Cotleigh Barn Owl

This has a fabulous malty smell on opening and is a beautiful dark copper colour. It also has a slightly fruity caramel aroma but only a very small head.

It very surprisingly tastes slightly of chocolate, and I would say more of a dark chocolate as it has a hint of a bitter aftertaste.

I was also surprised at how fizzy this was as darker ales are usually quite smooth.  This isn't a negative feature, it was just unexpected.  Although it has a little head, it is quite robust and leaves a bit of lacing on the glass.

Brewed by Cotleigh Brewery, Somerset

4.5% ABV

Find out more at Cotleigh Brewery

Cotleigh Golden Seahawk

Happy New Year!

As you would expect, I am not partaking in Dry January - life is too short to miss out on some cracking ales.

This ale has a slightly cloudy look to it and there was visible sediment in the bottom.  So I poured it slowly and carefully, thereby sacrificing a head.  This gave it an almost cider like appearance but it is the most amazing toffee colour and smells intensely malty.

On drinking, it actually surprisingly generates a nice little foamy head.  It has such a delicious malty aroma that I was expecting a bitter copper coin taste, but I couldn't be more wrong.  It has hints of soft golden honey with a slightly fruity/malt loaf aftertaste and the perfect amount of carbonation to not be too fizzy but at the same time generate enough head to lace the glass.

I'm really impressed with this one.  It really is delicious and Ale be seeing you again!

Brewed by Cotleigh Brewery, Somerset

4.2% ABV

Find out more at Cotleigh Brewery

Allendale Christmas Ale

Wow!  How fabulous does this look?  This has to be the perfect colour for a Christmas ale - deep ruby red with a slightly off-white glorious head.  It actually smells of Thornton's chocolate smothered toffee and I couldn't wait to dive in to have a taste.

As expected, at 7% ABV, it has a strong taste along the lines of dark chocolate.  It is slightly bitter with a lingering treacle/liquorice aftertaste and is absolutely delicious.  It's an ale that cannot be followed as it leaves such a strong taste in the mouth.  I did feel like I needed to clean my teeth (and my tongue) after it, it was so strong and full of body.

Ale be seeing you again next year, Allendale Christmas Ale!

Brewed by Allendale, Northumberland

7% ABV

Find out more at Allendale Brewery

Thwaites Yule Love It

Lovely golden. White head. Smell hops and slightly citrus. Slightly spicy taste.

A lovely deep golden/light amber coloured ale with a bright white head.  It smells hoppy with a citrus kick on pouring.  It has a nice malty and caramel taste with a bitter copper-coin aftertaste.  I expected something with a bit of spice, as it is a Christmas ale, but it just tastes like a regular bitter.

Brewed by Thwaites, Blackburn

4% ABV 

Find out more at Thwaites Beers

Champigneulles Continental Lager

Smells very hoppy and slightly sour on opening.  Pours a nice golden colour with an impressive white head, although the head is not long lasting.  It has a definite sweet taste to it and is quite crisp.  It reminds me of golden cornflakes but is a little too sweet for me.

For £1 from Asda, it's not bad but there are a lot better out there.  As ever, you get what you pay for.

Brewed by Champigneulles, France

5.5% ABV

Find out more about the Champigneulles Brewery

Zeunerts Höga Kusten

This is a lovely dark golden, almost molten light amber colour.  It smells of tropical fruit, particularly pineapples and has a slightly sweet taste.  It's not as fizzy as it looks - but like Goldilocks, is just right.  It has a perfect amount of head leaving amazing lacing as it is consumed.  It has a lovely subtle taste and reminds me of a refreshing continental lager and I couldn't put it better than the statement on the label - it is 'the bridge between ale and lager'. 

Brewed by Zeunerts, Sweden

5.3% ABV

Find out more at Zeunerts - don't forget to hit 'translate this page'

Wentworth Snowman's Revenge

I admit I didn't really expect much from this as it was only 99p but as the season of goodwill is approaching I thought it time to sample Snowman's Revenge.  It's a lovely dark amber colour but pours with only a little head.  It may have been my imagination, but I think this smells of Christmas cake, particularly mixed spice and brandy.

It has quite a weird taste that I can only describe as slightly sludgy and thin.  It has almost a dark chocolate bitter slightly spicy aftertaste.  I suppose it is like Christmas pudding, you either like it or you don't.

The head disappears quite quickly and the ale looks quite flat, although it does have a bit of fizz on the tongue.  I didn't dislike it, but unfortunately Ale not be seeing it again.

Brewed by Wentworth Brewery, Rotherham

4.1% ABV

Find out more at Wentworth Brewery