Hall & Woodhouse, based in Blandford Forum in Dorset, are best known for rich, malt-accented, copper-coloured beers. Hopping Hare - brewed only with pale malt and generously hopped - marks something of a departure. Spring water is naturally filtered through the local Jurassic chalk downs and drawn 120 feet from the brewery's own wells. The brewery also has a yeast culture with considerable history - it was last changed in 1934 and has been 'pitched' from brew to brew for more than 70 years. Badger Brewery, Hopping Hare (England) (RP) The beer is hopped in the copper with Admiral and Boadicea varieties and then �late hopped� at the end of the boil with Styrian Goldings. The hops create 30 units of bitterness. The beer has an inviting gold colour, a good head of foam, and a complex aroma of light butterscotch, lemon fruit, grassy hop resins and a cracker wheat grain note. Bitter hops are balanced in the mouth by juicy malt and tangy lemon fruit. The finish is dry, bitter, fruity and malty and is wonderfully crisp and quenching. The brewery recommends it as a good companion for Thai green curry or lamb shank. I think it would go equally well with fish and pasta dishes. Further information from www.badgerdirect.com. Malt: medium. Hops: high. Fruit: high 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.79, Sainsbury's, Tesco.