The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 23rd

And so we have the penultimate advent beer.

*sigh*

Innis & Gunn - Original
I discovered Innis & Gunn because Morissons keep it next to Brewdog beers...took me quite by surprise.
The story goes that the it was created somewhat accidentally, the beer was being used to flavour barrels for whisky then being disposed of...until someone tried the beer and it was delicious.

Looks - Dark amber, head built up and disappeared quickly - has a little carbonation.
Smells - Vanilla and toffee, it's all sweetness with no real beer-like character but I still really like it.
Taste - Really unique (in my experience), it's smooth and crisp but does feel a little sticky after you've had a few of them.  Dominant flavours are vanilla, some caramel and honey flavours with a nice malt balance. 

I've quite a sweet tooth, so I do particularly enjoy this one.

8/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to The Black Crows.  I only really started listening to them recently but have really been enjoying it.  Like if Free weren't stoned all the time, which is odd because I'm sure The Black Crows were also stoned all the time...

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 22nd

No time for chit-chat today. Friends visiting I am hungry.  They guest star in the picture...

Holt's - Two Hoots
I've had a few Holt's beers, they're OK - but nothing special.

Looks - Fairly standard, nice golden body.
Smells - Nice fruity smell whilst I poured, it didn't linger too long - much like the head.
Taste - Malty with quite a bitter aftertaste.  Basic taste that's just not on a par with Everards Tiger!

6/10

I drank this beer whilst listening to Them Crooked Vultures.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 21st

Today was my last full day in work before Christmas, actually it was my last full day in work this calendar year.  I'm not as thrilled about it as I expected. What I am looking forward to is catching up on lots of sleep over Christmas.

Shepherd Neame - Christmas Ale
Another traditional English brewer appears in the calendar, this one is significantly better than Uncle Scrooge.  My flatmate got special-drunk off this beer on tap last Christmas, it's quite a hefty 7% so I can see why. 
It's quite interesting, if nothing else it's strength makes it a more festive beer than the usual "shipped out" standard Christmas ales.

Looks - Brilliant clarity for a beer this strong, I usually expect it hazy when the ABV creeps up.  Nice tone of deep amber.
Smells - Quite sweet, almost like a dessert - only with hops and malts.  It's actually like a meaty Fursty Ferret (this sentence makes very little sense unless you're familiar with that beer).
Taste - Hints of spice, some rich fruit tastes as well nice long warm finish.

Pretty damn tasty, gone straight to my head.

8/10

I wrote this song whilst listening to an odd combination of heavy metal.  Cathedral, Carcass, Megadeth, Alcest...ah back in the day I was the only guy in school with long hair...

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 20th

I've officially finished shopping for Christmas.  Carnage in shops today, look after your kids for fucks sake! Don't let them run around the busy aisles clacking some sort of castanets.  And what do you think you're doing walking with your trolleys two abreast down the obviously very busy aisle? FUCK YOU very much!

Anyhoo.  Only four advent beers remain, sad times.

Tiny Rebel - FUBAR
Another entry from the boys from Newport here.  I used to feel it was their strongest (as in, best) beer but I've warmed to Urban IPA more.  FUBAR is better on tap, especially through a hop-rocket - but this beer isn't doing as much as I remember.

Looks - Cloudy gold colour, really nice head and lacing.
Smells - Really light smells of fruits and a little hops.
Taste - I'll let the official description cover this one as I'm feeling lazy - "you’ll face off against floral hoppy flavours up front, leading into a dry spicy bitterness on the back" - And that's exactly what it's like.

8/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to Led Zeppelin - live in Earls Court from 1975.  There are 6 tracks from this concert on the DVD and they're without a doubt the best live recordings of LZ I've ever seen and heard.  The performance of Stairway to Heaven in particular is just flawless.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 19th

*whinge*
Today sucked. For no particular reason.  I am a bit of a moody prick sometimes...I'll not assume I've the hubris for attempting to explain it, or that I care enough to.

Beer!

Everards - Tiger
Todays beer is my ideal 'best bitter'.  It doesn't even belong in this decade.  It's another one of those "once a year" beers I generally only pick up for the calendar.  I really ought drink it more often as that's the sort of beer it is.

Looks - Like the sort of beer I can imagine in a working mans club in the early 80's.  Really nice copper/chestnut shade.  Great head. (teehee)
Smells - A little sour, there's no hops going on.  Quite a sharp malt smell.
Taste - Very basic, in a good way.  It doesn't dance around much, it's got some well balanced bitterness and malt flavours but nothing hangs around very long - which makes me want more of it.

I'd really like to rate this beer higher, but I can't.  I'm definitely coming up with a new scoring system for next year.

8/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to a compilation of John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.  Because I'll never get out of these blues alive, y'all.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 18th

Today was not a bad day, my car got fixed (a brake cylinder had rusted through - actually a not-galvanised clip had rusted through it, it wouldn't have rusted on it's own), and my new headphones arrived.  I'd forgotten I had ordered them and thought it was just a Christmas present for someone, so it was a nice surprise.

Brakspear - Triple (6.7%)
I've put the strength in the title of this beer as there are two types, 6.7% and 7.2%.  The stronger 7.2% also comes in a larger bottle, I'm sure it should be the other way around.

Looks - Nice dark orange colour, held up to the light the colour looks like a nice piece of old furniture.
Smells - Bit of a burnt sweetness in the smell, malty and a little yeasty.
Taste - This beer is really rich.  Dark fruits and sweet tastes are overcome by a rich malty finish.  On 'the burp' it's a little spicy, that actually took my by surprise.

Quite a nice beer, falls just short of an 8.

7/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to M83.  You might recognise M83 from any number of montages from Top Gear, numberous other BBC TV, and a few adverts (Red Bull in particular).  I saw them support the Kings of Leon.  KoL were shit that night, M83 were flawless.
M83 were one of a few bands I was introduced to mid-noughties, and the album Before The Dawn Heals Us is easily one of my favourite albums of all time. 

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 17th

Last full Monday of work before Christmas! Woo!

Today's beer comes at me room temperature.  My glamorous assistant neglected to put a beer in the fridge last night because she was drunk.  And then neglected to do it this morning because she was late.

You just can't get the help.

I'm not really complaining.  I usually drink this beer chilled and there's a bit extra in the flavour from being room temp.  I shall chill it less from now on.

Brewdog - Punk IPA
What a beer.  Brewdog are solely responsible for my beer-snobbishness, and this is the beer which started it all.
I'd always been interested in trying different beers at festivals and the like, but nothing like this.
Below is a slightly stylised image of the mantelpiece in the flat - loads of different beers, from IPA's with different hops, IPA's from the sea, experimental hop-less ales, low alcohol IPA's (that still kick arse), stouts & porters, scotch ales, red ales, black lagers, barrel aged lagers - the list goes on.  I love it.

Anyway...

Looks - Looks a little hazy, but is light amber in colour.  Some good head retention and lacing down as it goes down the glass.
Smells - Terrific.  Grapefruit, pine, deep citrus smells.
Taste - Fruit and pine flavours start, a fantastic hoppy body with a (new!) honey sweet yet mild bitterness.

I have my criticisms of Brewdog, and as a shareholder I'm entitled to them - this beer is not one of the things I could criticise.

10/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to Mumford and Sons.  I feel a little bad for listening to M&S, folk is a genre with such an extensive catalogue, not just comtemporaries either.  I used to play the banjo, and listen to a few folk acts now and then - but I've always just found them myself.  I'm sure there are better or more deserving folk acts out there, I just haven't found them.  Listening to M&S seems like a lazy way to enjoy folk music. I still like it though...

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 16th

I looked the collection of unopened beers today, and realised there were only 8 beers left in the calendar.  Damn it.
I'm almost certainly going to attempt a 'dryathalon' in January, and consume no alcohol at all.  Which I doubt will be a challenge - but it will mean I'll have to miss out on enjoying my slowly growing collection of scotch for a time.  I'm also planning on spending about 5 hours a week on a cross trainer to drop a few pounds before I get back to running.  It should be good.

Wychwood - King Goblin
Another familiar drink which like Old Crafty is only consumed during December.

Looks - Deep reddish brown, nice frothy head dissipated quickly.
Smells - Caramel, toffeefee, quite a subtle beer on the nose really.  Doesn't portray the depth of the taste.
Tastes - Sweet and malty to start, then you get a bit of hops, then it finishes with a dry bitter feel.  Nicely balanced flavours.

9/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to The Music.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 15th

Woo! It's my work-team night out tonight.  As they say - it's going to get Lionel.

I thought I'd start today with a rant.  I was chatting with a friend earlier today when he mentioned Bruce Springsteen was coming to Cardiff, how much for a ticket? £109.
Why is it that once you've been around a certain amount of time you get to charge absurd amounts of money to put a gig on?  It's needlessly greedy bullshit.  If you've been writing and performing for as long as 'The boss' has, or the Rolling Stones, or any other pensionable rock'n'rollers and you still feel the need to charge a fortune for a ticket - do the world a favour and fucking retire.
You obviously don't care about your music anymore, just how much money you can squeeze out of it.
Of course people will pay it, and yeah you'll sell out the venue -  congratulations.

Music is about sharing something, whether that's just your love of music or a message you think your music carries - if it's either of these reasons, then why charge so much for a ticket?
And if you no longer care for either and are just in it for that 'stage buzz' from performing why does it matter how much you charge?  Or do you need the inflated price to make you feel big?
It's not like you're trying to make a living - you're fucking minted!

Go away please, you make me angry.

The beer.
Sierra Nevada - Pale Ale
This beer, is exceptional.

Looks - Nice amber colour, reasonable head.  Nothing much to shout about as it ticks the boxes.
Smells - Citrus smells, nice and light - gives the impression it'll go down nicely.
Taste - Goes down nicely!  Starts off a little floral sweetness, then becomes a more pine like hoppy taste.  Go and buy one at once.

10/10 Another one...damn it.

I wrote this blog listening to Arcade Fire.  I like everything they've ever done.  Do you ever get that? Where a band just speaks to your experience?

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 14th

Bit rushed today, I'm off to eat pizza.

I just had a sip of Fallen Angel - Black Death, a beer brewed and flavoured with the naga chillies.  It smells truly awful, like someone dropped a chili into a keg of vinegar then forgot about it for a decade. Truly special scent.
Oh and it tasted awful.  I think I may have ruined my evening already.

Thwaites - Old Dan
I picked this one up because it was next to all the 'cool' beers in Morrisons.

Looks - Lovely deep rich caramel colour, head cleared quickly.
Smells - Quite a bit  of alcohol in the nose, rich plum smell - a good fruit cake aroma.
Taste - Pretty good.  Nice classic dark flavours of roasted malts, liquorice etc

6/10

I wrote this whilst listening to my running playlist, which is an energetic selection of 90's hip-hop, alt-rock, blues rock, metal and just good old rock.  It was mostly Gorillaz and The Black Keys, House of Pain to finish...jump around.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 13th

Today sucked a little bit.  Let me tell you about it.
I was supposed to be playing squash, but they were all booked up until 3pm.  It would have been booked sooner if they could answer the phone.  I haven't done much exercise lately and it's starting to have an effect.
Why don't I just go to the gym? Well - see part two just below...
As I drove to the shop this afternoon, I noticed the brakes on my car were a little spongy - the pedal depressing far further into the footwell than is normal.  Turns out either one of the hoses or cylinders for the rear right wheel has broken.  When I press the pedal it piddles out fluid.  It was if nothing else a fun drive to my parents house using only the handbrake.  Sadly I am now car-less for a spell.

Todays beer however, is not disappointing.  It is both tasty and very amusing.

Brasserie de la Senne - Taras Boulba
Firstly, this beer has the best label on it.

I did some research into what on earth it is.  According to the internet...
A young Flemish man has gone and married a French-speaking Wallonian girl (Wallonia is a region of Belgium), and his father, Taras Boulba, is very angry.
Smeirlap means ‘fool’ in a bizarre local dialect, which combines Flemish and French.
This is all a bastardization of the original story by Gogol, whose protagonist was Russian, a Protestant. His son marries a Polish girl, a Catholic, during the religious war between the two countries in the 1600’s, and the Russian father simply kills his son to eliminate the shame.

So not only is the image hilarious, but it also has undertones of religious persecution.  Have I mentioned that the beer is tasty yet?

Looks - Golden, really murky looking though.
Smells - Really yeasty, really bitter hops.  A little sweety and fruity too.  You'd be able to tell it were Belgian just by catching a whiff.
Taste - There's a bit going on, starts off quite fresh and hoppy then finishes off quite tangy and bitter.  Feels really creamy which is odd considering how dry it ends up.  This beer is quite an achievement - I want another one...

10/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to Albert Collins.  I sure do love the blues.  I've only just started listening to Albert Collins, but this man really knows his way around a telecaster. There is also the occasional saxamaphone solo which everyone likes...

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 12th

I can't be bothered to write much today, so it's quite handy that I can't really write that much about todays beer.

Mongozo - Premium Pilsner
Mongozo do a fantastic banana beer.  They also do coconut, mango, quinua (which is a grain), and palmnut.  Sadly I've only had banana and coconut.  This is the same Belgian brewer that makes Delirium.

Anyway

Looks - Like a nice pilsner
Smells - Fairly ordinary, little hops, little grainy.
Taste - Not really as crisp or lively as I'd like.  It's still drinkable though, but it's largely anonymous.  I'm just drinking, I'm not drinking anything.

5/10

I wrote this blog whilst watching Homeland, season 2, episode 10.  Meh.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 11th

All I've done for the last 5 days is eat. Eat and drink.  I'm doing my best not to today (not really doing well either) - however I'm planning on making a pot of Gunpowder after today's beer.

Oh...

Gunpowder is a green tea, it's called gunpowder because it used to look like gunpowder.  I feel like this blog is going to be too short.
I read a short skiffy story by Cordwainer Smith the other day - where in order to get away from the people who were attacking him the captain of a ship genetically imprinted "serve and protect man" into a species of cat.  He then sent these cats to a nearby habitable moon - 2 million years in the past.  Of course as soon as he'd done that they appeared and defeated his attackers. Mindfuck though!

Badgers - Fursty Ferret
Fursty Ferret is quite a nostalgic beer for me, it's featured all but one beer-advent calendars - and Badgers were one of the first brewers I took a shine to in the early days of beer discovery. 

*The following is a little rant
The sad thing about Badgers these days, is their branding.  They've redesigned it to be more appealing...but to who? The under 10's? Marketing people say it's for younger people, what with more 18-24 year olds drinking ale - but I don't quite see that. It's not like your typical Lager has anything but a badge and a date on it.  Badgers were an easily identifiable brand, everything had a badger perched above it.  You'd have to be a complete muppet not to get it.
My next gripe is the bottles.  They're clear.  Old Badgers had only 2 of their 6 core range in clear bottles, now it's 4 out of 6.  Why do I care? Well, beers brewed with actual hops are degraded by exposure to light (beers with hop extracts are usually not).  If beer is left in the light too much it will go skunky and taste completely different from how the brewer intended, so if a brewer cares about their beer - they use a dark bottle.  Even Budweiser know this.

Anyway.
Looks - Like I want it to be summer.
Smells - Fruity sweet and malty.  Nice and light.
Taste - Nice balance of sweetness and bitterness.  Very refreshing, could easily sink loads of these.

7/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to Celebration Day.  I was hugely reluctant to actually listen to this, not wanting to hear Led Zeppelin just sounding off.  It starts off a little...weak - the guitar is overly doused in effects and I didn't really like it.  However after 3 songs things started to pick up, the effects die off a little and Robert Plant really comes into his vocals.  Jason Bonham is absolutely kicking the drums all over the shop, it's making me tired just listening.  I'm looking forward to putting the Blu-ray on.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - Birthday Beer

*Apologies if this blog contains any hint of melancholy.

So if I didn't demonstrate my commitment by staying up until 1am reviewing beers last night - writing a blog on my Birthday is surely proof absolute.
I'm 30 years old today - as I'm sure you can imagine I've been constantly reminded (since I was about 28) I'd be 30 soon.
The change in age doesn't bother me, I'm only a day older than yesterday, I'm still healthy and physically able - probably more so than my friends who are marginally younger than me.
It's not like all of a sudden because I've turned 30 all the problems I perceive in my life are more important or pressing now. 

Little Creatures - Pale Ale
I first had Little Creatures in the City Arms, my flatmate and I were having a bit of an "Ooooh what's that beer over there" session.  Exceptional beer, this one.

Little creatures is an Australian IPA, probably the only good Australian beer I'd think of if you pressured me.
Looks - Golden brown (texture like sun), a little cloudy and some nice head/lacing.
Smells - Fresh, malty, and fruity.
Taste - Supremely balanced hops, malt and citrus flavours.  It's not too strong either, nothing lingers very long which makes it very drinkable.

This beer is extremely good, but I've not scored it 10 today because I like my flavours a little harsher.  That said - if this beer came out of the calendar yesterday I'd have been thrilled and given it 11 for making my life easier.  I'd like to give it 95%, but I'm not happy rounding that to 10/10 given my current scoring system. Maybe next year...

9/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to The Manic Street Preachers.  The Manics were the first band I ever went out of my way to listen to, outside my parents cassette/vinyl collection.  I heard Everything Must Go on the radio whilst holidaying in a caravan in West Wales and have been following them since.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 9th

The last thing I wanted to be sat with tonight was a selection of strong Belgian beers.  The second-last thing I wanted to be sat with was bloody strong dark beers and stouts!

Tiny Rebel - Chocoholic
Can you guess what it tastes like? This one drops in at 6.8%.

Looks - Dark as the demonic bowels of Beelzebub.
Smells - Quite fresh for a beer this rich, not as much chocolate as you'd expect. Someone bought me a chocolate imperial stout yesterday and this is really nothing in comparison.
Taste - Less chocolately than you'd expect.  Don't get me wrong though it's still a nice beer, rich chocolate/coffee tastes.  It's like chocolate on something else - it's not primary.  Littly hoppy to finish but the lingering taste is mostly typical stout flavours.

7/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to David Bowie (still), the song Life on Mars is one of my favourite songs ever - if you listen at around 3:40 you can hear a phone ringing in the background - not unlike The Ocean by Led Zeppelin (1:37). It seems songs I fucking love have telephones ringing in them.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 8th

Beer catch-up is going well...I haven't even taken my jacket or trainers off.

Brooklyn - Brown Ale
Another entry from Brooklyn in this years calendar - I thoroughly enjoyed their EIPA a few days ago.
A little bit on brown ales...Brown ales should be brewed with brown malts, hence the name - though I don't think they are anymore as they're expensive.  Usually sweeter with a lower ABV.  This one is quite strong at 5.6%.

Looks - Rich and dark, medium brown colour and (as you can see) a thick head which settles nicely and lingers all the way.
Smells - Strong. Malty coffee, chocolate perhaps a little sweetness.
Taste - Reminds me more of a stout or a porter than a brown ale, lots of notes of dark chocolate, caramel, a little nutty.  It's quite sweet for a short time before you get a hoppy (happy) ending.

Nice beer.

7/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to David Bowie.  Fact - I actually heard Def Leppard cover Ziggy Stardust before I heard the original album.  I particularly like the song Five Years from this album, the imagery I get from it is so vivid and one of the few songs I actually find moving.  My Mum is actually a huge Bowie fan and she always skips the song because she doesn't like the imagery it draws for her.  I love it.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 7th

OK.  I'm here for business this evening. 

Had a t'riffic time in Newcastle with a rather epic Friday night - got to try a whole host of beers I've been looking for, visited a Brewdog bar, had some Tactical Nuclear Penguin, some Sink the Bismark and put away more than my share of Jaegerbombs.  I'm actually the Jaegermaster, in case you hear that name getting thrown around.

So tonight I'm on catch-up, even though I'm sure three more beers are the last thing my insides will appreciate. Also I have work in the morning and am deprived sleep as it is. I am nothing but commited to beer advent. 

First up.

Great Orme Brewery - Orme
Never heard of the brewer before, picked this one up just because.  Now before I move on to reviewing I'd like to add that the volume of beer/scotch/Jaeger consumed this weekend may have dented my palate a little.  Or I may have undergone psychological changes and my preferences at the moment could be a little warped.

Looks - A little murky.  Head cleared in next to no time and it actually looks a little thin.
Smells - Quite mild, but still enjoyable - sweet and malty with a hint of chocolate.
Tastes - A lot nicer than I expected, it is mild but the body is nice and it's quite crisp.  Nice caramel malt flavour.
I think this beer is working for me right now because it's mild, and after so much Belgian beer and lipsmacking IPA it's refreshingly...bland.

6/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to Albert King, 'cos one does love the blues.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 6th

This will be the last blog I'll be writing for a few days, I'm off to Newcastle with friends - to visit a friend - and celebrate the upcoming anniversary of my birth on Monday.  I'll be catching up with Friday's and Saturday's beers on Sunday - then drinking Sundays.  I kind of hope they aren't all monsters so I can get through 3 without too much trouble.

It seems the word of beer advent is spreading, aside from my flatmate (who was in the same car as me when the idea was conceived) at least two other people I know are doing one.  It's nice that they're trying new things and broadening their beer horizons, maybe only just a little - but broadening none-the-less.

On to today's beer.

Brooklyn - East India Pale Ale (EIPA)
Brooklyn are an American brewer (duh!) from New York (duh!).  If you don't know where New York is then I suppose I should be glad you can read.  Thanks for stopping by, please continue reading.
I suppose I could explain what an IPA is.  The story goes that during colonial times people wanted beer, and ales brewed in the UK travelled extremely poorly - often spoiling during their transport.  IPA's were loaded with extra malt and extra hops and when they arrived at their destination (India) they were extremely tasty.

There are all British malts in this beer, and some English hops too.  It is extremely tasty.  I'd only even had it in the City Arms before seeing it in The Bottle Shop and choosing to pick it for this years calendar.
Looks - Pretty nice amber colour, no head to speak of really with some nice lacing as it makes it's way down the glass.
Smells - Sweet malt, fresh citrussy hops.
Taste - This beer is exceptionally well rounded.  It ticks all the boxes for flavours - malty, hoppy, fruity, bitter, it's a little creamy feeling too.

I can't actually fault this beer, it's quite strong (6.9%) but you'd never get that from the taste.  I could actually sit here all evening and drink it until I get angry with the world.

10/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to Santana, before I got to around the time Santana got awful then I started listening to Thin Lizzy.  You know, I heard Phil Lynott singing in Jeff Waynes War of the Worlds before I heard him in Thin Lizzy - then I learnt he was dead. How awesome is the War of the Worlds though!?

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 5th

Today was my last day in work until Monday, good thing too because it was difficult trying to get a mountain of work done with Uncle Buck on the TV near my desk.

Today's beer is just awesome.

Tiny Rebel - Urban IPA
I've mentioned Brewdog in a few posts, and those who know me know I have shares in the brewery.  Tiny Rebel are like Brewdog in many ways, colourful (perhaps aggressive) styling for their bottles and all out attack for their flavours.  And they're from Newport.
My flatmate and I went to the Beer and Cider Festival this year in anticipation as we'd heard they were in there.  They were one of the three main brewers there on the main stand next to Brains and Otley, which is impressive as they only started brewing in the spring of 2012 and I'd never had one of their beers - clearly got money behind them.
We spent our time sampling all their beers and only had about two non-Tiny Rebel beers all day.  It was a tour de force of tastiness, they were even dry hopping (pulling a beer through dry hops) an already insanely tasty beer using something they called a hop-rocket.

Urban IPA is similar to Brewdogs 'standard' Punk IPA - which is a great beer to be compared to.
Looks - Poured well, nice slightly cloudy golden colour.  Had a thick white head.
Smells - Quite complex, it's sharp and fruity whilst still coming over as rich and warming.
Taste - Dry, sharp and fruity.  Lovely bitter hoppy finish that lasts for ages.

Now I know what you're thinking..."this beer's getting a high score"

Yeah.

It is.  But not as high as you'd think.

8/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to The Music.  I was at their farewell gig in the Brixton Academy, you know, it was the shit.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 4th

Hmmm. Tuesday.

Todays beer is going straight to my head - I haven't eaten since about 3pm and all I really ate today was bread, soup, and a doughnut.

Morland - Old Crafty Hen
I never drink Old Crafty Hen, I see it in the shops and remember how much I enjoy drinking it - and then I leave it thinking 'I'll keep it for the calendar'.  I wish I wouldn't.  Actually last year I didn't even bother reviewing it because I like it so much.

I'm sure the fact I don't drink it often makes this beer quite special, it is a thoroughly enjoyable drink in every aspect.  It's a shame I just don't find myself 'wowed' as much anymore - I'm used to it, and the types of beer I drink regularly are more on a par with it.
Looks - Lovely deep copper colour.  Almost perfect, there's another beer somewhere in the calendar with 'the' colour.
Smells - Rich, malty and sweet.  Bit of coffee and caramel.
Taste - Just lovely.  Smooth and sweet at first, then malty with a little bitterness in the aftertaste.

I still rate this beer highly, and the fact that I still enjoy it after so long speaks to it's quality.  I was going to score it quite low (by Crafty Hen standards), but after thinking about it, and drinking it, I've changed my mind.
This is just what a good ale tastes like.  Scrumdiddlyumptious.

10/10

I wrote this blog whilst listeneing to The War of the Worlds. I'll talk about it a little, because I love it. Synth, strings and 70's style guitar & bass all wrapped up in classic science fiction.  I've been to see it 3 times - twice with my mum because no one else was cool enough...

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 3rd

Ahhh - Monday.  I've had a pretty good Monday, occasionally whilst working my mind wandered to the treat concealed in a festive bag in my fridge.  No disappointment here today!

Flying Dog Brewery - Raging Bitch
Thanks to the City Arms, Flying Dog were one of the first 'new' American brewers I heard about.  They had an American beer festival featuring all sorts of wonder I'd never tasted before, Goose Island, Flying Dog, Anchor amongst others.
Flying Dog do have an interesting art style, I have to say it's very similar to the sorts of things Matt the drummer (you know who you are) used to draw.  Anyhoo...

Raging Bitch is (as it says) a belgian style IPA - Honestly I'm not exactly sure what they mean by that, unless it's just that it's top fermented and bottle conditioned.  It's 8.3% ABV so that's definitely Belgian style.  I've actually just learned that the El Diablo yeast they used gives a Belgian flavour, so...yeah.
Looks - Lovely orange colour to it, it's a little cloudy with a tiny bit of carbonation.  Pillowy head (heh!)
Smells - T'riffic. Fruity and hoppy, there's a hint of malt but this is all hops at the business end.
Taste - Like it smells.  Strong, hoppy, fruity and bitter.  This is how I like my beer.

Gets an identical score to yesterday's beer, I can't quite give it a 10 because my socks are still on.

9/10

I wrote this blog whilst listening to The White Stripes I often wonder if I'd like to be Jack White. I think I would, the fella' knows his way around a tune.

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 2nd

Today's beer is nice, and I've got nothing else of note to say - so I'll just get straight to it.

Brouwerij Huyghe - Delirium Tremens
I've been meaning to try this beer for a long time now, a friend told me about Delirium Nocturnum a few years ago and I've been keeping an eye out for it since.
This isn't Delirium Nocturnum (as the more astute of you would have noticed) but who cares? It's got a pink elephant on it.  There are four varieties of Delirium - Tremens, Nocturnum, Christmas and Red.

It comes in a fancy ceramic-look bottle and weighs in with an 8.5% ABV
Looks - Pale golden colour, formed a foamy head upon pouring but that cleared fairly quickly.
Smells - Fruity, with a little spice and a little malt.  I've a cold at the moment which has diminished my sense of smell but the smell of this made me want to just pour it down my throat.
Taste - This beer tastes nommy-nommy-nom.  Crisp and fruity at first, then finishes with a familiar dry and yeasty flavour you often get with Beligian beers.  Deceptively easy to drink.

Very nice, highly recommended.

9/10 

I wrote this blog whilst listening to Alice Cooper

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012 - December 1st

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! (this is how to pen excitement)

I feel I should add that since last year my preferences and tastes for beer have changed a little, with the popularity of small local brewers the punchier hoppy flavours of American inspired IPA's definitely being preferred to a standard British ale.
In short, ale needs to be very special to compete with the barrage on the senses I now favour.

I'll also try and be structured with my review, noting on appearance, smell, and taste.  Let's see how long I can keep that up for.

Now, on to the beer.  The first beer in the 2012 Beer Advent Calendar is...

Oxfordshire Ales - Uncle Scrooge
I'm not sure if Uncle Scrooge is trying to be ironic, because there really isn't anything Christmassy (I'm sure I used that word last year) about it.  I often wonder what the point of all the traditional breweries putting out Christmas beer is, I assume it's just because old men get drunk at Christmas and it has nothing to do with actually creating a beer inspired by Christmas.  Last year Brewdog released a Christmas beer made with ginger and cloves - t'was fantastic, but I digress.

Looks - I'm not really a fan of the colour, it's halfway between a nice golden/amber and a richer darker ale.  Looks almost muddy.
Smells - Smells OK, little malty, little hoppy - but on the whole, fairly average.
Taste - I'm trying not to be negative, but this beer tastes like 'the norm'.  There's nothing popping out, I could probably pick out at least half a dozen other beers that are almost identical - and they're available year-round.  I could probably brew something that tasted like this (no, not in my bladder...)

I'm not disappointed to get this one out of the way first, quite the opposite - this distinctly average drink shall provide a middle-of-the-road mark for the rest of the month.

5/10


I wrote this blog whilst listening to The Bibelots

The Beer Advent Calendar 2012

It's that time of year again, where everyone likes to make out that I have a drinking problem.  It's not a drinking problem, it's a boredom problem.

Besides, one beer a day and only one month of the year.  Talk to me about it next year when I'm contemplating making it the beer & whisky advent calendar - a beer and a miniature for each day.

So here we have this years beers, there are a few repeats in there but I have tried to put lots of new beers in as always.
There are also quite a few 330ml bottles (usually they're all 500ml), but it's OK because some of them are bound to be mighty tasty.

That's all for now, roll on December 1st!

I wrote this blog whilst listening to Hurry Up, We're Dreaming by M83.