They say…
Best beer and travel writing award 2015, 2011 -- British Guild of Beer Writers Awards
Accredited Beer Sommelier
Writer of "Probably the best book about beer in London" - Londonist
"A necessity if you're a beer geek travelling to London town" - Beer Advocate
"A joy to read" - Roger Protz
"Very authoritative" - Tim Webb.
"One of the top beer writers in the UK" - Mark Dredge.
"A beer guru" - Popbitch.
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Top Tastings 2008. A shorter version was first published on facebook January 2009.
ABV: 2.7% Origin: Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Website: www.brewdog.com
BrewDog
Founded in 2007 by iconoclasts James Watt and Martin Dickie, the latter formerly of Thornbridge, BrewDog has rapidly become one of Britain’s most exciting breweries. It’s also caused some controversy particulary […]
Top Tastings 2008. A shorter version was first published on facebook January 2009.
ABV: 4.4% Origin: Caerdydd, Cymru Website: www.sabrain.com
Brains Top Notch
Old established Cardiff family brewer Brains offers several cask classics such as SA and Brains Dark but this is a relatively new addition to the range that deserves better exposure. […]
Top Tastings 2008. A shorter version was first published on facebook January 2009.
ABV: 3.9% Origin: Millom, Cumbria, England Website: http://www.beckstonesbrewery.co.uk/
Beckstones Black Gun Dog Freddy Mild Ale
When this won gold in its class and silver overall at the 2008 Champion Beer of Britain you could hear people muttering “who?”. But it […]
Top Tastings 2008. A shorter version was first published on facebook January 2009.
ABV: 7.3% Origin: Bavikhove, West-Vlaanderen Website: www.bavik.be
Bavik Petrus Aged Pale
Established in 1894 and now a sizeable family-owned independent, Bavik (sometimes known as De Brandenbere after the owning family) made its name with sour brown ales, some of which […]
Top tastings 2008. A shorter version was first published on facebook January 2009. Beer sellers: Bierkraft
ABV: 9% Origin: Portland, Maine, USA Website: www.allagash.com
Allagash Victoria Ale
Victoria is a very special golden ale brewed with Chardonnay grapes, part of the brewery’s “tribute” series, with $1 from each bottle going towards restoration […]
Top Tastings 2008. A longer version was first published on facebook January 2009. Beer Sellers: Cerveteca
ABV: 4.5% Origin: Mediona, Barcelona, Catalunya Website: http://masia-agullons.com/
Ales Agullons
I tasted this unpasteurised on draught at the Cerveteca in Barcelona. It’s from a tiny farmhouse brewery that at the time of tasting was very new but […]
Originally published in BEER November 2009.
The British have an issue with strong beer. In a beer culture centred round swilling down several pints at 4 per cent ABV or less, there’s a tendency to see higher gravities as a route to quicker inebriation. It’s not surprising, then, that British bottle conditioned strong ales are […]
Featured as a strong ale for winter in BEER November 2009. For more strong beers see previous post.
ABV: 9% Origin: Ashton-in-the-Water, Derbyshire, England Website: www.thornbridgebrewery.co.uk
Thornbridge Bracia. Pic by Andy of beerreviews.co.uk, used by permission.
Rising star of British craft breweries Thornbridge have an impressive range of unusual beers but perhaps this […]
Featured in BEER November 2009 as a strong ale for winter drinking. For similar beers, see previous post.
ABV: 8% Origin: Woodbastwick, Norfolk, England Website: www.woodfordes.co.uk
Woodforde's Norfolk Nip
Established in 1980, Woodforde’s is now quite a veteran, and a leading player in the burgeoning microbrewing scene of East Anglia. As well as […]
Featured in BEER November 2009 as a strong ale for winter drinking. For more beers in this piece, see previous post.
ABV: 10% Origin: Rock, Cornwall Website: www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk
Sharp's Brewery
Massive Ale is one of Sharp’s brewer Stuart Howe’s bottled specialities, an exciting sideline with a distinct Belgian influence for one of the […]
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Cask This pioneering new book explains what makes cask beer so special, and explores its past, present and future. Order now from CAMRA Books. Read more here.
London’s Best Beer The fully updated 3rd edition of my essential award-winning guide to London’s vibrant beer scene is available now from CAMRA Books. Read more here.
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