Old Worthy Beer - a taste of heaven.

Yesterday evening I had the privilege of trying my first glass of Old Worthy Beer. I have to admit I approached the task with a little bit of trepidation. It said on the bottle that the beer was made using scotch distillery peat smoked Barley. I love single malt scotch - the peatier the better, but beer is a different thing. I needn't have worried. The beer was fabulous. I had left it in a cold cellar to that it was cold but not icy as if from a fridge. If beer is too cold I just can't taste the subtle flavours. The beer is crisp and refreshing but subtly rich. The peaty flavour is more a very very subtle aftertaste. It is wonderful. It has a flavour almost like as if it has been matured in oak barrels like the beers of old. Sometimes you drink a beer and it instantly makes you smile. This made me smile all the way through the glass. It tasted real if that makes sense!
I really do believe that this beer can take its place amongst the greats - well done Old Worthy......damn well done.

You can visit them here http://www.oldworthybeer.co.uk

Pennine Brewery wins award

Pennine Brewery have recently been awarded the Dame Britain Festival Choice Award 2012 at Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink festival. http://www.pennine-brewery.co.uk

Hop Back Brewery. Downton, Wiltshire

Hop Back Chronology

1986

Wyndham Arms, Salisbury purchased by John Gilbert

Brewing commenced

1989

CAMRA Champion New Brewery

1991

Waterloo Arms, Southampton purchased

Hop Back Brewery Limited formed

Lease on industrial unit in Downton acquired

1992

Brewing starts on new 20 barrel plant at Downton site

Summer Lightning brewed on the new site wins Best Strong Beer at Great British Beer Festival

Adjacent unit rented to allow for warehousing and office space

Output 350 barrels per month

1993

Over £500,000 raised from individual subscribers under Business Expansion Scheme

The Sultan, Wimbledon purchased

1994

Output 500 barrels per month

Acquired additional industrial unit with space for more fermentation vessels

The Hop Leaf, Reading purchased

1995

Output 1000 barrels per month

Brewing of house beers starts on small brew plant at The Hop Leaf

1996

G.F.B. wins overall Gold at Brewing Industry International Awards

The Jolly Farmer, Weybridge opens

New bottling line acquired

1997

Hop Back 10^th Anniversary Celebrations

Summer Lightning wins Best Bottle Conditioned Beer at Great British Beer Festival

Summer Lightning wins Cask Ale Brand of the Year from Morning Advertiser

Crop Circle launched

1998

The Bull Hotel, Downton purchased

Summer Lightning wins the Gold Award at the National Hop Association

Summer Lightning becomes nationally available in Tesco supermarkets

Thunderstorm and Summer Lightning exported to USA

Special ‘one-off’ brews introduced to product range

1999

Additional industrial unit purchased to add storage space for bottle conditioned beer

Winter Lightning launched

2000

Crop Circle bottle conditioned beer appears nationwide in Tesco supermarkets

Summer Lightning nominated in Best Strong Beer category at Great British Beer Festival for 12^th consecutive year, wins Bronze

2001

Larger capacity bottling line installed

New copper and fermenter installed

Summer Lightning becomes nationally available in JD Wetherspoon pubs

Summer Lightning wins overall Silver in Champion Beer of Britain at Great British Beer Festival

2005

Output 16,000 barrels per year

2009

21^st birthday of flagship beer Summer Lightning

2011

Entire Stout named Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain

Joint marketing campaign launched with Castle Rock brewery, winners of Champion Beer of Britain

Launch of 2.8% low alcohol beer Heracles – ‘strong in flavour’

2012

Hop Back celebrates 25 years

Brewing of 25 year celebration ale and party for shareholders, staff and customers

Beer range
http://www.hopback.co.uk/our-beers.htm

G.F.B. 3.5%
Golden, with the sort of light clean tasty quality which makes an ideal session ale. Tasted to destruction by our brewers, GFB has a hoppy aroma and is packed full of the very best East Kent Goldings, leading to a good dry finish.

Odyssey Best Bitter 4.0%
A full-bodied balance of maltiness, gentle coffee notes and smooth, slightly sweet flavours builds to a clean bitterness with hints of marmalade.

Crop Circle 4.2%
A very clean, flaxen-coloured beer with wonderful thirst-quenching properties. The subtle blend of aroma and bittering hops give a crispness on the tongue which is delicately fruity, giving way to some dryness. The inclusion of flaked maize in the grist subtlely hints at crisp corn flavours.

Entire Stout 4.5%
A rich dark stout with a strong roasted malt flavour and a long, smooth aftertaste. Suitable for vegans. Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2011.

Taiphoon 4.2%
A fantastic pale gold beer with hints of Lemongrass and coriander.

Summer Lightning 5.0%
A trendsetter in the brewing industry; the original Summer ale brewed all year round. An extremely pleasant bitter, straw coloured beer with a terrific fresh, hoppy aroma. This, coupled with an intense bitterness, leads to an excellent long, dry finish. Probably the beer to receive the most awards in Britain!

Heracles 2.8%
A bold new beer from the brewers at Hop Back. This golden beer is truly strong in flavour while low in alcohol. Maris Otter gives its characteristic silky, biscuity maltiness, quickly followed up by the delicate spicy lemon of East Kent and Styrian Goldings. This is underpinned by the subtle orange flavours of coriander and the dry, clean bitterness of Challenger hops.

Brewing team

John Gilbert

Founder and Chairman

Steve Wright

Managing Director and Head Brewer

James Godman

Brewing brewer and Quality Assurance brewer

Bank Top Brewery. Bolton

 The text below was provided by Bank Top Brewery:

Bank Top Brewery was established in1995 by John Feeney with the originalbrewery being situated at Back Lane,Bolton. The brewery name originated from Johns dream of converting the old tennis pavilion at Bank Top into abrewery, which became a reality in August 2002.

John successfully ran the business on his own until David Sweeney joined the company in December 1999. In November 2004 David joined John in partnership and became the sole owner when John retired in 2008.

Bank Top Brewery is a member of SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers. This trade association was set up to promote and protect the interests of independent breweries. As SIBA members we aim to preserve the traditional styles and methods of brewing while at the same time raising the profile of craft beer.

We have a simple belief at Bank Top... of making fine ale in a traditional manner with a great customer service.

This is a link to their website, which as of today (8th May 2012) is under redevelopment. http://www.banktopbrewery.com

Pennine Brewery, Batley, Yorks.

Pennine Brewery is the only nutrition in beer focused Cask Beer Company who produce on a Bavarian Brewhouse. We create well balanced and mouth watering ales for all generations and genders to enjoy as all our peerless recipes are handcrafted without automation.
Our new brewing techniques are extremely innovative as we look to introduce never before used natural and organic products that bring a fresher more nutritious outlook to our consumers lifestyles and taste buds, without compromising quality, consistency, British ale values and enjoyment.

If you need any further information please do not hesitate to contact us on either twitter, facebook or Penninebrewery@yahoo.co.uk.

Amber Necker

You can enjoy this smooth delight punching above its weight at only 3.5%. During its brewing process all the bad proteins are refined out of the beer which helps to produce a world class pint of real ale. We use only the best products and both English and American Hops. Please call our telesales team for further details on this product.

ABV: 3.5%

Look: A sparkling tranquil amber

Taste: A great session beer with a smooth and creamy texture and a fantastic hoppy aftertaste

Smell: Nutty and Citrus

Bitterness (1-5):  

Sweetness (1-5):  

Allgates Brewery in Wigan

The berewery began in 2006 re-occupying the old pub brewery that existed in Victorian times. Previous to them taking over the premises it had been used for a variety of commercial activities. The brewery was originally built to service the pub next door.

I had the pleasure of attending a networking meeting at the brewery one evening a couple of years ago. It was a night to remember. Here is a link to their beers http://www.allgatesbrewery.com/our_beers/

Stop the Beer Duty Escalator

Every year, the beer tax escalator increases the tax on beer by 2% above the rate of inflation, thus adding considerably more pressure on the British pub. Have you signed the petition yet? If not - why not?
If you aren't sure, then try and imagine life without pubs. You know it makes sense!

Here's the link: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29664

Three B's Brewery. Blackburn

This is a brewery I know quite well. They brew some terrific beers. I am particularly partial to their Tacklers Tipple, ABV 4.3%. They have moved from their previous location and have taken over The Black Bull pub at Brokenstone Road in Blackburn with Darwen. Three B's Brewery was founded in 2001 by Robert Bell,

Here's a link http://www.threebsbrewery.co.uk

The next step

Welcome to my brand-new, just-off-the-shelf blog about my beloved beer. On here I will be posting anything and everything I find of interest in the real ale brewing world. If you have an independent brewery or microbrewery then visit www.british-beers.co.uk and drop me a line and I will gladly add you to the growing list.