottle (although both of mine had bubbles riding from the bottom for at least 10 minutes) because what you said seemed accurate... But as I drank it and went through my brew notes (quite a few different beers have been brewed since), I couldn't help but think that I actually hit target with this (the problem with that is it brings up the question is it a bad beer by design or am I just a bad brewer...). Part of me wants to guide you through the beer so that I can at least show you my vision, but the other side of me realizes that the everyday consumer won't have that luxury. Your review was an honest look at the beer you were given. I have to accept that and just be glad that it was a very limited addition that won't be made again.
I do appreciate your ratings... It's great to get feedback from someone who actually cares... And the fact that I got two 5/5 at least cushions the blow of one bad review.
Keep up the good work... It's people like you that are aiding in the progress of this country's beer development. My hat off to you!Cheers
Steven Saldana
Bexar County Brewery LTD
Thank you to Andrew (@TheAleRoom) from The Ale Room for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Bexar County ales from The Ale Room
Buy Bexar County ales from The Ale Room
Bexar County Papa Steve
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| Bottle conditioned with very lively carbonation |
Bexar County Papa Steve [baron rating /5] - 9% black ale,boozy vinous 70% choc smell,challenging coffee choc taste,chili pepper burn finish
Thank you to Andrew (@TheAleRoom) from The Ale Room for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Bexar County ales from The Ale Room
Buy Bexar County ales from The Ale Room
Bexar County San Jacinto
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| Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation |
Bexar County San Jacinto [baron rating /5] - 6.9% copper ale,resin tropical smell,huge fruit vs big bitter taste,long pithy bitter finish
Thank you to Andrew (@TheAleRoom) from The Ale Room for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Bexar County ales from The Ale Room
Buy Bexar County ales from The Ale Room
Liverpool Craft Rye Pale Ale
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| Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation |
Liverpool Craft Rye Pale Ale [baron rating /5] - 5.6% copper ale,mild soft fruit smell,balanced grainy rye apricot taste,tangerine finish
Buy Liverpool Craft ales from Holborn Ales
Signature Brew Remedy
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| Not bottle conditioned |
Signature Brew Remedy [baron rating /5] - 4.5% copper ale,savoury caramel smell,fruity harsh bitter taste,chalky astringent bitter finish
Founders Dirty Bastard
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| Not bottle conditioned |
Founders Dirty Bastard [baron rating /5] - 8.5% dark amber ale,milk choc malt loaf smell,velvety brown sugar taste,dry bittersweet finish
Thank you to Paul Kruzycki from Ales By Mail for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Founders ales from Ales By Mail
Buy Founders ales from Ales By Mail
Buxton Black Rocks
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| Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation |
Buxton Black Rocks [baron rating /5] - 6% black ale,roasted grapefruit acetone smell,balanced roasted piney bitter taste,bitter choc finish
Buy Buxton ales from Holborn Ales
First Chop TEA
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| Bottle conditioned with low carbonation |
First Chop TEA [baron rating /5] - 5% amber ale,candied dark toffee smell,spicy citrus bitter taste,nasty astringent dry bitter finish
Thank you (I think) to my friend who got me this for my birthday!
Weird Beard Holy Hoppin Hell
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| Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation |
Weird Beard Holy Hoppin Hell [baron rating /5] - 8.5% amber ale,sweet tropical smell,bold resinous syrupy fruity bitter taste,bitter finish
Thank you to Paul Kruzycki from Ales By Mail for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Weird Beard ales from Ales By Mail
Buy Weird Beard ales from Ales By Mail
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
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| Not bottle conditioned |
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale [baron rating /5] - 7.2% dark amber ale,vanilla molasses smell,burnt sugar xmas cake taste,sweetish finish
Buy Stone ales from Ales By Mail
Bevog Kramah
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| Not bottled conditioned but lively carbonation |
Bevog Kramah [baron rating /5] - 7% copper ale,fresh piney hops smell,balanced peppery piney apricot fruit taste,medicinal peppery finish
Thank you to Paul Kruzycki from Ales By Mail for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Bevog ales from Ales By Mail
Buy Bevog ales from Ales By Mail
Honest Brew Smuggler's Gold
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| Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation |
Honest Brew Smuggler's Gold [baron rating /5] - 7.1% black ale,citrus mild choc smell,rich choc black coffee taste,citrus big bitter finish
Thank you to Andrew from Honest Brew for sending this through for a baron rating!
Buy Honest Brew ales direct
Buy Honest Brew ales direct