A decent Scottish lager?

There is a dearth of decent lagers in the UK, could probably count them on one hand. This applies even more so North of the border where (aside from one of my all time favourites, Harviestoun Schiehallion) there hasn't been anything worthy of note - until now that is.

 

But first a beer launch by a novel approach - a You Tube livecast. A chap called Fergus (the managing director of Inveralmond, the brewery in focus) introduces us to the concept "Inspiration" -  a series of beers showcasing the best styles the world has to offer, in respect of the greats if you like. Four have so far made it through the tasting stage and tonight sees the first of those released in bottle - Sunburst Bohemian Pilsner.

Involving all levels of brewery staff from Kirsty in marketing to John the van driver, nevertheless head brewer ken's fingerprints are also all over this, its his personal homage to the traditions of the Czechs. Ken's fascination with Czech language (and more lately beer) came about when his mum convinced him to sing in a production of the Bartered Bride - learning to sing Czech about bears and beers. "Strangely enough years later this is revisited...without the bears!" Ken has visited the Czech Republic in the years since, drinking Světlý Ležák in the Golden Tiger (U zlateho tygra) in Prague and the Old Brewery (Na Spilce) in Plzen.

I first met Ken at the beer blogger's conference in Edinburgh last July and he certainly knows his stuff, which came across very well during the launch. He also knows how to spin a great yarn and enjoyed many a beer with him over the course of the weekend. These stories certainly help to build a back story for the beers which all too many breweries seem to lack.

Its an all malt beer, so it needs " a reasonable amount of bitterness to balance the sweetness" (25 IBU fact fans) and a hop aroma "like the atmosphere after a thunderstorm...lightning creates ozone and its that freshness you get from this beer's aroma. Its beautiful on the nose, soft maltiness down the throat with a gentle soft lingering finish that wants you to take another sip. An absolutely perfect balance of sweetness with bitterness". Its crisp and clean on the palate due to its 10 day fermentation with Břevnovský Pivovaryeast and 8 weeks (56 days) lagering at -1°C.

 Fergus recommends oversized glasswear to allow a decent foam "I like a big head without getting my feet wet". Its about maintaining presentation and having respect for the beer. That foam also helps capture the essence of those lovely floral Saaz and Hallertauer Hersbrucker hops.  Those flavours would work well with whitefish or salmon, or perhaps as Ken recommends with a salad of fresh finely sliced courgette with plenty of lemon juice and pepper.

So, enough about the genesis, how does it taste? Clean sweet malt and fresh herbal nose gives way to medium bodied floral nettle bitterness well balanced by the malt with a dry snap in the finish inviting another gulp. A 330 ml bottle certainly wasn't enough, I'd have cracked open the second if I'd chilled it. Instead I have a bottle for another day when I may do a taste test vs Pilsner Urquell, Budvar and some others. Like Pilsner Urquell I'm sure this beer would be even better in its unpasteurised, unfiltered nefiltrovany form. I'll leave you with a Ken montage and a thought for the day “my mission whens it comes to brewing beer is to improve the human condition through the medium of brewing beer...its my way of trying to make the world a better place”. I'll drink to that, na zdraví!

Inveralmond Brewery
@InveralmondBeer
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Disclosure: I received two free bottles of the beer, but I'll certainly buy it again if I see it.

"Irish" ales

Despite the wave of decent new breweries in Ireland, some don't always get it right and today we have two breweries that reflect that well. I almost considered not bothering to write these up but people need to know what to avoid as well as what to seek out!

The labels of the first have already caused much controversy; so I won't dwell on it here though I'm not a fan of the "characters" and their associated paddiwhackery blarney. They're also curently brewed in England; so not even Irish! (BeerNut thoughts here)

 

First up Gravy Maevy's Pilsner...the controversially labelled one...also what kind of a name is Gravy anyway...just named that way so that it rhymes probably. As you can see it looks nothing like a pilsner, being closer in colour to a Vienna and tasting like neither. Sweet cereal grain nose. Sweet, 1 dimensional buttery biscuit base. This went down the sink after a few sips.

Granny Mary's Red Ale is another with style above substance. It all starts well pouring an attractive dark ruby with fluffy tan head collapsing to a lacing but goes downhill thereafter. Wet cereal grain and cardboard boxes, metallic mouldy berries. Medium body, sweet, caramalt and burnt toast, acrid finish...another drain pour.No one needs to brew red ales!

Rye River Brewing Co

Next up a brewery who quite impressed with their lager but not so with the rest of their range. Again, strong branding but nout else.

The Liberties up first. Dusty caramel, sweet malt and butterscotch on the nose. Buttery biscuit, quite dry bitterness, touch of red berries. Another beer not given long enough for the yeast to mop up diacetyl...or just a poor choice of yeast.

Honor Bright is your typical Irish Red  - Slightly peppery cereal notes, malt led. More diacetyl and caramalt.Almost as bad as the McGargles and again straight down the sink.

Best of the bunch was Black Pitts Porter dark cola brown, roast barley and molasses on the nose. Medium carbonation, dry brown malt, some residual chocolate sweestness, very dry burnt toast, slightly astringent and red berries in finish. Its missing on the hop balance, being mostly malt led but at least it didn't end up being poured away.

5 Lamps
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@the5LampsBeer

Not a Mess

Today's subject brewery has been on my radar for a long time, not least because of their fantastic Black IPA Conqueror and stronger sibling 1075 Conqueror. As the only member of the London Brewer's Alliance outside of the M25, Windsor and Eton have to demonstrate their worthiness to stand alongside such greats as Kernel and Brodies. This they have done amply and the beers below testify to that.

I got in touch with the brewery as I was after a bottle of Republika, their Czech Pilsen beer. This is very true to style, pouring a lovely gold, with plenty of carbonation and a pillowy white head. The nose with some honey and pepper. Medium carbonation, fills the mouth, rich honey malt and fresh saaz hop bite. A great pilsener, one which I'd happily drink again and again. Great to finally find one in the UK that can rival the Czech greats. 

The next few are a series of special releases. The first Windsor Knot was first brewed to commemorate the wedding of Prince William and Kate but proved popular enough to become part of the core range. Pouring into the glass a dark copper-red, the crystal malt influence is immediately detected as toffee and caramel but first the nostrils are caressed by fruity Nelson Sauvin. Medium bodied, lots of grapes and melon fruit, touch of marscapone, grapes, lycheee, little by way of bitterness, tongue tingling at finish. This must be fantastic on cask.

Kohinoor is an IPA (5%) with a difference. Brewed with jasmine and jaggery sugar to suggest an Indian influence and named for a 106carat diamond in the crown jewels. This is of course a Jubilee beer and is a good riff on a traditional English IPA. The nose is a touch musty, with marmalade that's been left lurking in the back of the cupboard unused for a few months. Soft carbonation and mouth-feel, there's a slight refreshing tartness, digestive biscuit malt and dry bitterness in finish. There's something lacking but I can't quite put my finger on it.

The other Jubilee beer is influenced by export stout but at a more conventional ABV (4.8%). It has a whole host of ingredients, including yams, millet, coffee and vanilla. Unfortunately most of these are lost with coffee being prevalent in both aroma and flavour and a whole lot of sweetness in the finish which is possibly from the yams. The body is a touch thin and lacking carbonation which makes this the biggest disappointment of the bunch for me. Still a tasty drop but it could have been so much more with a few extra ABV points.

I'm no stranger to Guardsman, W&E's Oak Aged beer, a good traditional bitter with some fruity wood notes. It pours amber in colour with a temporary foamy head and plenty of carbonation continuing to rise. Initial red fruit followed by shortbread and maltose with a subtle bitter finish.  Long leathery-pepper finish is unusual but moreish.

My stand-out of their range is the aforementioned 1075 Conqueror, a Black IPA (BIPA). I'm a fan of the style, but far too many breweries just make a hoppy stout/porter and call that a BIPA. Nothing wrong with the beer, some are fantastic but to me a BIPAs shouldn't have any roasted or astringent character from barley and perhaps just a touch of chocolate. This beer achieves that well and is one of my favourites. Dark Chocolate with tan head that collapses to a lacing. Pithy tangerine and chocolate nose. Rich orangey hop juice with a touch of milk chocolate in the finish. Perfect balance of hop bitterness and malt sweetness. Gentle carbonation helps it to slip down far too easily for 7.4%..

Overall a great selection from an up-and-coming UK brewery. Certainly one to watch out for and I hope their third Jubilee beer (due out in Autumn) is something special.

The brewery can be found on Twitter @WindsorEtonBrew.

I was kindly sent the beers in this post (except the 1075) after I enquired about Republika. The fact that the beers were free did not colour my judgement of them, but feel free to bear that in mind.


Addendum:
A Ratebeer friend kindly brought me over a bottle of Knight of the Garter, W&E's session golden ale. This only served to reaffirm that  the brewery knows their stuff. Its a honey-blonde with temporary fluffy cream head that soon collapses to a lacing. Peppery citrus nose. Sweet biscuit malt up front with lemon and passion-fruit following in behind. Medium carbonation. Touch of yeast esters and English hop bitterness.