Orbit Beers Nico

This lager is slightly cloudy and there's quite a bit of sediment in the bottle so I heeded the warning to pour carefully.  It is a light golden yellow colour and is quite crisp and refreshing. It smells like a proper german beer and has a slightly bitter and lemony aftertaste.  There is a very tiny head but it does last.

Brewed by Orbit Beers, London

4.8% ABV

Find out more at Orbit Beers

Redwell Steam Lager

This was gorgeous and was not at all what I expected.  It is a lovely amber colour and slightly cloudy like a wheat beer with a hint of orange smell and taste.  It was better than a wheat beer as it wasn't as gassy.  Although it has just a little head, what was there remained until the last drop and left amazing lacing down the side of the glass.  

It has a strong but not at all unpleasant taste and I would put it as a cross between a lager and a wheat beer - I really liked it.  Ale definitely be seeing you again and, as my Uncle David went to Redwell School in South Shields, this would make a good gift for any member of my family!

Brewed by The Craft Brewing Co, Norwich

4.6% ABV

Find out more at Redwell Brewing

The Park Brewery Gallows Gold

With a head that Mr Whippy would be proud of, this practically explodes out of the bottle on opening.  I was hit with amazing pineapple and tropical fruit aromas and more fizz than a bottle of champagne.  There's quite a bit of sediment in the bottle so I poured this slowly and carefully and, with that spectacular head, wouldn't have got a drop more in the glass anyway.

Surprisingly, with the abundance of bubbles, this is not a gassy beer.  It's actually crisp rather than fizzy and has a delicious golden citrus flavour; it's more grapefruit than lemon, giving it a lovely bitter aftertaste.  The colour is very rich - a deep golden/light amber that lets you know that this is a complex beer and not simply an American Pale Ale.

The thick creamy head lasts to the very last drop and clings to the glass.  Ale be seeing you again, Gallows Gold.

Brewed by The Park Brewery, Kingston upon Thames

5% ABV

Find out more about the Park Brewery

Sambrooks Brewery Junction

This is a lovely light ruby / dark amber colour with a small but rich and creamy head that lasts. I was struck by a mouthwatering fruity malty smell as it was being poured.

It does indeed have a very nice taste, perfectly malty and mellow.  I got a distinct taste of dark fruit, perhaps black cherries and an unusual, but pleasant, aftertaste of dark chocolate. 

This would be a lovely winter warmer ale and as I live in the North East, Ale be seeing you again!

Brewed by Sambrooks Brewery, London

4.5% ABV

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Brains The Rev. James

From the second I opened this bottle I knew I was going to love this beer!  It has an amazing malty smell and I could hardly control my excitement as the amber goodness flowed out of the bottle.  It has such a lovely ruby hint to the amber colouring.  There is a nice thick head which remains throughout, leaving substantial lacing down the side of the glass.  Following the malty aromas, I was delighted to experience an absolutely beautiful malty taste.  This leaves a lovely malty aftertaste on your tongue and overall it's a lovely smooth mellow beer.

Without doubt, Ale be seeing you again!

Brewed by Brains, Cardiff

4.5% ABV

Find out more about The Rev. James and other Brains beers

Five Points Brewing Co Five Points Pale

Wow this was so full of grapefruit aromas I could almost imagine drinking it for breakfast. As soon as I popped the cap, I was immediately hit with a strong grapefruit smell that was replicated in the taste.  This makes a really refreshing change from the lemon squeezy washing up liquid taste of so many pale ales.  It's a lovely clear, crisp and fizzy blonde ale with a bright white head that doesn't disappear - there doesn't look much of it but this is definitely a quality over quantity head.  It's so refreshing and zesty; I was completely amazed and charmed by this delightful ale - I absolutely loved it!

Ale be seeing you again and I'll definitely be looking out for more of the Five Points Brewing Company's beers.

Brewed by Five Points Brewing Co, London

4.4% ABV

Find out more from Five Points Brewing Company

Discworld Invalid's Restorative

Flat beer day continues with a deep golden ale from Discworld.  A beautiful gold colour but with a disappointing head, consisting of just a few stray bubbles.

This has a bit of a Jägermeister smell to it and certainly has a medicinal aftertaste.  It smells, but doesn't taste, of a slight hint of citrus.  I don't get any of the vanilla notes it claims to have, but perhaps the vanilla plus the ageing in whiskey barrels gives it the Jägermeister smell and taste.

An interesting craft beer, but I don't think Ale be seeing you again.

Brewed by Brecon Brewing, Powys, Wales

6.5% ABV

Find out more about Discworld Ales