Lagerboy Speaks

Suffolk behemoths Greene King are primarily known for their IPA, ubiquitous in the south of England but rarely seen up here. But they have plenty of other beers in their portfolio, many obtained via aggressive takeovers of rival brewers. Because of this they are now the largest solely British-owned producer in the UK. To my knowledge (and correct me if I'm wrong), they don't currently produce a lager - but when Lagerboy was wandering around his local bottle shop he spied what looked very much like one - Greene King St Edmund's Ale.

There's also a (potentially) interesting subplot to this particular beer when drunk in pubs - the buyer can choose how to have it poured. At 6-7°C, the 'unique beer engine reflects regional tastes. Drinkers can opt for a ‘northern head’ – tight and creamy or a ‘southern head’ – a crowning glory of loose bubbles.' The MD of Greene King described the thinking behind it - "St Edmund’s has the flavour and provenance of a cask beer and the dispense kit offers the theatre and choice you get from a brand like Guinness.” Theatre and choice.

Anyhow, the one Lagerboy had was in a bottle, and although technically a 'blonde ale specially brewed to be served cooler', it sounds pretty much like a lager to me - the bottle is certainly adorned with a rather lagery-looking label. At 4.2% the tasting note thereon describes it as a 'golden beer with a fresh crisp finish'. Well, without the flash dispenser the bottled variation had no head whatsoever, with streamers of rising bubbles making the whole thing look like a pint of Strongbow. A very green, gassy taste, it smells like lager and tastes like one of those pinchingly bitter lagers where you have sweetness and battery acid at the same time.




Previous Lagerboy posts
Zagorka (Bul)
Estrella Damm (Esp)
Pietra (Fra)
Windhoek (Nam)
Brooklyn Lager (USA)
Colonsay Lager (Sco)

Scottish Beer Festival 2008

In our recent preview of the 2008 Scottish Real Ale Festival I wrote that we were all looking forward to trying some new things, as it's really the main reason for going along. Last year's festival (the review of which is here) was something of an eye-opener to the BeerCast - we'd only just started out on the real ale path - so practically everything we tried was new. I remember the first beer I sampled then (picked totally at random) was Fyne Ales's Pipers Gold, which I described as "like drinking an entire flowerbed". It seems my baffling beer descriptions haven't improved over the last twelve months.

Fast forward a year, and we turned up at the Assembly Rooms on Friday and it was suddenly all so familiar. The brewers, the brands, the styles of beer, the boozy queasinesses - we seemed like old hands striding around with our pint glasses at the ready. But of course the beauty of a beer festival is that even those who try and learn as much about local beer as they can will still be able to find something they've yet to experience. So here's what I managed to pack into a few short hours on Friday afternoon...


1. Orkney IPA (4.8%)
Highland Brewery, Birsay, Orkney.
'A refreshing well-hopped pale ale' said the tasting notes in the festival guide, and what better way to start an afternoon's research? I've long wanted to try this given the reputation of the Highland Brewery (reigning Champion Beer of Scotland winners for Dark Munro), but not yet seen it during our beery travels. As an IPA it's characteristically hoppy, more in the aftertaste than up front, but a really good session ale.


2. Gold Rush (3.9%)
Harviestoun Brewery, Alva, Clackmannanshire.
Next I made a bee-line for the Harviestoun section, as their little-seen seasonal Gold Rush was pretty much the first thing that caught my eye when wandering around. If it's even half as good as Bitter and Twisted or Schiehallion then it'd be a winner. As it was, it was just as good - zingy and packed full of hops, it reminded me a bit of Stewart's Edinburgh Gold - which is probably my favourite beer. Great stuff.


3. Peden's Cove (3.5%)
Windie Goat Brewery, Failford, South Aryshire.
'Pale Bitter named after the area where Alexander Peden preached from', apparently. After a quick Google, Peden was a 17th Century Covenanter repeatedly jailed for preaching about his Presbyterianism. As for the beer, the classic musty Fuggles hop smell really comes out of this very pale session bitter. It's pretty good stuff, and makes me want to try more from this relatively new producer (they started in 2006).


4. Midnight Sun (5.6%)
Williams Brothers, Alloa, Clackmannanshire.
Residents of the Wee County are really spoiled when it comes to brewers - just down the road from Harviestoun are the Williams Brothers, another big favourite of the BeerCast. They also had one of their seasonals at the festival, Midnight Sun - a hoppy porter with added ginger. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it was ab-so-lutely fantastic. Smooth, dark tastes with the edge given by ginger (which was just in the very background), and pretty hefty at 5.6%abv, it was just great. My beer of the festival, and a real find.


5. Skullsplitter (8.5%)
Sinclair Orkney Brewery, Quoyloo, Orkney.
Recently named Scotland's best Barleywine for 2008, Skullsplitter is a mighty concoction. We bought a collective half to sample (it was 4 o'clock in the afternoon) to see what the fuss was about. There's certainly a distinctive 'prunes soaked in vodka' smell to it, although I didn't pick up any of the suggested apple and/or plum. Very spicy taste, and surprisingly subtle, but to be honest one to sip in different surroundings than at a beer festival.


6. Dark Moor (4.5%)
Kelburn Brewery, Barrhead, East Renfrewshire.
Last year I went for a total random selection and ended up with Sulwath's Solway Mist, a cloudy wheat beer I noted tasted like "lemonade mixed with antiseptic". But I thought I'd give the idea another go, and plumped for Dark Moor, a ruby bitter from Kelburn. It was eminently more preferable - fruity and a lovely shade of red, a really nice session bitter.


And that was that, as we wandered out into the commuter-packed streets and went to a pub to draw breath*. Some really great finds at the 2008 Scottish Real Ale Festival (to give it the proper name), even given the high percentage of beers on offer we're familiar with. Look out for other posts by BeerCasters who were there, and keep an eye out for future posts (and maybe podcasts) involving some of these new discoveries.




* I'm not ashamed to admit I had a pint of Kirin Ichiban, being totally real-ale'd out

BeerCast #17 - North Yorkshire

After the excitement of our London recording last time out, for the 17th BeerCast podcast we return to our roots - almost literally for one of the panellists. Back in our glittering Edinburgh studio we sample four beers from North Yorkshire, acquired during our Easter time-ish break to York. We begin with Copper Dragon Challenger IPA (4.8%) from Skipton, before moving to the small town of Masham (with a silent H) and try a beer from each of the major brewers there - Theakston XB (4.5%), followed by Black Sheep Ale (4.4%). Finally we end on Suddaby's Auld Bob (6.0%), which Shovels - North Yorkshire born and bred - knows very well. Joining him and Richard on the panel is the welcome return of the Hopmeister, aka Tom.



1. Copper Dragon Challenger IPA (4.8%abv)
Copper Dragon Brewery, Skipton.
500ml glass bottle

Copper Dragon were originally known as the Skipton Brewery, and first opened in 1816 near the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool canal. Initially powered by a water wheel, the brewery continued until the start of the 20th Century, when it was taken over by Bentleys of Woodlesford and closed. But in 2002 Steve Taylor and Ruth Bennett reopened the concern after a two-year feasibility study. They renamed it the Copper Dragon Brewery and now own ten pubs, whilst producing 250 barrels a week.

What They Say - "A truly traditional premium ale brewed to revive flavours enjoyed by our Victorian ancestors. Full bodied and fruity with subtle overtones." [Official Website]; “Amber coloured, this is a best bitter in the traditional style. Initial maltiness gives way to fruit, hops, and a growing bitter, dry finish.” [Good Beer Guide]

What We Say...
Richard - A bit malty for an IPA but nice and drinkable 7
Shovels - More bittery than the usual IPA tastes 7
Tom - There's a hint of ashtray towards the end 6



2. Theakston XB (4.5%abv)
Theakstons Brewery, Masham.
500ml glass bottle

Theakston's are one of Britain's real success stories when it comes to breweries. 'T&R Theakston Ltd' was founded in 1827 at the Black Bull Pub in Masham. In 1919 they acquired and closed the town’s other brewery, Lighfoot’s, and concentrated production. Always a family business, eventually operations were conducted by four of the Theakston brothers, but sadly in 1987 financial constraints led to a takeover by Scottish & Newcastle. Happily, however, in 2004 the four Theakstons bought the business back from corporate S&N and it is now in family hands once again.

What They Say - “A premium strength, ruby coloured ale with a rich flavour and full body. The balance between bitterness and fruitiness from the Bramling Cross and Fuggle hops used to give XB the distinctively complex aroma, making it the beer to savour.” [Official Website] “There are more flavours in the beers brewed by Theakston in Masham than there are from an entire wine growing region in France.” [Roger Protz]

What We Say...
Tom - I could get fired into that of an evening, my favourite beer I've had on the BeerCast 9
Shovels - Subtle and enjoyable aley caramel flavours 8½
Richard - It's just as good as beers from the NorthWest 8



3. Black Sheep Ale (4.4%abv)
Black Sheep Brewery, Masham.
500ml glass bottle

After S&N acquired Theakston's in 1987, one of the family became so dispirited that he decided to do something drastic. Paul Theakston left the business to start his own brewery, setting up in the old Lightfoot's premises over the road. However, S&N had trademarked the name so he had to come up with another name. Apparently it was his wife that suggested the name 'Black Sheep'. So once again Masham supported two large brewers (the town has a population of about 1300), with Black Sheep concentrating on cask ale (70% of their production). Their familiar ram's head logo is a common sight over the Yorkshire Dales.

What They Say - "Our most famous bottled beer, Black Sheep Ale is fermented in the unusual Yorkshire Square system to produce a distinctive robust taste. Brewed with many generous handfuls of choice Golding hops, it is a full flavoured premium ale with a rich fruity aroma and an uncompromising long, dry and bitter finish." [Official Website]

What We Say...
Richard - Very different to XB, tastes like a standard bitter 6½
Shovels - Slightly disappointing, I much prefer it on draught 6½
Tom - Very different to the draught ale, far too dry for me 5



4. Suddaby's Auld Bob (6%abv)
Suddaby's Brewery, Malton.
500ml glass bottle

The Suddaby family name has gone hand in hand with the North Yorkshire market town of Malton for over a century. Suddabys has once again been voted "Rural Pub of the Year" by Scarborough CAMRA - this is the eighth time in nine consecutive years that the pub has scooped the award. The Suddbay beers, however, are produced under license by the Brown Cow Brewery in Selby, as there are no production facilities in Malton.

What They Say - “Suddaby's award winning Auld Bob is a rich dark full-bodied ale brewed with a combination of two dark hops and the finest English malt to produce a full flavoured and unique ale.” [Official Website] “Deep ruby strong ale with a rich velvet finish.” [Good Beer Guide]

What We Say...
Shovels - We used to need Coca Cola chasers to stomach this 5
Richard - I want to like it but I'm struggling 4
Tom - It's like every bad drink you had as a kid that made you sick 2


BeerCast panel verdict

Theakston XB - 25½/30
Copper Dragon Challenger IPA - 20/30
Black Sheep Ale - 18/30
Suddaby's Auld Bob - 11/30



Panellists - (from bottom left) Richard, Shovels, The Hopmeister


The podcast of this episode is now available for download on iTunes. Follow the link on the right hand menu of this blog, or go to our site feed to listen to the MP3 file. We'll be back in a couple of weeks with episode 18 - our third BeerCast Japanese Beer special. Stay tuned for details...and please leave us comments on the blog or iTunes, or emails. Cheers!

Scottish Beer Festival 2008 Lineup

Summer's here, and the boozy festival season is upon us once again. We like a beer festival or two here at the BeerCast - recently CraigAS partook of some fascinating tipples at the 2008 Montreal Mondial de la biere, including a revelatory experience with a black IPA. You can also read his report on the 2007 equivalent here. Closer to home, in March Andy and myself paid a visit to the London Drinker Festival, and a few weeks after that our Edinburgh panellists sampled a few treats at the Wetherspoon's Beer Festival. But the biggie for us is without doubt our local - the Scottish Beer Festival, held every summer at the Assembly Rooms just up the road. We went last year, and we'll be there this time - from Thursday this week when it opens.

The lineup was announced this weekend - and features around 25 brewers from Scotland, many of them favourites to the BeerCast (although sadly the Arran Brewery will not be there). Ales in the lineup we've sampled during our podcasts include Belhaven St Andrews Ale (which scored 50%), Sinclair Orkney Dark Island (70%), Valhalla White Wife (63%), Caledonian Deuchars IPA (64%), Highland Orkney Blast (58%), and Traditional Scottish Ales's William Wallace (err...). But there are plenty of beers we've never tried, and some we've never heard of - which is the primary reason for going to beer festivals (aside from the beard spotting).

Amongst the potential highlights are the ranges of beers supplied by BrewDog, who have six of theirs on offer (including The Physics and RipTide, both of which won gongs at the 2007 World Beer Awards), Cairngorm - who include the sublime Trade Winds in their nine-strong entrants, and local BeerCast faves Stewarts, with their balanced range of beers from Edinburgh Gold to Copper Cascade. Also onboard are quality outfits like Sulwath, Houston, and the Skye brewery. If you like a golden session ale or two, then there will be plenty on offer - Inveralmond's Ossian, Black Isle's Yellowhammer, Kelburn's Goldihops and Atlas's Nimbus are four to savour.

As for trying new things, well, I'll be looking out for the Williams Bros rare porter Midnight Sun, plus timely seasonals from superb producers such as Harviestoun (Gold Rush), Cairngorm (Blessed Thistle), and Fyne Ales (Sommerled) - not to mention Highland Dark Munro, the reigning Champion Beer of Scotland, having won the title last year. Also completely new treats from the likes of Ayrshire's Windie Goat, who started production in 2006, and beers I've not had the pleasure of sampling yet - such as Belhaven's Herok and Howell's single malt 70/-, Tryst's Zetland Wheat Beer, and Highland's Orkney IPA. I wonder what colour it is?

...and they even have beers for Andy - Caledonian Lemon Ale???




The festival is at Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms on George Street, and opens Thursday 19th June (4pm-11pm), Friday 20th (12pm-11pm), and Saturday 21st (12pm-9pm). Entry is £4, or £3 for CAMRA members. If you see us there, come and say hello. We'll be the group of men standing around drinking beer - you can't miss us. Our review will be up sometime after the festival ends...


2008 Scottish Real Ale Festival Lineup in full

End of the line for Arran?

We don't often bring you beer news here, primarily as there are plenty of other websites that do a far better job (such as Beer Today, Beer Pages, Stonch's blog and of course CAMRA). But then there are plenty of others who do reviews of beer better - and that doesn't stop us. After returning from an enjoyable but real ale-free trip to Spain (hola Cruzcampo!), we discovered with a shock that one of the BeerCast's favourite Scottish brewers had gone into administration with debts of over £1 million.

The Arran Brewery featured in our very first BeerCast - before we started scoring beers, and before we recorded the episode that you could actually hear properly and which became our debut podcast. Pictured above, with Atlas's Three Sisters ale and Black Isle's Organic Wheat Beer (which unsurprisingly looking at the photo was over three months out of date), is Arran Blonde - the standout beer from the island producer. Also in their highly drinkable range are Arran Ale, Dark, Fireside and Sunset. I use the word is rather than the word was, but it's not looking good.

Opened in 2000 and employing 11 people, rising costs of transportation, distribution and bottling have taken their toll. The plight of Scotland's island breweries is one we've featured before on the BeerCast, with beers from producers on Colonsay, Unst (Valhalla), and Orkney (Sinclair); (Highland), being featured in various episodes. The changing economic climate must be seriously testing these producers, who by their nature are smaller than mainland breweries and are sited in areas with more expensive resources.

Hopefully a solution can be found to the situation in Arran. Their website currently has only a terse statement from the receivers about the change of ownership, and the closure of the online shop. Over the last few days I've tried to find some of their beers in Edinburgh for a special podcast edition, but without success. We can only hope to try Arran's beers again, as they were really something - but the 'closed' sign hung on the door there doesn't bode well. In the meantime, here's the review of our sampling of Arran Blonde, recorded on the 3rd of May, 2007.




3. Arran Blonde Premium Beer (5%abv)
The Arran Brewery, Brodick.
500ml glass bottle

There are only 621 people in Brodick, but they are lucky to have a brewery right on their doorsteps. Arran (not to be confused with the sweater-loving Aran in Ireland) is Britain's ninth largest island, an hour's ferry ride from the mainland. Production started in early 2000, and now outputs 200 barrels a week, plus additional bottles for the busy supermarket trade. They have an amber ale, a malty dark, and a hoppy blonde in their range - the last one of these was sampled by the panel.

What They Say - "Arran Blonde has a floral hop and new mown grass aroma, the taste is well balanced with citric fruit and a good hop character. A clear tasting pale golden beer in a continental style." [Arran Brewery]; "A hoppy beer with a substantial fruit balance, the finish is increasingly bitter. Aromatic, it drinks below it's weight." [The Good Beer Guide]

What We Say - "One of my favourite beers. Not as nice a smell as others, but easy to drink quite a lot of this in a night." [Mr B]; "Hoppy, not malty. It looks like a lager and goes down much easier than the other two. It's my favourite so far." [Richard]; "This is quite tasty, despite the smell. It's better than any lager out there." [Shovels]



UPDATE - Happily the situation has now changed. Arran managed to find a buyer, and according to their (now functioning) website are going to begin production again very soon. Great news!


Still no takers for the Arran Brewery [The Arran Banner, 24th May]
D-Day for the Arran Brewery [The Publican, 19th May]

Sacre Bleu: Part Deux!

Montreal Beer Festival: 28 May – 1 June 2008

No this isn’t part two of a two-part report for which I have forgotten to submit the first installment. I headlined last year’s report “Sacre Bleu!” and just couldn’t resist employing the Hot Shots reference. Far from being Part Deux, this is in fact my third trip to the Montreal Mondial de la Biere, now in its 15th year. Arriving about 8pm on a Thursday night wasn’t exactly the best strategic move my friends and I have ever made. There was a fairly long queue to get in, but it moved quite rapidly and the anticipation no doubt improved our experience.

The Gare Windsor was, to use an East Midlandsism, rammed.

Moving through the inebriated post-work throng with beers in both hands proved difficult and I can only conclude that its far better to go early on a Saturday, as we did last year. A lunchtime tipple in less-packed surrounds is far easier on the trousers.

First up was a Gingembre beer from Le Bilboquet, a brewery I hadn’t heard of. I dunno about you but I prefer my ginger beers to taste of ginger, which this one did, but only just barely. Disappointed, I barged on through the crowds.

I made a bee-line for the stall of Montreal Brew pub Dieu du ciel, who rarely let me down. Upon glancing at the blackboard, I noticed a beer called Penombre (“Penumbra/Shadow”, 6%), which was described as a Black IPA. A black IPA? C’est ridicule, non? Handing over my hard-paid-for coupons, I was rewarded with a glass of something that looked very much like a stout. Thinking these daft Quebecois had mixed up their beer categories, I gave it a shot and found the visual and taste centres of my brain suddenly quarrelling. All was in uproar. Penombre has a very traditional IPA flavour to it, not what you expect from something that looks like flat Guinness. The extra hops barrel through and lend it a very pleasant bitterness. Quite the revelation and one I’ll be looking for in the supermarché locale. Dieu du ciel also do an interesting burnt-coffee-tinged Imperial Stout called Peché Mortel. However, don’t (as my unfortunate friend did) buy this if you are expecting a peach-flavoured beer. Peché Mortel means “Mortal Sin” and you will be punished for your mistake! It is not for the faint of heart.

One of my favourite Quebec breweries is L’Achimiste, in Joliette, QC. They produce the yummy Ecossaise, whose praises I sing at every turn. Bock de Joliette (6.1%) is their take on a German Bock.

Nobody is quite sure of the origins of Bock beer. Some writers believe the name Bock came from the shortening of Einbeck thus "beck" became "bock." Quite how or why this transliteration should occur is anyone’s guess. Others believe it is more of a pagan or old world reference coming from the fact that the beer was only to be brewed during the sign of the Capricorn goat. What is known is that in Ye Olde Medieval Times German monasteries brewed and drank a strong beer primarily for its nutritional content during their Lenten fasts (perhaps marketed under the slogan “Bock is Good for You”). Bock thus became a symbol of better times to come and the impending end of winter.

The modern version of Bock is bottom-fermenting lager that generally takes extra months of lagering (cold storage) to smooth out. Bock beer in general is stronger than a typical lager, more malty and dark amber to brown in colour. The bitterness produced by the hops can be strong, but should not get in the way of the malt flavor. Most are, therefore, only lightly hopped.

I found L’Alchimiste’s Bock very drinkable. It is richly amber in colour, with a very pleasing caramel and butterscotch flavour and a long aftertaste. I am now in possession of a crate of the stuff! Hurrah!

This year’s beer festival included a stand of French brewers, no doubt reflecting a desire to forge links between French Canada and French er… France. I only had time (and coupons) to sample one beer from the Old Country. Fourche du diable (“The devil’s fork”, 5.4%) from brewery Le Rouget de l’isle, turned out to be a refreshing, spicy lager. Whether I will ever have the opportunity to try it again remains to be seen.

Pub Broadway, in Shawinigan, QC is a brewpub that produces its own interesting line of beers. Mary Poppins (7%) is described as an English Brown Ale and since I’m English, I thought it only right that I should verify its Englishness with an English set of taste-buds. Tasting very much like a Newcastle Brown, it is definitely the closest thing I’ve had to a proper English pint in all my time in Montreal. I can only hope that somewhere in Montreal stocks it, or it’s a long trip out on Interstate 40 for me.

La Sein d’esprit (“The centre of spirit”? Please correct my franglais) is a 5% German white beer. Wiess beers are brewed with a significant proportion of wheat and it is common for them to also contain malted barley. The addition of wheat lends these beers a light flavour and pale colour. Wheat beers are usually top-fermented (in Germany, home of stringent noisy-neighbour regulations, they have to be by law!). Pub Broadway’s version was not bad at all and had a pleasant fruitiness, but it wasn’t nearly as good as their Triple Belgian La Tchucké (7%). Worth every bit of the 4 coupons charged for it (okay… I admit my friend used his Powers Of Marketing to argue them down to 2 coupons since that was all we had left. Cheers Aaron!), La Tchuké is a rich flavoursome Belgian triple ale that had us oooing and aaahing with all our might. The term ‘triple’ comes from a naming convention used by Belgian Trappist breweries to describe the strongest beers in their range, however, the name is now used by a number of brewers around the world to describe a strong ale. Unfortunately, I’m not sure what the name is a reference to, but I’m sure it’s something hilarious in French. Answers on a postcard, please.

Finally, Broadway’s Black Mama raised several eyebrows when we saw both the retro 70’s blaxploitation poster and the description “Black Lager.” Schwartzbiers are dark lager beers with an opaque, black color. They are bottom-fermented and should have and a full, chocolatey or coffee flavor. If you can get past the borderline-rascist name for this one (the reasonably-accommodating les Quebecois strike again), it really is rather good.

And that was the 15th Montreal Beer Festival for me. At that point I was dragged off to see the excreble Sex in the City movie before I lost my sense of sight entirely. It was only fair, really. I forced the missus to see Indiana Jones…


A la prochaine mes amis!

BeerCast #16 - Belgique a Londres

As we've recorded fifteen BeerCast podcasts, we thought we'd try something a bit different for number 16 - so we hit the road and travel to London for a recording. Here we join up with Andy (of Andy and Jess), and BeerCast debutant Elliot - a committed trappist fan and Belgian ale enthusiast. As a result, he brought with him four examples of the type from UtoBeer at Borough Market, and we have a Belgian special in London. We start with a famous name - Chimay Trippel (or Blanche) (8%abv), before moving on to a naturally fermented Lambic - Mort Subite Gueuze (4.5%). The alcohol ramps back up with a 9%er, Delirium Nocturnum from the Brouweij Huyghe in Melle (sister beer to Delirium Tremens). We round off with another famous Belgian producer - as we try Duvel's 'other' brand, Maredsous 10˚ (conveniently at 10%).



1. Chimay Blanche (8%abv)
Bieres de Chimay, Abbey Notre-Dame de Scourmont.
500ml glass bottle

Bieres de Chimay are located inside the abbey Notre-Dame de Scourmont, in the Wallonian region of the country. Since 1862 the Cistercian trappist monks have developed beer, which is still brewed on site. They produce four types – Rouge, Bleue, Blanche, and Doree. The latter is only drunk at the abbey, and is the monk’s own tipple. It’s so secret, no mention of it appears on their official website (apparently some are snuck out and sampled by lucky tasters). But we more than make do with the Blanche, a light coloured 8% abv beer that will hopefully go down as well as Chimay Rouge, which scored 60% in BeerCast#5.

What They Say - "Topped with a creamy head, Chimay Blanche gives off a light fruity apricot aroma. It’s taste, which imparts a silky sensation to the tongue, is made refreshing by a light touch of bitterness. To the palate, the taster perceives a pleasant astringency which complements the flavour qualities of this beer very harmoniously." [Official Website]

What We Say...
Richard - Nice and fruity with typical trappist bitter alcohol taste 8
Elliot - It's a lovely beer, and would be perfect as an evening drink 7
Andy - Clean taste, smells like an alcoholic banana and walnut cake 6



2. Mort Subite Gueuze (4.5%abv)
Kobbegem Brewery (for Alken-Maes), Pajotten.
500ml glass bottle

Mort Subite - 'Sudden Death' - takes it's name from a Brussels bar which was originally called Le Cour Royale. Bankworkers drinking there often had to cut short their lunchtime dice games, shouting out that the one final throw was winner takes all 'Mort Subite!'. Eventually the bar became renowned for this, and was renamed accordingly. The beer - a spontaneously fermenting lambic - comes from Kobbegem, one of the umbrella of producers owned by the Alken-Maes group (who in turn are owned by Scottish & Newcastle).

What They Say - "Mort Subite Gueuze is a spontaneously fermented lambic of malt, wheat and hops. Ripened in oak wooden barrels, it is an amber-coloured, crisp sour-sweet thirst quencher." [Official Website]

What We Say...
Elliot - Easy drinking, it's great one to get people into Belgian beers 7
Richard - Very sharp with a cidery acidity that gets too much 6
Andy - Pleasant enough but without a distinctive taste to it 5



3. Delirium Nocturnum (9%abv)
Brouwerij Huyghe, Melle.
330ml glass bottle

The prolific and hardworking Brouwerij Huyghe turn out an enormous range of beers, of every possible style (from Belgian sour ales to Coconut beer). They are best known for Delirium Tremens, the ceramic-effect bottled beer with the famous pink elephants (which mustered a controversially disappointing 40% in BeerCast#6, back in October). A stronger, darker stablemate of D.T., D.Nocturnum comes in the similar faux ceramic bottle - but it tastes very different. Will our panel go for this, or consign the Huyghe concern to another poor mark from the BeerCast (and if so, will they care)...?

What They Say - "Elle est à la fois forte en goût, amer d'écorce et de houblon, ainsi qu'en saveur alcoolisée. Son évaluation finale n'arrive qu'en fin de dégustation, avec une prolongation assez longue de son amertume. Chaude et veloutée, elle plait généralement au vrai connaisseur, mais ne la prive pas de découverte auprès des curieux pionniers de bières de caractère." [Website Officiale]

What We Say...
Richard - Big upfront taste then trails off to molasses sweetness 8
Elliot - One of the best dark Belgians, comforting, warming finish 7
Andy - Total opposite of the last one, not sharp or cidery at all 6



4. Maredsous 10˚ (10%abv)
Duvel Moortgat Brewery, Puurs.
330ml glass bottle

Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat started up in 1871, and are world famous for their flagship beer – Duvel (Flemish for devil). But in 1963 they started another brand under license of the monks of Maredsous Abbey, a benedictine monastery at Denee near Namur. The eponymous brand on behalf of the monks features a blonde (Maredsous 6˚), a bruin (8˚), and today we sampled the hefty tripel (10˚). It's impossible to write a Belgian beer post without mentioning the late, great Beer Hunter Michael Jackson - and he was particularly fond of these beers - "These [Maredsous] have long been my favourites. Above all the 10° is an especially tasty beer."

What They Say - "Dark blond Maredsous triple with 10% alcohol content is characterised by a fine, almost festive sparkle. Sour, sweet and bitter flavours melt together harmoniously in a full fresh flavour with a sweet aftertaste. Its gastronomic bouquet of flavours makes this triple an appreciated ingredient in the kitchen." [Official Website]

What We Say...
Richard - Heady marzipan alcohol taste to it, this is really nice 8
Andy - The more I drink the more I like it 7½
Elliot - Warm and heavy and not as fruity as other trappists 7½


BeerCast panel verdict

Maredsous 10˚ - 23/30
Chimay Blanche (Trippel) - 21/30
Delirium Nocturnum - 21/30
Mort Subite Gueuze - 18/30



Panellists - (from top left) Richard, Andy, Elliot


The podcast of this episode is now available for download on iTunes. Follow the link on the right hand menu of this blog, or go to our site feed to listen to the MP3 file. We'll be back in a couple of weeks with episode 17 - a return to the UK with four beers from North Yorkshire. Stay tuned for details...and please leave us comments on the blog or iTunes, or emails. Cheers!