Off Axis Don't Leave Me Stout in the Cold

 

Discount store Home Bargains stock a range of beers brewed exclusively for them under the 'Off Axis Brew Co' banner.  They may be cheap, but they're certainly not nasty and although I haven't scored them particularly highly, they're decent budget beers.

This Off Axis winter stout is brewed with lactose and it's a dark mahogany colour with a small tan head that leaves a patchy layer when it settles.  It has a lovely sweet stout smell of malt, treacle and toffee but I couldn't smell any spice.

The spice flavour is definitely there in the taste; I picked up hints of cinnamon and cloves along with notes of malt and treacle toffee.  It also contains nutmeg, star anise and vanilla to give it a real winter spice taste.  It's well carbonated and surprisingly fizzy with a medium body that feels a little thin for a stout.

It's a nice winter stout and it tastes like you would expect from its description on the can.  Although Ale probably not Be Seeing You again, I would definitely recommend trying it if you see it in Home Bargains.

Brewed exclusively for TJ Morris (Home Bargains), UK
5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.75/5

Wychwood Hot Cross Bunny

I thought I'd try a novelty beer from Wychwood.  It smells a bit fruity on opening, and pours a lovely deep golden colour with a nice pearly white head.  It doesn't have a lot of taste though, just a very strong aftertaste of cloves.  I got an aroma of cinnamon but the "hint" of cloves is more like a big nudge in the ribs.  It wasn't horrible by any means, it didn't have enough taste to be horrible!  It was just far too odd for my liking.

Brewed by Wychwood, Oxfordshire

3.8% ABV

Find out more about Wychwood ales

Theakston Masham Glory

This smells like fruity bitter but my first taste was not good.  The cinnamon taste is just wrong, and I like cinnamon!

It's a beautiful colour with a thick creamy long lasting white head which is why the taste is so disappointing.  I did get used to the taste after a while but it is just too harsh.  It's an experiment that went wrong and full marks to Theakston for trying it, but don't ever do that again!

Brewed by Theakston, North Yorkshire

4.7% ABV

Find more ales at Theakstons

Fire Eater

Friday night whisky with cinnamon.  An acquired taste but a nice winter warmer.  Well the temperature has dropped a few degrees, so I don't see why not!

It's not as firey as the name suggests, but it has a definite taste of cinnamon.  Not like Jelly Belly cinnamon but a nice warming glow.

Made by Bacardi Brown-Forman
35% ABV

Fire Eater website - step right up!