A good palette cleanser.
Apologies for the delay in getting this posted, the European Championships, job interviews and general life have got in the way of having time to write up my notes, fear not beers continue to be drunk so there should be less delay moving forwards.
After the disappointment of Harbwr brewing, I wasn’t hoping to be wowed, but more have a good few beers that I would enjoy and the generator had once again sent us up to Scotland, where we’d had a pretty good response from West Brewery in Glasgow previously.
So as noted previously Ayrshire and the random generator posed a little bit of a problem moving forwards. The random county generator gave me West Ayrshire of which no breweries would deliver to me, further research indicated that there was just 2 in all 3 Ayrshire counties which would so I was forced to combine all of Ayrshire into one and pick from those two (obviously Ayr Brewing came about).
As the describe themselves, Hand Crafted, High Quality Ales,
brewed in the Heart of Burns Country, which is quite apt for myself as apparently,
I’m in the lineage of Robert Burns which is pretty cool. They have a raft of awards
in their beers which as always will be noted where I can find the information. What i don't do is research this prior to drinking as i don't want to be swayed unconciously towards liking a beer more because it's award winning etc.
As a general overall thought for this brewery was fantastic value for money, even the stronger beers didn’t tip £3 a can/ bottle and the order of 12 beers came to £39.50 (£8.95 of that was shipping).
As always, I have simply ordered one of each beer that was available at time of purchase, so should all be available if you so choose to order from them.
The first award of note which doesn't fit any of the beers is CAMRA Brewery of the Year 2015. Now that in itself is a damn high accolade.
A really hoppy little beer this one, which caught me a little off guard. However, what I will say is this poured fantastically and I knew it was going to be a good beer. To the nose there isn't too much actually happening and really subtle flavours kicking through but it's quite bombastic in the hop flavour that is left in the mouth, but without crossing the unpleasant line. I'm already feeling enthusiastic about this brewery. Although it doesn't have any huge particular wow factor it is still a really pleasant beer to drink and more importantly enjoy. It feels a "safe" beer, but the bar for safe appears to be high from Ayr Brewing
Double
Dry Hopped Pale 5.7%
Currently showing on the shop as one of their newest beer that they sell. A really good strong smell hits the nose with a really citrusy smell that is welcoming for sure. The very first sip and you are slapped in the mouth with a hoppy goodness which seems to find the perfect level of letting you know it's there without outstaying it's welcome. One thing I absolutely love is pride in a breweries beer so it makes me smile when I read in the ingredients "SCOTTISH WATER" none of your English pish in here mate! Honestly a really really good beer and although more challenging that Fair Jenny's Jig I'm now very confident with how the rest of the beers will go. This sort of beer is what I know and love so can heartily recommend this one as a good beer. I've had maybe 1/3 of a pint and am already sad I’ve just got the one of these.
Rhapsody - Wheat Beer with Rasperries 4.8%. (That Rasperries isn't a typo by the way it's how it goes on the can)
Let’s not beat around the bush here this obviously smells of raspberries (not sure why the can says raspberries, at first, I thought it might be some raspberry and apple blend, but can't see any trace of apples in the ingredients. What I like about this is the taste is still fundamentally a wheat beer and maintains all the properties of that with just the slightest hint of raspberries as an undercurrent of flavour.
Obviously German inspired based on name and also looking at the ingredients list, I’ve previously had a very good time with German style beers so let’s see how we go with this. A sour taste which took me right off guard is the dominant flavour here, orangey which based on how dark the beer was I just was not expecting at all. Smelling it, it's very light and citrusy, but often that's just the hops and their aroma as opposed to taste, but this carries right the way through. One of the more refreshing dark beers I’ve had for quite a while and I could see me having a good few of them as well. It does not taste like a 5% beer either. I can imagine this wouldn't be for everyone because it's a very strong citrus and tart flavour to it, but it is certainly to my taste. The more that I have there are the more typical dunkel notes of caramel in the back ground which lingers as an after taste after multiple sips. A very complex beast but certainly enjoyable.
Betty And The Gardens - Hoppy Blonde 5.2% - Troon Beer of the Festival 2015
So I normally don't have the best nose for this sort of thing and really have to get right in there to get the aromas but this smelled absolutely amazing as it was being poured with a lot of fruit like notes kick in. This is completely belied in the taste though as a no punches pulled very hoppy beer. Honestly this might be slightly too aggressive for me on my first tasting. The aftertaste is particularly strong and although I can tell it isn't bad. It's a bit too on the bitter side for where I would usually drink. What I can tell is that although this isn't to my particular tastes it is still very drinkable and with someone more slanted towards their bitters, would enjoy it very much.
Otto and Griselda - Pale Ale 4.6%
If nothing else this has to be one of the best cans I’ve ever seen and I’m hoping with a bit of research I can find some background on who these are. Smells really refreshing, although that might just be indicative of how close the weather is today. A slightly bitter aftertaste to O&G but nowhere near the level of Betty. This is just a really pleasant and safe beer. It doesn't taste like a 4.6% and feels much weaker than that so could sneak up on people a little bit. I feel this would be a good beer to introduce new comers to the craft beer as there are a few little similarities to your more standard lagers but much more refined.
What appears to be a golden ale here
(Post Drinking Note - Well that was obviously horrifically wrong, i feel slightly embarassed)
and we're getting into the dark spectrum of the beers, which typically spells danger for me as we approach my least preferred. To the nose this is smelling very caramel like. This is a bit of a strange beer in that it's much lighter than I was expecting. It has all the typical flavours of a darker beer the toffee/caramel like but without a lingering taste in the mouth of the heaviness that often accompanies it. This is just a really nice beer.
Rabbie's Porter -4.3%
(Post Drinking Note - This is the most awarded beer i've ever drunk,grab a beer while you read all these)
CAMRA Champion Porter of Scotland – 2017
CAMRA Champion Porter of Britain Runner Up – 2016
CAMRA Champion Beer of Scotland Runner Up – 2016
CAMRA Champion Porter of Scotland – 2015
Champion Beer of the Sussex Beer Festival – 2015
CAMRA Champion Beer of Scotland Runner Up – 2014
CAMRA National Winter Ale Festival Silver Medal – 2014
CAMRA's Champion Porter of Scotland – 2012
CAMRA's Champion Porter of Scotland – 2013
SIBA Silver Medal (Bottled Beers) – 2011
Ayrshire & Wigtonshire CAMRA Beer of the Year – 2010
Troon Beer of the Festival – 2010
And now we're so black and dark that light will not break through it. Already nervous as this just isn't my jam as has been expressed previously, but it's all part of this merry dance. It smells like fresh coffee which is only a plus I suppose but we will see how we got on. So, the first thing which really has taken me a back is the drink kind of tastes carbonated which has really thrown me a little, I’m probably getting confused with stouts as the flatter ones, but I’m sure I’ve had flat porters as well. Actually, pretty solid considering it's not something I would typically go for. Has a slight fruitiness that runs around the palette as you drink it.
Leezie Lundie - Pale Ale 3.8% SIBA Silver Medal 2012, SIBA Silver Medal (Bottled Beers) 2013.
Bit
concerned by this one as it looks like a bit of sediment almost floating around
it, but we'll see how we go.
Anticipating this to be quite a watery based on ABV alone, but ready to
be surprised. It smells incredibly refreshing
and fruity and to be fair tastes about the same as well. As I have more of this, I’m enjoying it more
and more It’s not a strong beer, there's nothing hugely significant with it
that makes you think oh that's clever. It's just a really nice refreshing beer.
Definitely best served cold.
BOING! Pale 4.1% - Wolf Hop Golden Ale 5.5%
This immediately looks like the sort of beer that I would like just has that perfect look of a beer and I’m not disappointed with the taste. Light but with fantastic flavour, the perfect level of aftertaste and just around refreshing and fruity mouthfeel that just leaves you feeling happy. Although one of the weakest ABV’s I’ve had from Ayr Brewing, this is certainly up there with the best.
Here we go back in stout country not overly confident as always but let’s see how we go. As Stouts go it smells really nice, and chocolatey / syrupy. It does taste really nice but I’m not 100% this is for me; the aftertaste is a little bit too strong for me and the initial nice flavour goes pretty quickly. It's not one that's totally for me but I can tell it's good, but it's a little TOO stouty for me to be swayed. It's really reminding me of something that I’m struggling to put my finger on, possibly something a little aniseedy. The more that I have the more it grows on you and is incredibly smooth drink.
As was noted at the beginning I needed Ayr Brewing Company after the disappointment of Harbwr, with their Double Dry Hopped being a huge stand out for me and the beer I would easily recommend the most, BOING was also fantastic. If Porter’s are your jam as well you’d be a fool to ignore Rabbie’s Porter purely on the amount of awards the beer has earnt in it’s time, there were no bad beers here but a few that popped their head above the precipice to really get themselves notice.
We did have a slight issue with the 12th beer which was Death and Dr Horn Brook 7.2% Imperial Blonde Ale, SIBA Silver Medal 2012, SIBA Silver Medal (Bottled Beers) 2012, CAMRA Grampian Beer of the Festival Runner Up 2014 and SIBA Silver Medal (Bottled Beers) 2015. The beer ended up being poured into an unwashed glass which has previously had strawberry and lime Rekorderlig in it, as such the flavour profile and smell of it all was completely thrown out and I’m pretty sure the beer was not meant to smell or taste like that, as such it would be unfair of me to include it in my thoughts, it’s a shame though if I ever see it in the wild I’ll certainly have to give it a proper non strawberry try.
As was noted at the end of the last entry our next beers will be from Tenby Brewing company and seeing if they can restore my faith in Dyfed’s beers. At the time of writing this I’ve literally just had an e-mail from head brewer from West Brewery as well with a Brewer’s Choice suggestion which will be included at a later date.
Until then, keep on enjoying your beer and thank you for taking the time to read this journey.
Next Brewery: Tenby Brewing Co https://www.tenbybrewingco.com
