BAH HUMBUG ~ WYCHWOOD BREWERY

Bah Humbug is a seasonal winter warmer (spiced beer.) Sampled from a bottle the beer poured a slightly opaque coppery mahogany with a thick cream coloured head. The nose contained caramel, nuts, dried fruit, cinnamon, spice, breadiness and a hint of sweetness and leafy hops. The taste had notes of dried fruit, caramel, light toasted malts, cinnamon, subtle banana, bread malts and nuttiness. The finish is leafy maris otter hops along with spice, which leave a drying subtle bitter aftertaste. The body was medium-light and the carbonation on the soft side. A very palatable Christmas beer.

6% from Witney, England

ABBOT ALE ~ GREENE KING

Abbot Ale is an ESB and is Greene King’s flagship beer. Sampled from a tin the beer poured crystal clear rich dark orange-brown amber with a dense white creamy head that left excellent lacing. The nose contains some caramel malts, yeasty bread, stone fruit, floral /leafy hops. The leafy hop comes forward on the taste balanced and complemented by the toasted malts; there is also subtle florals, fruits, caramel and an earthiness. The finish is slightly drying with a mild bitterness, and metallic taste. The body was at the low end of medium, the carbonation was soft, and the mouthfeel was smooth and somewhat creamy with help the nitro widget. This beer hit the spot as a neighbour and I chatted on a hot day. Simple but nicely balanced.

5% from Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England

YOUNG’S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ~ STOUT CHARLES WELLS BREWERY

Young’s is the UK’s largest privately owned brewery.  They make a number of beers and their name is on 200+ tied houses.  They have been brewing as a family owned business for 130 years.  Though they are a big production they are still considered a microbrewery. 

The bottle poured a very dark brown with a slight ruby hue.  The nose had notes of dark chocolate, coffee and a touch of vanilla.  The beer smelled boozier than it actually is.  The beer, which is brewed with real chocolate and chocolate essence among other things, (“Pale Ale and Crystal malt, Chocolate Malt, a special blend of sugars, Fuggle and Golding hops) was not as richly chocolaty as I was anticipating.  The chocolate taste was minimal at first but became more predominant as the beer warmed.   I was expecting the beer to have a creamier mouth feel and be more full bodied.  It was nicely bittered and had a dry finish.  Not disappointing but not the best chocolate stout I have had either. 

5.2% from Bedford, Bedfordshire, England

DARK & HANDSOME ~ BOX STEAM BREWERY

We sampled Dark and Handsome, an Old Ale, from a bottle at room temperature.  It pours dark brown with a decent head.  The nose has notes of  berries, currents, and roasted malts   The taste began with dark berries, like black currants, with not a lot of sweetness. I then tasted freshly ground coffee, which finished with the taste of unsweetened black liquorice, and a subtle dark chocolate.  The malty sweetness is nicely balanced with a bitter finish.

Box Steam Brewery is a microbrewery located in Wilshire, England.  All of their beers names are train related.  Dark and Handsome was names after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who was an engineer that designed the first major British railway, The Great Western.  He was quite short and was known for wearing a top hat, which is represented on the company’s logo.

5%  from Trowbridge, England
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