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Tag Archive: Amber


Hornbeam Top Hop Best Bitter, 4.2%, Manchester, UK

Brewskie

I can’t imagine many people have heard of Denton, let alone been there. Using the youth of today’s scale of rating places which goes as far as to ask the question ‘Does it have a Primark?’ the answer is no, although there is one in Stockport now which isn’t a million miles away from Denton. It does have a TK Maxx though, and it turns out, it also has a micro brewery called the Hornbeam brewery. Having spent a lot of my childhood in Denton visiting my Gran I was particularly surprised to find this out and also saddened at the same time. A quick Google search reveals that I drive past the brewery every Tuesday on the way to taking our little pesky dog to his training course; we even stop at the Sainsbury’s for beer amongst other things fairly regularly. I’ve never seen a bottle of Hornbeam in there and it’s right next door!

In 5: Vanilla, Cloudy, Amber, Citrus, Denton

In a world where it’s cheaper to buy something on ebay shipped in from China than it is to buy the same thing at the shop on the corner of your road this isn’t surprising. Perhaps the issue of the big supermarkets stocking real local produce is an argument for another day.

So how was the beer itself?

It poured nicely, even though it had been kept in the fridge instead of room temperature as directed on the label (not to self (again) read the label first!!!). It has a lovely vanilla nose with a cloudy outlook – a bit like the Manchester weather where it is brewed. It is amber in colour with a sharp yet palatable taste as the sweet vanilla aroma contrasts nicely with the citrus ever so slightly floral taste. If I had to categorise it I’d say it is somewhere in between an IPA and a best bitter and it was thoroughly enoyable.

On a side note, I really love the styling of the bottle and branding of the brewery, great work!

This article is copyright © 2012 

Brewskie

In 5: Fruity, Mellow, Flat, Consistent, Amber

Finally, a hooker the Mrs won’t mind you bringing home!

We Hooked up with this ‘beauty’ in Aldi this morning; they do say people are meeting the love of their life in the supermarket more than anywhere else these days, so we were initially quite hopeful. At just £1.49 and with there only being a couple of Hookers left; our hopes were soon replaced with concern that there was probably something wrong with this Hooker and our relationship was doomed to failure.

When she finally escapes from the bottle you’re met with a burnt amber coloured pint (“it looks like apple juice” was the Mrs decent contribution), with surprisingly little head, very surprising considering the name! It took a while to pin down its aroma but we eventually settled for a sort of caramel/biscuit scenario, a little bit like millionaires shortbread if you will. The taste follows the nose with similar flavours coming through, very much a whole mouth experience, very rounded and very defined. You’re left with a slightly bitter after taste which we thought might go away towards the end but stayed throughout the whole deal. From the first mouthful to the last, the flavour is unwavering, this hooker certainly won’t leave you with any nasty surprises.

Overall, it was a decent drink but we’re not sure we’ll be getting Hooked anytime soon.

This article is copyright © 2012 

Brewskie

In 5: Creamy, Smooth, Drinkable, Amber, Buttery

Don’t get yourself in a Fourie when trying to decide what to have at the bar, just in time for the Rugby 6 Nations Banks’s have brought in the Lion’s Roar for all those England fans. It certainly isn’t a Moody number and every mouthful brings a Flood of joy as it flows down without a Care in the world. Ignore the Carling and make Shaw you order a Lion’s Roar for a nice, hoppy ending.

This article is copyright © 2012 

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