[Wanderer]

: Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:05 am  

Paid another visit to the Gatehouse yesterday evening to take in some more Festival Ales.

Started off with a very nice Belgian Ale called Anker Gouden Carolus Ambrio (8.0% ABV) which had a full bodied caramel maltiness about it.

Next up was another International Ale, this one Barons Black Wattle Original Ale (4.8%) being from Australia. Another lovely drink with toffee, chocolate and caramel flavours as well as (the festival guide informs) Australian roasted Wattle Seed.

Also tried

Caledonian Smokey Pete (4.3%)
Elland 1872 Porter (6.5%) - not on the festival list
Thwaites Liberation (4.5%)

the latter named being the only one sampled previously.

: Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:33 pm  

Tasted Brains' Top Notch and Mikkel's Viking Voyage this lunchtime. Both very tasty. The Danish brew starts out with a very burnt flavour but after a short while citrus notes take over. Nice surprise after the original taste.

Also sampled a palatable Japanese brew at the Bluecoat last week but can't remember its name.

[Wanderer]

: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:17 pm  

If it's the festival ale, it's Yo-Ho Yona Yona.

[Wanderer]

: Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:59 pm  

Got to sample a few more festival ales at the Gatehouse last night ...

Clark's Henry's Harvest Special (4.4% ABV) - a light brown beer from the Wakefield Brewery.

Okell's Maclir (4.4%) - a wheat beer from the Isle of Man which is said to have hints of Banana and Lemon but must have passed me by.

Firestone Walker California Pale Ale (4.5%) - as the name suggests an American ale (with a hint of toffee).

Titanic Iron Curtain (6.0%) - a new beer brewed in the style of a traditional Russian Stout but without the full strength. Deep and rich with biscuity malt flavours.

and the best drink of the evening ...

Brains Top Notch (4.4%) - a dark ruby ale with an oaky flavour. Another winner from the Cardiff Brewery which brought us the delicious Rev James!

: Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:09 am  

seuseuwho? wrote:

Tasted Brains' Top Notch and Mikkel's Viking Voyage this lunchtime. Both very tasty. The Danish brew starts out with a very burnt flavour but after a short while citrus notes take over. Nice surprise after the original taste.

Also sampled a palatable Japanese brew at the Bluecoat last week but can't remember its name.

It was Mikkel Berg Bjergso's Viking's Return ( I think)

It was indeed Yona Yona. Tasted the best of the festival so far yesterday. Traditional Scottish Breweries' Lomond Gold - nectar in a glass!

: Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:36 am  

seuseuwho? wrote:

It was Mikkel Berg Bjergso's Viking's Return ( I think)

It was indeed Yona Yona. Tasted the best of the festival so far yesterday. Traditional Scottish Breweries' Lomond Gold - nectar in a glass!

I had a pint of that on Sunday in the Red Lion on my way to the Cenotaph.
Very nice.......had another on the way back.

: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:45 pm  

Stand-Offish wrote:

I had a pint of that on Sunday in the Red Lion on my way to the Cenotaph.
Very nice.......had another on the way back.

Had another today, just to make sure , also had a very presentable 3.8% ABV beer called Red Rage from the Highgate Brewery.

Incidentally, if you're out there, Gary, would appreciate some pointers re the Lake District ( other than the Watermill Inn, which is a given )? Thanks

[Wanderer]

: Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:47 pm  

The Watermill Inn at Ings is as you say a 'given'. A fantastic establishment for both food and drink.

To be fair, its about 4 years now since I spent any time that way except for passing through on the way to the rugby.

If you are in the South Lakes, which Ings is not too far from, any of the following;

Golden Rule, Ambleside (on the road to Kirkstone) - a regular in the GBG and an out-and-out beer pub.

Drunken Duck, Barngates - home of Barngates Brewery.

Black Bull, Coniston - home to the Coniston Brewing Co.

Royal Oak, Bowness - popular with walkers as the Dales Way passes by.

Beer Hall, Staveley - Brewery tap of the Hawkshead Brewery.

Others;

Kings Arms Hotel, Hawkshead.

Tweedies Bar, Dale Lodge Hotel, Grasmere.

Church House Inn, Torver.

Wainwrights Inn, Chapel Stile.

Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Great Langdale.

Hope this helps.

: Thu Nov 27, 2008 4:17 pm  

Thanks for the advice, Gary, although some of those names like the Black Bull at Coniston and the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel ( not forgetting the Hawkshead Visitor Centre) are already well-known to me. As it happened, once again I went alcohol-free for the weekend.

However....................................I've sampled two fine ales this lunch-time, Saltaire Stateside IPA, a very dangerously drinkable 6%ABV and White Horse, a somewhat sickly sweet Epona at 4.3% ( maybe it was just the Stateside which spoiled my palate )

: Thu Nov 27, 2008 6:36 pm  

The Yates in Doncaster is in the process of being transformed into a Lloyd's No 1 Bar. Another outlet for decent beer, but very close to the existing Wetherspoons.