Beer of the month............December
There's a a tie for the title this month and I'm not going to say what scores I've
awarded to the winners. That way, I can keep people in suspense about which beer is going
to be the overall winner for 1998. I'm going to continue "Beer Of The Month" in
1999 and the monthly winners aren't going to have points awarded either. You'll have to
wait until December 1999 to know the outcome!
Two excellent beers this month and both seem good ones to enjoy in the festive season.
This is the first beer I've had for a long while which is actually brewed fairly
locally - about 20 miles or so from where I live. John Hampden's Ale is a strongish
brew - 4.8% ABV - with a refreshing hoppy taste, after which you get quite a bitter
finish. It has a lovely golden hue with a good cohesive head. A good drink for the
winter and it would go very well with a steak and ale pie - something hearty and
warming! Not the most earth-shattering brew I've had, but a good beer reasonably priced.
One that will repay repeated drinking.
Many thanks to Tony Russell for e-mailing me with a recommendation for
this selection. It was well worth it! Ushers Ruby Ale weighs in at a staggering -
literally! - 6.2% ABV, making it the strongest beer so far tasted for the title. Now, I
don't normally like very strong beers; they sometimes have a little too much sweetness,
but I was more than pleasantly surprised by this brew. Visually, it's very attractive with
a warm brown-red colour and a creamy head. It's a smooth brew with a good aroma and a good
balance of hops and malt. Slovenian hops - more often used in Czech lagers - contribute
sufficient bitterness, whilst the blended malts compliment the hops well. Also note that
the beer has a vintage - the barley and hops reflect the quality of that year, so this
brew could be variable. I'll keep a look out for a 1998 bottle and report back on it. The
label recommends drinking "Ruby" as an accompaniment to red meats - from steak
to game. Sounds good to me! Quite an unusual beer, and one which I'd not normally try,
but, thanks to Tony, I have, and I can give this one a definite "thumbs up".