Top Tastings 2008. A shorter version appeared on facebook January 2009.
ABV: 4.5%
Origin: Sudbury, Suffolk, England
Website: www.nethergate.co.uk
Nethergate Augustinian
Brewer Ian Hornsey, a former microbiologist, has been turning out excellent beers on a commercial scale since 1986, and has worked from his current site since 2005. He’s particularly renowned for reviving the use of herbs in brewing and contributing to the resurrection of the porter style but has lots of other good stuff too. He’s produced several beers under the Augustinian name, nodding to the nearby priory at Clare, but this bottle conditioned bitter is arguably the best so far
It’s a rich amber with a big rocky orange-tinged head head and a pungent hop aroma with a balsamic, sulphurous and phenol note, its hop flavours (Styrian Goldings) twiggy and intoxicating. A full biscuity slightly oily palate follows, with complex spicy seedy orange strawberry and hop notes, and a peppery caramel liquorice finish turning sternly hoppy. It’s a premium bitter with a pungency that reminded me of Orval, and well worth checking out.
Read more about this beer at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/nethergate-augustinian-uk-version/64279/
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