Beer Hawk 2016 Advent Calendar

To celebrate my first year of beer blogging, I decided to buy a beer advent calendar.  With more becoming available every year it was hard to choose which one to go for but, with an early bird offer of £10 off and a free tasting kit, I ordered the advent calendar from Beer Hawk for £65.

I don't think I'd quite grasped just how big and impressive these beer advent calendars are!

It was like Christmas had come early as I opened the taster kit and found a handy beer notebook, pen, bottle opener, £10 beer voucher and a really unusual chalice style glass.

I found a nice spot to store the calendar and did what I was told on the box, by opening one particular non-numbered door first.  The clue was on the door, so it was no surprise to find a lovely tulip shaped branded beer glass inside.

I don't think I'll be able to sample each beer every day, but I'll hopefully be able to post what surprise lies behind each door, so keep your eyes peeled for my evening posts throughout the advent period.

Aldi Beer Festival 2016

I am fortunate to live within walking distance of an Aldi, but put some beer in the special offer leaflet and it's time to clear out the boot and drive there instead.

I can't remember a better selection of ale than the current range in store now.  Obviously I picked up mainly ambers and reds but there really is something for everyone.  At a bargain £1.25 each, it would be rude not to.

I chose Camerons Strongarm, a ruby red ale; Wadworth 6X, an amber ale with a 'malt loaf' finish; Unicorn,a golden ale; Castle Tawny Bitter, a hoppy malty ale; Wizard Amber Beer, a fruity zesty ale; Maple Gold, a golden ale with a hint of maple; and Double Dragon, a copper ale with a nose of apples and pears.

The full range can be seen below and you can click the image to visit Aldi:

Happy Beer Shopping!

Meantime Yakima Red

I have to give a special mention to the unusual shaped bottle of Meantime's Yakima Red; it is the most unusual shaped beer bottle I have come across.  It perhaps gives some hint as to the unusual taste that you are about to experience.  It is a lovely red/amber coloured ale with a lovely 'thick as Guinness' cream frothy head.

It has a lovely fruity aroma, more towards red fruits than citrus, and a slightly hoppy smell. It has a definite hint of citrus flavour with a bitter aftertaste.  The consistency is a bit more watery than I expected from the thick creamy head.  The carbonation has a lazy feel to it as the bubbles approach the surface as if they were in a lava lamp.

Throughout drinking, the head remains with thick lacing on the glass.  This beer really messes with your head; if I closed my eyes I would think I was drinking a citrussy pale ale, but my eyes tell me I'm drinking a ruby bitter.  It has the best of both worlds; the lightness of a pale ale and a bitter aftertaste, leaving nutty/toffee notes on my tongue.

Ale be Seeing You Again, Meantime Yakima Red.

Brewed by Meantime, London

4.1% ABV

Find out more at Meantime Brewery

High House Farm Nettle Beer

I've been on the lookout for Nettle Beer for quite some time, it is really hard to get hold of as it is only brewed once per year in the Spring.  It is an amazing light golden amber colour and strangely aromatic.

There is a slight floral or honey aroma on pouring, I can't quite describe it as it is something I have never smelt before.  It's almost like sugar coated cut grass; really unusual and distinctive.  I would go so far as to say that it smells green, hilariously reminding me of Percy in Blackadder when he invents the gem called 'green'.

There is not a great head on it and it virtually disappears before I can get the glass to my lips.  So on to the taste...at first I would say it doesn't have a lot of taste but then I'm hit with smooth honey tones and the taste of 'green'.  It's so refreshing and slightly sweet that I think that if I had a blind taste test, I would find it hard to decide whether it was a very unsweet cider, a slightly sweet ale or a cider/ale mix of both.

Based on a 14th century recipe and only brewed once per year, this is the holy grail for beer lovers.  Everyone should try Nettle Beer at least once - it's so unusual and, with a different taste in every mouthful, so difficult to describe that I know Ale be Seeing You Again!

Brewed by High House Farm, Northumberland

4.5% ABV

Find out more at High House Farm Brewery

Ringwood Old Thumper

This is a seriously good ale and I'm so pleased that I don't judge a beer by its label (the boar looks a bit mean).  I was pleasantly surprised that it had none of the bitterness of some strong ales.  It pours a lovely dark amber and I was immediately engulfed in a malty aroma and a bubble bath inspired creamy head.

Malty bubbles burst on your tongue and with a strength of 5.1% you expect an unpleasant aftertaste but I was rewarded with more malty goodness.  If Maltesers made beer it would taste like this.

I could equally imagine drinking this in a beer garden on a Summer's day or by the fireside on a Winter's evening.  It's a beer I plan to stock up on and without hesitation it goes on my favourites list.

The label says to enjoy it with friends and a cow pie.  I say drink it all yourself; you'll not want to give this one away!

Brewed by Ringwood Brewery, Hampshire

5.1% ABV

Head over to Ringwood to find out more

Black Sheep Brewery Black Sheep Ale

My old favourite - Black Sheep Ale

Brewed with Goldings hops it has a lovely bittersweet taste with fruity aromas and is the most amazing amber toffee colour.  It pours with a nice frothy head that remains until the last drop leaves the glass.

It's not too fizzy and there's no unpleasant aftertaste, just a warm pleasant glow as this smooth beery goodness slips down your throat.  It may just be the colour, but I do feel it has an underlying toffee taste to it.

This is another ale I can't resist when I see it on tap.  Always guaranteed a good pint - take my word for it!

Brewed by Black Sheep Brewery, Masham, Yorkshire

4.4% ABV

Visit Black Sheep Brewery online

Tyne Bank Brewery Monument

Monument is described as a copper beer with a fruity taste and hints of caramel.  That's pretty much spot on.  This is an absolutely delightful beer.  The fruity notes are evident as your taste buds do a little jig and the subtle hint of caramel ensures that there is no nasty aftertaste.  This one goes in to my favourites list and would give Wylam's Angel a run for its money.

Brewed on Tyneside

4.1% ABV

Visit Tyne Bank Brewery's website