Allendale Wolf

Time for one of my favourite coloured ales.  Wolf is a strong ruby ale from the Allendale Brewery and it has been on my wishlist for quite some time.  Will it live up to my expectations?

On opening it smells deliciously malty, fruity and sweet.  It is a lovely ruby colour and has an outstanding thick beige frothy head that shows no sign of dispersing.  It's one of those heads that will need a brillo pad to clean the glass afterwards.

It has a lovely malty chocolate taste and, as you would expect from the high alcohol content, it leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste on the tongue.  It's quite carbonated and the bubbles feel a bit harsh on the tongue but then the malty chocolate flavours kick in.  The flavour is so complex that I even felt as if there was a hint of pepper thrown into the mix after a few mouthfuls.  Not quite a 5 star rating, but not far off, and Ale probably be Seeing You Again.

Brewed by Allendale Brewery, Northumberland

5.5% ABV

My rating:

Find out more at Allendale Brewery

Brutal Pistonhead Full Amber

This is a lovely dark coffee coloured ale and it smells of warm fruity bread smothered in sweet treacle.  It has quite a good head but it is very fragile and disappears quickly.  The smell is really quite addictive but I had to tear my nose away to take a sip.

The taste is so very disappointing, there is something harsh taking over the flavour and you do find this with high alcohol content ales.  The smell doesn't marry up with the taste and I think it might be the citra hops that is leaving a harsh bitter aftertaste.  Such a shame as I was expecting great things from the look and the smell, but the taste let it down.

Not one Ale be Seeing Again but I'm glad I tried it.

Brewed by Brutal Brewery, Sweden

6.0% ABV

My rating:

Caledonian Three Hop

This is a lovely deep golden craft lager with a bit more of an amber colour than pictured.  It has a good head which doesn't disappear too quickly.  It's called Three Hop so it is no surprise that it has a hoppy aroma but it also has a hint of a floral smell.

It has a good amount of carbonation but it has a very smooth taste and a definite aftertaste of honey with a refreshing hint of mint.  I didn't get any lemon flavours coming through but the whole experience is one of complex but subtle flavours so it might be in there somewhere.

A very pleasant drink with some nice beery lacing on the glass.  It feels like you get a taste of something different with every mouthful.  Definitely one I'd recommend trying.

Brewed by Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh

4.5% ABV

My rating:

Find out more at Caledonian Brewery

Skinners Betty Stogs

I'm feeling in the mood for a bitter so I thought I'd try Betty Stogs, labelled as a brazen Cornish bitter.  There's an absolutely divine malty aroma as this amber nectar pours into the glass.  It doesn't have a bad little head but it disperses to leave a thin layer, as you would expect from a bitter.  It's a perfect copper colour with just a hint of fizz so my mouth was watering in anticipation.

Boy, was I not disappointed.  Betty Stogs is an outstanding bitter with absolutely no metallic aftertaste.  It has a creamy malty taste, with a slight hint of citrus and a clarity that can only have come from the pure Cornish water.  I was getting a lovely biscuit and grapefruit aftertaste which makes a pleasant and refreshing change from copper coins or lemon squeezy washing up liquid.

Betty Stogs slips down a little too easily and my only disappointment is that I only bought one bottle.

Brewed by Skinners, Truro

4.0% ABV

My rating:

Find out more at Skinners Brewery 

Robinsons Unicorn Black

This could easily be mistaken for a Guinness on pouring with a thick creamy beige head and a dark black body.  It will inevitably be compared with Guinness and I couldn't help myself comparing the two.

It doesn't have a strong aroma but I would say it smells slightly fruity, however, the taste is one of dark chocolate and lightly roasted coffee beans.  It's so very moreish with a creamy coffee aftertaste and with a thinner consistency than Guinness, I'd say it's something of a Guinness Light.

The head is absolutely amazing for a bottle poured stout - so thick and robust, remaining until the last drop.  Ale be Seeing you Again, Unicorn Black.

I purchased this from B&M for the bargainous price of £1.39.

Brewed by Robinsons Unicorn Brewery, Stockport, Cheshire

4.1% ABV

My rating:

Find out more at Robinsons Brewery

Allendale GFPA

I could see a bit of sediment in the bottle so I poured it slowly and carefully, although I got a bit of cloudiness in the pour.  It smells very strongly of citrus with a hint of hops.

The head disappears quite quickly but it does leave a bit of lacing on the glass.  Pale ales aren't my favourite but this is very harsh.  It has an overpowering grapefruit taste leaving a bitter aftertaste as if I'd sucked the pith from a grapefruit or lemon.  Due to the strong zestiness it's very refreshing but the taste is just a bit too harsh for me.

I bought this as part of an Allendale mixed pack from Best of British Beer, however, I received mostly pale ales so the lovely folk at Best of British Beer agreed to send me a few darker Allendale ales from their next delivery.  Now that's what I call customer service!

Brewed by Allendale, Northumberland

4.7% ABV

My rating:

Find out more at Allendale Brewery

Black Sheep Velo

This offering from Black Sheep is as sunny inside as it is out.  Made to celebrate the Tour de France Grand Départ, the bright yellow label, reminiscent of the yellow jersey, also gives us a hint of the pale golden ale that is hiding behind the smoked glass.  There is a distinct orange and hoppy aroma on pouring and I couldn't wait to have a sip.

The bright white head does die down but, as with all Black Sheep ales, it doesn't disappear completely and does leave a bit of lacing on the glass.  So on to the taste...it is so completely unique and I've never tasted anything quite like it.  I wouldn't have identified coriander as one of the tastes but it certainly gives an added extra to the hint of orange. With a little fizz on the tongue, it has a slight bitter grapefruit aftertaste but is so completely addictive that it definitely won't last long in my glass.

If Black Sheep have ever made a less than perfect ale, I have never found it.

Brewed by Black Sheep Brewery, Masham

4.2% ABV

My rating:

Find out more at Black Sheep Brewery