Top Tastings 2009
A shorter version of this piece originally appeared in BEER May 2009 as one of several milds for May.
ABV: 4.4%
Origin: Cleobury Mortimer, Worcestershire, England
Website: www.hobsons-brewery.co.uk
Hobsons Postman's Knock
May is the month to celebrate beers which in the words of the promotional materials for CAMRA’s endangered beer styles campaign are “smooth and suave, tall, dark and mysterious and effortlessly tasteful”. Yes, it’s mild month again, as this captivating British beer style continues to shed what’s usually referred to as its “cloth cap” image and establishes itself as a must-have for the portfolios of innovative craft brewers. Research for this review even unearthed examples from Switzerland – Two Reverends from real ale specialist Spiffing Ales at Uetikon near Zürich – and Canada – website ratebeer.com lists Mill Race, from Grand River Brewing, Cambridge, Ontario, as the world’s fifth best mild.
For British Real Milds in a Bottle, let’s start in the style’s heartland of the West Midlands. Hobsons, founded in 1993 at Cleobury Mortimer, South Shropshire, caused a stir in 2007 when its cask interpretation became only the second mild to be declared Supreme Champion Beer of Britain. Its stronger bottle conditioned mild, Postman’s Knock, is equally outstanding. The name commemorates writer, broadcaster, postman and Cleobury character Simon Evans (1895-1940).
Brewed with Maris Otter pale, dark crystal, pale chocolate and wheat malts, dashes of caramel, salt and vanilla, and Worcestershire Fuggles and Goldings hops, this is a deep amber brown beer with a smooth fine yellowish head and a very chocolately character. The fresh aroma has milk chocolate, vanilla and roast malt with a leathery note, leading to a malty but dry and very chocolatey palate. Hints of soot, petrol, vanilla and lead like minerals mix with orangy fruitiness.
The petrol note persists in a roasty and very smoky finish with a burr of slightly peppery hops round the edges and a late developing final touch of chocolate. An intriguing and very drinkable beer that confirms the Worcestershire brewery’s place among the leading mild producers.
For the next mild reviewed in this piece see Vale Black Swan.
Read more about this beer at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/hobsons-postmans-knock/67594/
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