The Beer Advent Calendar 2011 - December 24th

And so here we are, the final entry in this years beer advent calendar.

It's been a good year for me, and a particularly good December - the beer advent calendar has been a welcome cornerstone in each day, if I could find 365 beers, or if I could get away with it without developing considerable heath issues I'd really love a beer advent calendar year-round.  It'd be a welcome distraction.

I spent much of this afternoon (as I was getting a bit tanked) trying to think what the last beer was...I've had the other 23, surely I could remember what the last beer was.  I couldn't.

Purity Brewing Co - Ubu (oo-boo!)

The Purity website says that Ubu is - "named after our faithfull/feared canine friend UBU, protector of our secrets", which is a nice touch I think.  This beer is lovely, it's a darker amber ale with lots of interesting flavours.  It smells a little sweet, and tastes sweet too -  little apple is obvious in the flavour, and the after taste has a hint of spice, ginger I think.
It's very easy to drink, and very refreshing - after an afternoon on the ales and a great plate of Ma's party food (including a falafal scotch egg - so full!) it's still easy to drink.

A very satisfactory end to the calendar.  If you've been following the blog - thanks for reading.  I doubt I'll keep blog posts in the new year but we'll see.  I've always wanted to write a blog, but find the self promotion and assuming the world gives a crap about my opinion troublesome.

9/10

You'll have to forgive the image, I'm staying with my parents and their laptops lack the necessary photo-editing software.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2011 - December 23rd

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Christmas soon! :)

I'm excited for pubbing it up all day tomorrow, the back home for party foods my mum will have laid out.

So onto the penultimate beer.

Sam Smiths India Ale

As you can tell from the name, the India ale is an IPA - and a very good one it is too.  The only odd addition to the classic recipe is seaweed finings, whatever they are.  They might be responsible for the ever-so-slight sweetness in the taste.

It pours a lovely honey golden colour and had a nice frothy head, it's crisp, hoppy and very balanced - has a great bitter taste to it.  I always go into pale ales expecting something akin to Brewdogs, or Karl Strauss - this was much easier to drink and the first giant gulp I took was very satisfying.

9/10

Oh, and no you cannot have one of my chocolate oranges...

The Beer Advent Calendar 2011 - December 22nd

Why does the wind always blow in my face?  I cycled to Penarth leisure centre this morning with a considerable wind in my face, then I cycled back to Cardiff Bay with...a considerable wind in my face.  It's very irritating and it makes no sense.  Give me a break, ffs!

Only 2 beers remain, I'm saving a very special Fullers Vintage 2008 for Christmas and I've a selection of scotch to say hello to as well.

Todays beer was another gem from the Untapped Brewery.

Untapped Brewery - Triple 'S'

This is without a doubt one of the nicest stouts I've ever had.  The "Triple S" stands for Simply Superb Stout, and whilst that is a little up-itself, it's right.  Poured very creamy (I had to stop halfway as the head was encroaching the rim of my mug) and smelt very rich, the taste was thankfully more balanced than the nose gave the impression of which was very pleasing - nice taste of malt & chocolate.  As it warmed up there was a slightly harsh sweet tone to it.

Very nice bevvy.  Untapped is a brewer I'll be keeping an eye on.

9/10

The Beer Advent Calendar 2011 - December 21th

Today was pretty good.  I got an early finish from work, as well as confirmation that I'm off now until January the 3rd.  The last year has been the best year of employment I have had in my life.
Plus someone gave me a dome popper. I haven't seen one for ages but damn, they are still entertaining to me.  Now if I can only resist the urge to chew on it like I used...(I've found a cocktail stick for now)

So after spending the afternoon chillin' with a brew I cracked open todays beer.

Shepherd Neame Late Red

I was in 10ft Tall the other week suppin' a Speckled Hen when some guy randomly started asking me ale questions - and if I knew Spitfire, and that Shepherd Neame was the oldest brewery in the UK.  I had to cut that conversation short however, it was impolite to my date to continue with a sudden influx of beer chat.

So Late Red is a seasonal beer, and it is a cracker.  It's very highly rated on t'interwebs and I agree.  Firstly, I'd like to paint my walls with the colour.  You can't get it from the photos but it's really a great red.  Smokey malts and flowery hops combine in the flavour, it's very smooth and I want more of it.

Very nice.

9/10

The Beer Advent Calendar 2011 - December 20th

Here's some random useless nonsense before the review.

The roads from Cardiff to Dinas Powys are fucking awful.  My poor Ka did not enjoy driving to my parents today.  I only did the drive last week and I don't remember it being this bad.  Stupid poorly maintained roads! OR.... Stupid poorly insulated car with simple suspension system! (I'm blaming the roads)

Tomorrow is my last day in work before Christmas. Yesssssssssssssss.
I've been crafting tiny Christmas cards again this year, and earlier today someone asked for a snowflake or a Christmas tree - upon objecting because those are the 2 hardest things to make, they became set on a snowflake.  I hope they appreciate the 2 hours of my evening dedicated to the zen-like craft that is the tiny greetings card.

Todays beer was so bad I can't really be bothered to write about it.

Vale of Glamorgan Wheats Occurin'

I was very disappointed with the last VoG beer, and this one sadly didn't change my perceptions.  It's a wheaty ale (duh), but the flavour is very light - it's got quite a dull aftertaste to it.  It almost tastes like a cask beer, only without any of the other good attributes of a pulled pint.  Pretty much tasteless.

If I ever see a VoG beer on tap, I'll have to try it.  If I ever see another bottle I'll try an avoid it.

Oh and I said in the last review that if the other VoG beer was as bad as the first I would have a sad.  So I'm now having a sad.

Bleeuuurrgghhh.  4/10.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2011 - December 19th

Only 2 days left in work before Christmas, 5 beers to sample.  I'm tired.

Todays beer is a familiar one, I was in a pub that served it yesterday and only just decided to pass on it and go for something else. Glad I did as it tastes better today.

Sam Smiths Taddy Porter

The Waterguard is one of my local pubs, and we've had quite a few sessions (getting battered by going through each of the Sam Smiths beers in 1 sitting) - the Taddy Porter is a great highlight.

Pours with a super creamy head and smells terrific, it's a bit smokey, chocolatey, there's a scent of coffee and sweet molasses tone.
It's creamy on the mouth and has an obvious complexity - the main flavours are plenty and are all discernable from one another - it's one of the best porters around, classic stuff.

10/10

The Beer Advent Calendar 2011 - December 18th

I haven't just finished this beer, as you can probably tell from the photographs I drank it earlier during daylight - before a free bottle of Prosecco, a glorious pizza (spiced bolognese sauce, beef meatballs, roquito peppers, rocket and mozzarella, mmmmm!) and some brews.  Sunday is fast becoming my favourite drinking day.  'Tis the season!

Todays beer was actually as good as the Sunday on a whole, it might even be "beer of the calendar" if I award such an accolade this year.  The prize of course is that I'll drink you again!

Bath Ales Golden Hare

Golden Hare is a "light ale" according to the bottle and they are not wrong.  It poured a very light straw colour that at the time of pouring my flatmate decided to decide as urine coloured.  I agreed with him of course.  The head quickly dissipated whilst my phone crashed and I had to restart it to take a picture of the poured pint.

Smelt a bit fruity, tasted a bit tropical and it went down easy.  It was very refreshing, nice zesty citrus mouthfeel - managed to be dry and thirst quenching at the same time.  Definitely a beer for accidentally getting ruined on a summer evening and a welcome addition to the 10/10 club!

10/10 of course.