For those of you with some time to read:
I received a surprise package in the post yesterday morning from my good friend, Alex back in the UK. Two bottles of beer from a relatively new, family run craft micro-brewery in the Manchester area going by the name of Hornbeam.
Tonights bottle...
Dark & Devine
(from the bottle, "Ale To Die For")
4.2% abv
The first thing that struck me was this was not as dark as I had been expecting from the label. As you can see in the photo above, it's still quite an amber coloured beer.
The second thing that hit me (like a train - but in a good way) was the gorgeous waft of roasted malts and hops as I began to pour. Wonderful smelling beer.
The head formed easily while pouring and there was a pleasing amount of carbonation, not a gaseous micro fizz like some churn out. Very nice indeed.
The colour betrays the actual roasted maltiness and I couldn't put my finger on the hop aromas.
A quick read of the bottle informed me that New Zealand hops are used in the recipe although not a hop type I have used in any of my brews yet so I still can't say which type/s are used. If I was going to guess, I'd hazard a guess on Nelson Sauvin but I am probably wrong. I'd look at high Alpha Acid variety as there is a distinct, strong bitterness here.
I'm not going to give marks out of 10 as tastes and smells are different to everyone so I'd sum this beer up by saying, yes I would buy it , yes I would like to try more of Hornbeam's range and Yes I am going to try and culture the yeast dregs from the bottom of the bottle.
I don't think I would spend a whole evening in the pub drinking this (actually, who can afford to do that these days?) but I'd certainly make sure I had 2 or 3 at some point in the night.
So, cheers Alex matey, thanks for introducing me to Hornbeam Brewery. Tomorrow night I'll crack open the bottle of their Mary Rose Bitter.
1 comment:
Glad you enjoyed your prezzie mate!
I too found this ale to be much paler than initially expected given its name, and the depth of flavour has more in common with my favoured ruby ales.
As drink I found it too heavy to be a quick thirst quencher but the full pleasant bitterness was a rather nice accompaniment to tastes and smells around my kitchen whilst preparing our evening meal.
I really enjoyed this ale however it isn't really a session drink for me though I can see myself whiling away a good few pleasant winter evenings chatting with friends by an open fire! 8-)
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