Marston's Mocha

Marstons can often be a safe bet, with Pedigree and Old Empire being liked by pretty much every real ale drinker. But this can make those beers, as great as they are, a touch normal. Mocha is an exception. Being a brewer the 'crafterati' often scoff as being boring, this beer rivals the loudest advertised flashy coffee beer. This dark brown porter ish beer has a rocky off white head shouts dark chocolate and coffee. I.e. mocha and there is even more in the taste. If you do not like coffee, you shall not like this beer. I love it, it's great, a fair %6 though so would be a struggle to session.

Sam Smiths India Ale

Sorry I haven't blogged for a bit, been a touch busy. This is one from Trembling Madness, went again on Wednesday and got a few more interesting beers! Well firstly, I love the bottle it is all old fashioned, saving it for homebrew. The smell is a touch hoppy, with a hint of pine and citrus, but it is mostly a chewy malt aroma. The taste is rather malty, biscuity and chewy, very nice. Not particularly hoppy, but it isn't an IPA unlike some people think.

Minikeg of Lord Marples

I have bought a minikeg of one of my favourite session ales, Lord Marples from Thornbridge. It is settling now, very posh design on it. Deciding when I shall open it, when I do open it though it must be drunk in 3 days.... what a shame....

Great Divide Titan IPA

Another one from Trembling Madness. Pour a dark orangey colour, not much of a head. Uber hopiness, much piney and citrus and fuitage. The taste is very fruity, a touch sweet with a nice malt backbone then a whoompf of hop bitterness... The bitterness does however become overpowering as the beer warms up.

Thorne brewery closing.

Damn it. Their parent company is selling the brewery to 'a new venture in Norfolk'. It was a great brewery, Thorne Pale was one of those beers that as soon as it goes on, there is a queue for it. Hopefully someone else brews it!

Great Heck Slaughterhouse Porter

Was at Cask last night and they had a favourite of mine on, Slaughterhouse Porter, won the best porter prize at the Doncaster Beer Fest last year.

It is quite light coloured for a porter touch lighter than coke and it is clear, very dark red and smells of dark fruit, caramelly with a bit of roasted malt thrown in for good measure. And the taste is dark fruity with the coffeeness of the malt. Very nice beer! Even went back to it it was so nice.