One Hundred & Eighty !!!
On Sat Feb 2nd 2008, the royal pub at Roberts Manor was once again vibrating to the sound of darts hitting the dartboard (and ceiling tiles
behind) as the 3rd Annual Darts & AleFest took place. A motley crew of blokes and womenfolk enjoyed darts, excellent tucker, lively
conversation, superb television (Dr.Who, and Torchwood), a magnificent variety of bottled waters, and the best selection of winter ales we've had
yet !
In the darts competitions, the Euro pairing of Lord Mark of Brentford & Lord Brad of Stockholm won a tense best-of-three match of cricket against
our very own Lord Tim of Trier & Lord Pat of Dublin. In the second tournament, the Royal Rule Britannia team of Lord Ian of Cheltenham & Lord
Mark were taken to three matches before being clearly robbed of victory by Lord Brad & Lord Pat.
In a later tournament, Lords Brad, Pat & Ian were embroiled in a bitter struggle to gain victory in 301. The game ebbed and flowed and only after
we made a strategic change to the rules were we able to find a winner -- this being Lord Brad. Come to think of it, this bloke was involved in
every victory -- we are going to have a good talk with that lad !
This review will deal with the beers I tasted, including ones tasted the following day while I mooched around the house in mental and physical
slow motion.
Sounds divine -- here we go...
1) Sierra Nevada ESB (5.9%)
In this instance, the "ESB" rather cheekily refers to "Early Spring Bitter". Just out in the stores, and with a worldwide reputation for being a bloody
good brewery, the Sierra Nevada ESB began with a very pleasant citrusy aroma with fruity, tangerine flavours. Not too disimilar to European
"golden" ales, the ESB was mildly sweet with a peppery finish. Now, I hasten to add that none of my comrades at the Darts & AleFest noted any
sort of a peppery finish, so I may have been having a Zen moment (although I had a second bottle later on and still thought the finish was
peppery -- but I'll just keep that to myself !). Either way, this is an absolute classic. 10/10
2) Magic Hat Odd Notion (5%)
Magic Hat hail from South Burlington, Vermont and their "Odd Notion" series of beers began at Christmas time with their Odd Notion Winter 2007
Ale, which was an American Wheat Ale (7.5%). Right on the heels of the Wheat Ale came the Odd Notion Spring 2008. This bottle was part of an
intriguing Magic Hat 12-bottle sampler supplied by Lord Mark.
This beer is described in many circles as an Irish Red, but that is complete bullshit. There is nothing Irish and nothing red and nothing that
bloody tastes like an Irish Red in the Odd Notion of Spring 2008. It poured a purple/dark red/black colour with a distinctive flavour of liquorice and
roasted malt. The malt came to the forefront towards the end of the beer, before an even sweeter aniseed taste completed the finish. Rather like
drinking a porter made with Ouzo. Not unpleasant at all, and really quite fascinating. 7/10
But an Irish Red ??? Do me a favour ! Someone pass me a Percocet as my sides are splitting with laughter ! Irish Red -- Irish Red MY ARSE !
3) Avery Hog Heaven Barley Wine (9.2%)
Avery -- from Boulder, Colorado -- are a well respected brewery in these thar parts, and both Lord Pat and myself are longtime fans of their 14xx
ESB, thus Pat proudly presented their Hog Heaven Barley Wine for our perusal and tasting. Barley Wine simply means "strong ale" in the UK,
and our American cousins have made no mistake in taking the term "strong ale" to new brewing extremes !
The Hog Heaven began with a distinctive hoppy aroma (Columbus hops are used) combined with an unusually strong smell of alcohol.
Taste-wise, it was again hoppy with a solid malt body and a sweet caramel finish. A tad too sweet for my expectations, but nevertheless another
excellent little ripper from Avery. 8/10
4) Stone 2008 Old Guardian Barley Wine (11.25%)
I don't know why I keep referring to this magnificent brewery from California as Stone's -- there is no apostrophe in their name. Sorry lads.
Anyway, the Stone Barley Wine is released in limited quantities at the start of each year; I still have two bottles of their 2007 Barley Wine resting
quite nicely in the Manor cellar.
First impression of the 2008 offering was the smell -- rich, hoppy, Christmas cake-ish. We were onto something special here. Like the Avery
Barley Wine, the tastes revealed massive hop flavours and bitterness balanced by a strong, exceedling rich, malt presence. The effect was of an
incredibly warming beer, perfect for sitting by a log fire with your favourite book. Bloody brilliant ! 15/10
5) Magic Hat #9 (4.6%)
Once very popular at our favourite pub, The Old Bag of Nails in Worthington, I once had a pint of Magic Hat #9 and thought it was complete
shite. Mind you, I'm not an apricot beer bloke. Here's how Magic Hat tantalizingly describes their #9: "A Beer Cloaked in Secrecy. An ale whose
mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers. A beer brewed clandestinely and given a
name whose meaning is never revealed. Why #9? Why, indeed. A sort of dry, crisp, fruity, refreshing, not-quite pale ale. #9 is really impossible to
describe because there's never been anything else quite like it. Fermented with our 150 year old strain of top-fermenting English yeast." What a
load of bollocks ! It's an Apricot beer, nothing more -- nothing less. Wasn't that a track by Focus - "Answers, Questions: Questions, Answers" ?
Anyway, I had this beer the day after the Darts & AleFest, and I wasn't feeling in terribly good shape. But, I'll tell you what -- I had just finished off
the rest of the curry and discovered that Magic Hat #9 is the perfect curry beer. I couldn't drink a whole pint of it, it's just too fruity, but half-a-pint
with a good curry is perfect ! Highly recommended for what's left of our Indian Empire -- Oh, there is nothing left ! 5/10 (0/10 if not tasted with
curry)
6) North Coast Brewing Pranqster Belgian Ale (7.6%).
As Sunday rolled on, I was really in the mood for a rich, tasty ale -- enter Pranqster, from the North Coast Brewing Co in northern California.
Billed as a "Belgian Style Golden Ale", this smashing ale lived up to its expectation. Very much in the style of a Belgian Tripel (without the
sweetness), Pranqster was rich, syrupy, bitter and orangy -- and that sums it up nicely. Absolutely delicious. 11/10
7) Jameson's 12-year old Irish Whisky (40%)
As Sunday evening arrived, I could sense a cold was coming on; therefore it was time for the whisky. Jameson is an Irish blended whisky, and this
12-year old version was from Lady Debby's private reserve. I like my whisky "neat" and this poured a lovely dark orange colour in the glass. After
warming the glass in the palm of my hand for a few minutes, I took a taste -- smooth, warming with a distinctive bitter orange finish. Slightly
peppery too. The perfect remedy to an on-coming cold, and a perfect way to end the Darts & AleFest weekend ! 8/10
Following frantic phone-calls from pals unable to attend the 2008 Darts & AleFest, we've decided to hold the event twice a year, with the next
Fest scheduled for May 2008. Watch this space and sharpen your darts ! Cheers !
When I grow up, I want to be photographed next to a bottle of Fuller's 1845, not this Russian shite !"
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