Wold Gold Blonde Beer

So I find myself sitting in a small cottage by the sea in Yorkshire,  having just devoured my Christmas dinner. To my delight, I purchased three local ales and this first post of 2016 will review the Wold Gold blonde beer, by the infamous Wold Top brewery.

The colour boasts a typical blonde hue as described in the bottle. Strangely enough, at 4.8% this beer looks innocent but packs a punch.
 

The smell is bitter with a hint of apricot. With no head to speak of, the texture is smooth with slight carbonation that's not overbearing. It tastes very malty with a strong hop balance and a slight spicy taste. 

I would suggest drinking this with a mild curry as anything too strong may overpower the taste of the ale. It's a nice flavour but nothing original here. I'd give it a 6 out of 10.

Ilkley Pale

My second ale of Christmas Day is a rather modern looking bottle of Ilkley Pale; brewed (as the name suggests) in Ilkley.

With a light carbonation and slight darker blonde hue, this beer tastes crisp and sweet, rather like a champagne. This may be due to its use of Ilkley water blended with New Zealand hops to give it that uncharacteristic Yorkshire yet enjoyable taste. 

I would suggest drinking this beer with a pasta or pizza, and would not hesitate in giving this beer a solid 9 out of 10.

Marston's Brewery - EPA

If I'm honest, this beer wins already before I've even opened the cap. Traditional EPA's are my downfall, my weakness, my favourite. The last EPA I had was the River Cottage ale which was amazing to say the least. And now I am blessed with this wonderful Marston's EPA.

It's beautiful golden colour is typical of this type of beer, made with barley to give it that pale colour that we know and love. To taste, citrus flavours truly come to prominence along with a smooth texture that lingers on the tongue. I imagine hills and lakes and quintessentially Btitish villages. 

This beer is refreshing, crisp, and citrusy. I would have this again and again and again. I give this beer an 8 out of 10. Beautifully crafted and enjoyed best with crisps or peanuts in a lovely local pub! 

The Beer Blokes

Ridley's Brewery - Old Bob

So, everyone knows an Old Bob right? And who could dislike someone like him? Well, this runs true with Old Bob the beer too. It must first be noted that I has an amazing ruby red colour which draws heavy comparison to Hobgoblin.

Then the taste. Wow it packs a punch! At 5.1%, it is no wonder that it is quite a strong flavour. The rich malt barley gives it a biscuity texture on the tongue which brings out it's dry fruity flavours. That's exactly why I could almost taste dry raisins and apricots. I thought I was going mad! 

It is no wonder that Old Bob has won two prestigious Bottles Awards with it's spicy dry flavours on the palate. It is with great pleasure that I give this ale a exceptional 8 out of 10. Enjoy with a sweet dessert to counterbalance the dry finish of the ale!

The Beer Blokes

Shepherd Neame - Spooks Ale

Halloween is coming up soon and instead of buying sweets, I'd much rather enjoy a Halloween inspired ale. 

Spooks Ale appealed to me on the shelf with its old-style look and shape of the bottle. It just looked like something you would find in an ageing dark country pub.  When I first poured this beer into the glass it poured a deep ruby red colour, reminiscent of Hobgoblin. 

The smell was of mild citrus and biscuits, but having my first sip, this disappeared and was replaced with a strong malt/roasted taste. I cannot describe it any clearer than roasted nuts. 

This is a satisfying rich beer, perfect for keeping you company on a spooky evening on All Hallows' night. I rate this beer an 8 out of 10. Give it a go!

The Beer Blokes 

Fraøch Heather Ale

I've seen this beer on the shelves for a while now, and it's always looked appealing with it's pagan inspired artwork and unusual name (Fraøch meaning "heather"). 

So I decided, right, it's on offer and I'll give it a go. As you can see by the photo, I first thought I had bought a lager because it was so pale! Nevertheless I gave it a sniff and was overwhelmed by it's floral accents. Just imagine a field full of wild flowers. 

Anyway, I gave it a slurp and boy was it good. It has a crips and light malty finish that is so appealing. Then you can taste the heather on the back of the tongue. It really is a floral beer worth trying! I have no regrets when I say that this is quickly becoming my new favourite! 

On that flowery note, I give this ale a fantastic 10 out of 10. Take my advice, don't ruin it with food. Try it on it's own merit and I'm sure you'll love it.

The Beer Blokes

Skinner's Brewery - Cornish Trawler

So, Cornish Trawler, firstly it must be noted that the lacing is amazing. It covers the glass.

Secondly the flavour of this beer is very reminiscent of Hogs Back. It's fruity and malty however not as overpowering. Which I like to be honest. It's only a 3.8% so doesn't pack too much of an alcoholic punch. Also it's moderately smooth which was unusual as it's so similar to the Hogs Back varieties. 

Personally, I'm slightly annoyed that Skinners, a traditional Cornish brewery couldn't come up with something a bit more original. It has hints of citrus and is slightly cloudy but apart from that, its very standardised.

On that note I'll give this a 7 out of 10 just because it's very tasty but not very original. Enjoy it with a fish and chips.

The Beer Blokes