North of the border once more. (10/94)
It was whilst sat a Fierce Brewery’s bar in Manchester with my friend that I noticed exactly how Scotland-centric the blog had been so far, with a number of breweries north of the border featuring already. It’s all part of the random generators plan, which this time has led us to Clackmannanshire and the William Brothers Brewery based in Alloa.
William Bros Brewing https://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/ wasn’t a brewery I was aware of previously, however another friend was pretty sure they’d seen some of the cans before, without trying them so they are out there in the wider world and appear to produce a mixture of more traditional bottles and craft like can.
I ordered the Brothers Selection Bundle https://shop.williamsbrosbrew.com/products/brothers-selection - £21.95 plus £5.99 delivery which contained 12 drinks (all 500cl) so even adding delivery costs I think this is the cheapest bundle I’ve had yet. It describes itself as “A random assortment of twelve 50cl bottles/cans. Makes a great gift & perfect introduction to our range”. Which on the whole I’d say is a fair assessment.
I should not at this point that the 500ml bottles would not fit in my little studio light box, so those just have the drink photography.
This looks absolutely gorgeous and poured the same maintaining a decent head the entire way down. To the nose you get the sweet caramel like scent with a very feint level of fruit in the background. I can imagine this being one of those beers that coats your mouth a little, is a bit aggressive at first before dissipating and calming down a little but let’s see.
So straight away you’re getting wood notes kick through, which plays around the edges of the tongue near the back of the throat. It doesn’t quite have the coating sensation that I first suspected it might and is actually quite a light beer to drink, whilst maintaining a strong flavour profile. The more you drink the more the fruitiness of the hops comes into play and takes away the bitterness momentarily, before it returns.
For me this is a text book Red Ale ticking off the things I’d typically be expecting, whilst I’m more “Craft” than traditional in my beer tastes, this is a strong start by Williams Bros Brewing, without wowing me.
I have to be honest, even pre drinking this one I’m a little apprehensive. I typically don’t like floral tastes (in anything really), so knowing that Heather is a key ingredient it a little worrying. It is quite interesting that this is the oldest style of ale in the world though and made in Scotland for over 4000 years, this particular one from a recipe from the 1500’s. If nothing else I’m going to be drinking a bit of history.
To the nose there isn’t an overpowering sensation with everything being kept quite subtle. Oh, this isn’t for me. First off is the floral notes which actually has an underlying tingle to it like an herb. Then you get the muddy peaty flavours which I often associate with some Scotch Whiskey like Laphroaig. It’s incredibly light and there is a lot going on here, sadly it’s just a bit too much for me in flavour profiles I’ve historically not liked.
This smells incredibly floral for an IPA, but something about the smell seems to work. As above I’m not huge on the floral but there is something welcoming about this. It was notable instantly upon pouring from the bottle.
So, first taste impression is very hoppy with a fresh hit that I can’t quite place at first, I thought it was fruity but it doesn’t seem to be the case, certainly not obviously based on the ingredients at least. On paper I shouldn’t like this IPA (It’s very much a traditional IPA rather than the newer craft varieties which have everything and the kitchen sink thrown at them), but I think that might be why I do like it.
There is a playful bitterness that lingers for just the right amount of time, everything is quite restrained without compromise and as such it has a perfect balance about it which leads to a thoroughly enjoyable drink.
This smells really fresh and inviting with the slight fruitiness to it and a really subtle hoppy smell to it. As another bottled beer, I’m expecting this to be more down the route of a traditional ale, but as with the Seven Giraffes I was pleasantly surprised with that too.
Oh, so this is very nice, straightaway there is an instant fruity tartness which gives your mouth a good slapping, before making way to a slightly bitter aftertaste as the hops begin to take control back of the drink. If you keep the drink active in your mouth giving it a bit of a swill it’s very much the fruitiness that is the forefront.
Looking at the bottle there’s a mix of gooseberries and elderflower which accounts for my initial thoughts on the drink.
The bitter aftertaste, isn’t too bitter at all and is almost welcoming after the initial fruitiness. All in all, another beer I’m actually quite impressed with where I wasn’t necessarily expecting to be.
This is the beer I was most looking forwards to when I opened the box and saw what was in there and just on pouring. This. Smells. AMAZING. I mean truly amazing the smell just from the pour not even bringing it close to the nose to take in the subtleties. On close smell it’s almost like a blood orange soda mixer for gin. If this is just half as refreshing and tasty as it smells we’re in for a good time.
*Happy dance*
Ok good news first of all. It still tastes like a beer and in a reverse of normal is the hops kicking through first, but then that fades away and leave the playful blood orange taste just sitting happily on the palate. If you were going purely on smell, you could potentially be disappointed thinking it might be sweeter but I think it’s a fantastic blend of beer and citrus with neither overpowering the other.
This is a beer that I think successfully bridges the gap between traditional and craft and I would genuinely recommend it to everyone.
This has that lovely traditional stout smell, malty and chocolatey and just all-round pleasing to the nose. As this is a standard stout and not rocket fuel or flavoured, I might not like it as some, but it certainly smells as though it’s going to be a nice casual, smooth drink.
The first thing that strikes me is how light this is. Most of the stouts I’ve drunk since starting this endeavour have been really thick and filling stout, the sort you nurse over a thirty-minute session for fear of getting full, but this is quite the opposite.
It’s also quite hoppy, which is confusing me a little, but I think it works with a slight tang at the end of a mouthful which tingles on the tastebuds. It’s just a bit middle ground really. It’s not bad and I’m going to enjoy drinking the rest of the beer, but it hasn’t got the wow factor which will make me remember it into the future.
As noted the pack was a sampler of some of the drinks availabvle from Williams Bros Brewing, which includes a Ginger Beer for some reason.
I have to be honest I don’t especially like ginger beer at the best of times, if at all. As a cooking component I can have it but, it’s never sat well with me in drinks. As such I don’t feel best placed to talk about this or really critique it, to the nose it just smells like weakish ginger.
Oh well bottom’s up.
No…I’m sure this is lovely for someone but just no, the ginger sits over powering on the mouth after each and every drink after despite looking flat tastes oppressively fizzy. I can’t think of a scenario where I would actively look to drink this again.
No huge powerful hits to the nose on the pour and a head that quickly dissipates, but I’m cautiously optimistic about this one based on the quality of the previous beers.
There is an awful lot going on with this beer which is always fun when you take that first mouthful. First you get the fruity citrusy tingle, before the hops punch through and become the dominant flavour in the mouth, not outstaying the welcome and fading into the background.
As with a lot of the Williams Bros Brewery beers so far, it’s incredibly light to drink, but you are well aware of the percentage it holds, essentially you know you’re drinking a solid beer.
As the glass empties a little, the fruity notes of the beer hit the palate more and enhance the tasting as it continues. Another strong beer by the brewery without being remarkable, but once again very solid.
Compared to the Joker IPA above, this one smells absolutely wonderful with a mesh of tropical notes all battling for superiority. There is no hint of hops to the nose which leads me to think this could be a really powerful fruity beer.
A really pleasant drink this one, not as overpoweringly fruity as first anticipated which I think is a good thing. This is still very much an IPA with tropical undertones, rather than something fruity clinging onto being a beer.
It tastes probably a little bit stronger than the advertised 5.5% but not to the point it becomes oppressive. Feels slightly heavier than the Joker, but again not to a hugely notable level.
I’d be interested to know what hops are used in this one as the aftertaste that lingers is familiar but I can’t quite put my finger on exactly what it is. One of my favourite beers from this brewery so far, just behind Bolo.
Now I’m expecting a fruity lager here…call me an optimist I know, however in my experience I’d have to question does lager and fruit really work? A dash of lime in a lager is incredibly 80’s (or Corona based), but typically I don’t associate them going together I guess we’ll see.
There is a subtle fruitiness to the nose and it certainly doesn’t smell like your typical lager, so it could be an interesting proposition.
I can’t tell if this is quiet genius or a madman that has gone horribly wrong somewhere along the line. You certainly get the fruitiness of guava first and foremost, but then it quickly disappears and you’re left with a disconcerting cacophony of flavours battling for dominance and becoming a bit of a palate mess, but then you drink again and all is well until the cycle repeats itself.
If the Guava was the aftertaste, I think this would have been genius, but as I’m left pulling a funny face at the end of the drink, I have to say it’s not one I would look to in the future.
First thing I notice with this one is how it just does not hold a head at all, not typically a deal breaker by any stretch of the imagination, just an observation. This smells incredibly fresh and light, if a smell can be light anyway.
I really like this beer…until the aftertaste then it’s really not one for me. I’m not sure if it’s the hops used, but it’s just a little bit harsh on the aftertaste and I’ve noticed this a few times now. When you first drink it, it’s like I thought it would be it enters the mouth really fresh. There is a great fruitiness that dances around the palate and if it maintained that fruitiness, I’d be all over it, unfortunately the bitter aftertaste sits too heavy at the back of the tongue and mouth and leaves just an overall unpleasant aftertaste that I can’t get past.
It would seem that I am wrong though, as I was writing the beginning and the end of the blog, I did a bit of research and this beer won Silver at the Scottish Beer Awards for Best Pale Ale in 2021. So, this may well work for someone else and obviously has done.
A low percentage stout often means to me there can be that slight tang on the tongue as you taste so will have to see how this one goes.
A really strong aroma of coffee to this one which is unsurprising with a Mocha stout, it will be interesting to see if any of the chocolate flavour breaks through at all.
This almost tastes a bit like a cold brew coffee. I’m not getting any chocolate flavour through really and very little of what I would have thought would be a tang either.
No hint or indication of strength either with it being reasonably pleasant without wowing. Could certainly do with a little bit more chocolate though just to cut through the coffee notes.
Final Thoughts:
Williams Brothers Brewing felt very middle ground to me, with two exceptions BOLO and Tin Man, but BOLO especially. As I put in the notes, I would recommend that to absolutely everyone and if they sell just bottles of that in crates I will 100% go back and get some more (they do 12 bottles for £20.88).
This brings me back to a word that I think encapsulates Williams Brothers Brewing, value. Whilst I wouldn’t necessarily buy some of the beers again when you’re paying £2.32 per bottle/can it allows that free hit to try things you might not try before, through this I’ve been introduced to BOLO which was purely wonderful.
I’m pretty sure I’ll struggle to find equal value on the rest of my journey, so whilst not everything was a winner there was enough that I can hold them in high regard.
Next Blog: F**K Cancer Special.
