England

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Beers 101 - 120 of 165:

RCH Brewery, Double Header (England) This bottle-conditioned ale has a bright gold colour with a foamy, cream-coloured head. Bright, resinous clove and spicy hop nose. There are green, herbal undertones too. On the palate there is plenty of zing and grip, with a smooth, full texture, but a cutting edge of hoppy bitter flavours. A refined, background maltiness emerges and this has very good fruit too. All in all, a very nice beer indeed. 5.3% ABV, 50cl, �1.37, Asda.

RCH Brewery, Old Slug Porter Dark Ale (England) Old Slug pours a very deep brown witha hint of ruby, and has a massive, high-rise cream coloured head. There's a vividly fruity note about this beer, with a suggestion of blackcurrant cordial ina mongst mucg darker, burnt, espresso and cocoa-bean notes. On the palate it is uncompromisingly dry, with more of that tart, blackcurrant skins bitterness and plenty of dark-roasted malt flavours. It is medium bodied and quite easy to drink given its relatively light alcohol and crisp finish. Very nice stuff. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �2.09, 1516 Beer Co, Onlyfinebeer.

RCH Brewery, Pitchfork Rebellious Bitter (England) Named after a 17th century farmer's rebellion, this bottle-conditioned beer pours a cloudy orange-gold, with a very low carbonation, thin off-white head. This is a particularly aromatic beer that is distinctly fruity, with exotic aromas of fleshy mango and papaya and a juicy tangerine quality. On the palate there is an immediate sweep of bitter, endive-like hops that cut across the mouth with a pithy, grapefruity dryness. It is quite light bodied, and those sweet notes of fruit can be glimpsed on the mid palate before that bitterness and grassy hop quality overpowers the finish. A cracking beer for lovers of those almost astingent hop flavours. 4.3% ABV, 50cl, �1.69, Beersofeurope, Onlyfinebeer, Sainsbury's.

Ridley's, Old Bob Strong Premium Ale (England) Ridley's was sold to Greene King on July 4th 2005, so the future of this beer is perhaps uncertain. It pours a deep reddish amber, with a creamy yellow head. It has a delicious nose, thick with biscuity malt, spice and rich red fruits. There is very good hopping too, with a lemon and grassy cut. On the palate it is creamy and dense, with fine, mouth-coating bittersweet flavours. At first I thought the sweetness may be overblown, but a lovely underpinning of tart red fruits and biting hops really delivers into the long, tangy finish. A very fine beer. 5.1% ABV, 50cl, �1.75, Sainsbury's.

Ridley's, Tolly Cobbold Original (England) Brewed by Ridleys (now part of Greene King), this is beer that pours a lovely amber/ruby colour with quite a thick, fluffy off-white head. The nose is very nutty and earthy, with a sweet chestnut character, some toffee and a soft, fruity background. On the palate there's a sweetness to this beer, with a red fruit quality and the malts dominating. It is soft and quite rich, and then the hops start topower through, with a bitter chicory streak cutting through the sweeetness, and a cleansing acidity leaving this full and rich, but quite crisp and moreish. 3.8% ABV, 50cl, brewery website.

Ruddles, County (England) County is a deep, amber-coloured ale from Ruddles Brewing (actually part of the Greene-King group) with a creamy-coloured head. It has a very pleasant, hoppy nose, with quite an estery character backed up by a nutty, malty weight. On the palate it has a broad, grainy nettle and herbal quality, with quite a full-bodied richness. There's a real bitter-edge to this beer, said by Ruddles to come from the Bramling Cross hops. This is a really good for a big production ale. 4.7% ABV, 50cl, �1.25, Asda, Booth's, Majestic, Sainsbury's.

Samuel Smith's, Nut Brown Ale (England) Brewed at the Old Brewery, Tadcaster in Yorkshire, this Brown Ale pours a dark- to medium-brown colour with a fluffy cream head. The immediate aromas is malty and, yes, nutty with a nice suggestion of hops and chestnuts cutting through. On the palate it has typical Yorkshire creaminess and a very nicely judged balance between sweet, malt and caramel and a dry, fruit and hoppy character. There's a suggestion of ground almonds on the long, smooth finish of a very nice, understated beer. No fireworks here, but delicious. 5.0% ABV, 55cl, �2.39, Onlyfinebeer, Peckhams.

Sharp's, Doom Bar Bitter (England) Sharp's is a respected Cornish brewer, who's cask products are now joined by two bottled ales, neither of which is bottle-conditioned, but is made to mirror the cask version. Named after an infamous sandbank at the mouth of the Camel Estuary in North Cornwall, Doom Bar has an amber colour with an off-white head that dissipates quite quickly. On the nose there is an appealing blend of caramel and red apple fruit, with a nice cut of grassy hop notes. On the palate this is a smooth-drinking, creamy beer with a luxurious toffeed palate that is quickly overtaken by an incisive bite of bitter hops. The balance is excellent and there's a lingering hoppy finish in a lovely beer which, at 4% ABV, could qualify as an classy session ale. Sharp's are hoping for national listings, but for now the beers are mostly in local stores. 4.0% ABV, 50cl, �1.70, Co-op, Safeway.

Sharp's, Eden Ale (England) Sharp's bottled ales are not bottle-conditioned, but they are made specifically to mirror the qualities of the cask versions. Eden Ale pours a lovely amber colour, with an off-white head. It has a very attractive nose with oatmeal and biscuit aromas, some fresh orangy fruit and a nice toffeed note. There's a little floral nuance here too, in quite a complex profile. On the palate this creamy-textured beer has very a grassy, nettly bitterness playing against sweet biscuitty malt and a nice edge of citrus acidity. With decent length too, this is lovely stuff. Sharp's are hoping for national listings, but for now the beers are mostly in local stores. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.70, Co-op, Fabeers, Safeway.

Shepherd Neame, Bishop's Finger (England) Kent Brewery Shepherd Neame has a history they have traced for over 300 years. Bishop's finger (named after a Kenntish signpost) has a lovely nut-brown colour and cream-coloured head that is quite persistent. It has a huge, fruit-compote nose of stewed figs, prune and a really peppery, spicy note. On the palate it has an immensley rich mocha-coffee flavour; a big raft of chocolate and espresso with dark, toasty malt and a firm core of hoppy bitterness that punches through finish. Quite delcious and distinctive stuff. 5.4% ABV, 50cl, �1.75, Asda, Booth's, Majestic, Sainsbury's, Waitrose.

Shepherd Neame, Early Bird Spring Hop Ale (England) Early Bird is a seasonal ale, available between February and May, and named after the Early Bird variety of Goldings hops. The colour is a light golden/amber, with a moderate off-white head. It has an appealing nose, where light, grassy and nettly hop qualities are supported by a gently toasty malt. There's a hint of spiced orange too, that carries through onto a medium-bodied, fresh palate. There is plenty of dry, bitter-edged hop quality in evidence, with a light, fruity mid-palate and then more of that malty spice in the finish. This struck me as an easy to drink, lightweight beer that is not trying to to be complex. A nice evocation of Spring as intended. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.49, Easywine, Onlyfinebeer, Sainsbury's.

Shepherd Neame, Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale (England) The decision to re-make this beer as a non-bottle-conditioned product a few years ago earned it lots of negative comments. It pours a barely-sugar colour with a hint of ruby, topped by an off-white head. The nose displays quite a lot of vanilla and creamy malt notes, spice and a nice suggestion of oily hops. On the palate it is quite thick, but a little foamy and carbonated, with rounded fruit and a well-balanced, toasty, if slightly unexciting, finish. Still a very enjoyable bottle. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.69, Asda, Booth's, Majestic, Sainsbury's, Waitrose.

Shepherd Neame, Whitstable Bay Organic Ale (England) This beer from Shepherd Neame is brewed with organic Gem and Hallertau hops from New Zealand. It has a vivid amber/bronze colour and thinnish just off-white head. The nose is has a nice blend of biscuit aromas with orange and gentle, spicy notes. On the palate it is tangy and light-bodied, with a dry, orange oil and herbal character showing some chicory and leafy bitterness, and and nice juicy grapefruit flavour into a long, balanced finish. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.77, Majestic, Sainsbury's.

Shipstone's, Traditional Bitter (England) Shipstone's is a traditional brewing name, but this is an Aldi brand, with no declaration of who makes it, or where it is produced. It pours a nice nutty brown/ruby colour with a thick, but qucikly disappating white head. The nose has a little vegetal aroma, with some hoppy character and a dry, malted note. On the palate it is quite creamy, with a slightly metallic flavour (or is that just my prejudice against cans?) and a palatable if unexciting hoppy base with really quite good oily hop bitterness in the finish. This is actually a decent session beer, though it doesn't set the heather on fire. 4.0% ABV, 44cl, �0.89, Aldi.

Skinner's, Betty Stogs Bitter (England) Am award winning bitter from this Truro-based brewery, Betty Stogs has a dark, bronze/gold colour and a moderate off-white head. On the nose it is overtly fruity, with apples and plummy fruit notes, a background honeyed malt, and a nice little oily hop note. On the palate it is medium bodied and quite refreshing and racy, with a lean, lemony, bitter hop character asserting itself immediately, and the warmer, nutty, earthy malt tones just filling in towards the finish. It is dry and tangy, and slips down very nicely indeed. Almost sneaks four stars and well worth trying. 4.0% ABV, 50cl, �1.89, Beersofeurope, Realbeerbox, Beerritz, Utobeer.

St Austell, Tribute (England) Brewed with Cornish spring water and Cornish Gold Malt, Tribute was first brewed in 1999 using Wilamett hops, which are perhaps responsible for its distinctive citrus and elderflower nose. Pouring a pale bronze colour with a moderate white head, the aromatics really do lift from the glass, with floral and summery hop notes, and an undertow of caramel. On the palate this is medium- to full-bodied, with a lovely juicy fruit quality, and masses of tangy hop, orange and grapefruit flavours. It is long and well balanced, staying fresh and crisp thanks to fine acidity and hoppy bite. A subtle, delicate, but lovely beer. 4.2% ABV, 50cl, �1.60, Asda, Beersofeurope, Morrisons, Onlyfinebeer, Sainsbury's.

St Peter's, Best Bitter (England) Best bitter pours a deep gold/bronze colour and the off white head is moderate. It has tantalising aromas of caramel at first, with a hint of honey, and just a background of leafier, hoppy notes. On the palate it is quite creamy and rich, with a very pleasant balance between some bitter chicory and nettle notes and a biscuity, earthy malt character. It has fine freshness in the finish, and this straightforward beer is delicious and very easy to drink. 3.7% ABV, 50cl, �1.99, 1516 Beer Co, brewery website, Majestic, Onlyfinebeer, Beerritz.

St Peter's, Cream Stout (England) This dark brown beer is made with Fuggles and Challenger hops, plus a blend of four barley malts from around St Peter's brewery in Suffolk. It pours with a minimal light brown head that dissipates almost immediately. The nose is thick with burnt toast, espresso and bitter chocolate notes. On the palate, it has dramatic bitterness, like burnt espresso beans and a chicory bite. The mouthfeel is surprisingly light, with a hint of plum fruit, but a fairly low hop presence and a finish that doesn't quite power through. A tasty beer that just misses out in terms of texture and ultimate complexity. 6.5% ABV, 50cl, 12 X �29.50, brewery website.

St Peter's, Golden Ale (England) This ruby/gold ale with a thin to moderate off-white head is described by St Peter's as "similar in character to a full-bodied Czech lager." I'm not so sure about that, but what you get is a beer with an attractive nose that hints at vanilla and custard, with some slightly soapy floral notes and a touch of oily, leafy hops. On the palate it is mouth-filling and richly textured, with a flavour that is quite smoky and iodine-like; kippers came into my mind, but it's probably fairer to say a nice melange of oily bittering hops and creamy, slightly smoky malt. It finishes a little short, but is an enjoyable beer. 4.7% ABV, 50cl, �2.25, brewery website, Onlyfinebeer, Beerritz.

St Peter's, Grapefruit Fruit Beer (England) On a wheat beer base, St Peter's grapefruit is one of a small range of fruit beers that other people may like more than I do I suspect. The colour is a warm, rich Lucozade, with a thin white head. On the nose it is slightly ginger beer-like, with a floral aspect. The palate seems not so much grapefruity to me as slightly chemical, with a nice level of hops giving a bitter, grown-up finish, but that high-ish floral character lingering. 4.7% ABV, 50cl, �2.39, brewery website, Onlyfinebeer.