Moving on to day three of the cricket theme on Real Ale Reviews, India takes on the West Indies

India – Cobra, 5.0% abv

Following the poor performance of it’s big brother earlier in the tournament, this ‘king of the Curry houses’ tried to pick up the bat and put in a better showing out in the middle. Coolness is the key here and, without trying to be anywhere near as fancy as the King Cobra, this beer turns in a good solid performance.

Thrown down ice cold this one takes the middle stump clean out however, if it’s left to get warm, there’s a danger it goes wide down the leg side. Certainly it’s a better offering than it’s common rival Kingfisher.

Score (out of 20) – Ice cold, this one produces a respectable knock – 13

West Indies – Red Stripe Lager, 4.7% abv

I have to admit that I had already been ‘out in the middle’ for some time before I got round to sampling this one. My tasting notes are therefore being read from the back of a pub food menu.

The first taste was rather tart and a little tangy but it settled to be a fairly average beer. It did not taste very strong and I was surprised to see that it was 4.7%, I had thought in drinking that it was far lighter than this. I have to admit that, probably before the end of the Twenty20, I will most likely give this another crack of the whip when I’m a little more sober.

Score (out of 20) – probably should have been offered the light but still above average – 11

Right it was day two of the Super 8′s yesterday in the Twenty20 World cup and England took a good old tonking off the Saffers. Let’s see if we could get our own back by pitting one of own nation’s fine ales against the Cape shandy that Smithy and his boys will have been sitting down to last night.

South African – Castle Lager, 5.0% abv

In to bat first is the South African opener. I had mine ice cold, just how I like my lagers on a warm day, but have to admit that it hasn’t really kept it’s cool under the pressure out in the middle. I like the fact that it was flavoursome and malty for a lager, justifying it’s premium tag. It was, however, a little disappointing in terms of texture. Oddly, because I usually find lager too fizzy, this feels strangely flat in the mouth.

Score (out of 20) – Good opening partnership but a disappointing middle order – 8

Blighty – Extra Special ASDA Golden Ale, 4.5% abv

I purchased this beer in advance, hoping the weather would respect the cricket and allow me a clear crisp evening outside on the patio. It did not. Having said that, the beer is actually maltier that it’s golden appearance suggests and, while it is by no means heavy or dark, it has a sturdier backbone than I was expecting. I would therefore say that it is probably more suited to a crisp springtime evening than the strong midday sun.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with this ale and I expect that it is widely, and relatively cheaply, available through ASDA supermarkets. Certainly it is worth a taste to see if you agree with my opinion that, while it does not have the sweetness and finesse required to find itself on any shortlists for great golden ales, it grinds out a solid win for the English code of the game.

Score (out of 20) – consistently above average throughout without shining, ground out the win – 14

To celebrate the  Twenty20 World Cup being held in the UK, Real Ale Reviews will be bringing you few ‘battles’ over the coming days, putting beers, from some of the competing nations against each other in head to head battles where international reputations are on the line.

The format in the super 8′s will be a chosen head to head from one of the games on a given day

So, match one sees the Republic of Ireland go up against India. Let Twenty20 battle, commence…

Guinness Brewery – Foreign Extra Stout, 7,5%

Woah! First ball down knocked straight out of the ground. Not many beers get this as my first reaction but Guinness Foreign Extra was not what I was expecting at all!

This isn’t Guinness as you know it from your local O’Neills or Wetherspoon’s – this is raw and rugged in comparison, wholehearted Twenty20 game cricket rather than the well oiled, patient, test game we all grew up with. K.P. not Boycott.

I’m probably getting carried away. But certainly, Foreign Extra is nearer the type of drink that Guinness started out as, so compared to modern stuff, this is a full on, intense, stout experience.

As well as that, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable stout experience. I’m usually an IPA/pale ale man, and stronger types like stout and porter don’t go down too well. But Guinness Foreign Extra is deeply dark and malty and it’s this that attracts me. That, and the complexity that draft Guinness, in a English pub anyway, just can’t match. This ale is a must when it comes to trying the best in the real ale world.

Foreign Extra has hints of an IPA history, brewed stronger to survive the long journeys abroad. Until recently it was only readily available in far flung corners of the world, but a resurgence in real ale has led to its appearance in UK and Europe.

I grabbed a bottle from ASDA Morley and suggest that you keep an eye out for it in your local beer shop / supermarket too.

Score (out of 20) – big hitting game player, might get caught out one day but will take you on a hell of ride on the way – 15

India – King Cobra, 8% abv

King Cobra seems to be guilty of trying to play a hard hitting 20 over man match with too much complexity. Perhaps the power difference between this beer and the Guinness, that batted first, meant that it was never going to find the run rate needed.

Against different opposition the fruity flavour of the Cobra, which actually meant that it was not at all aggressive on the palette for such a strong lager, may have won the day, but it simply could not compete with the Guinness.

Ironically, I bet that most people pick up the Cobra to accompany strong or spicy tea. I would actually recommend that the subtleness would better compliment a dinner time snack such as a salad or some grilled fish or chicken.

Score (out of 20) – Subtle technicality not suited to Twenty20 game, soundly outbatted – 4

I picked up a bottle of Oranjeboom Premium Lager (5% abv) completely by chance from a local Aldi for 99p. I’d never tried this lager before and chose it because it was one of the few in Aldi’s range that I had actually heard of.

This is the first full ‘non-ale’ review to go onto the blog and was therefore a bit of a gamble, but, even if I do say so myself, I think it can ultimately be seen as a success. Hoppy and full flavoured this lager certainly sits in ‘real drinks’ category. It is neither one of the flatter, flavourless Corona/Brama type lagers and nor is it one of the gassy, bloating Fosters/Carlsberg type lagers, in fact it is frothy and lively without being at all gassy. Coupling this with the great price I have to say I wouldn’t be at all embarrassed to serve this up with pizza and pro evo when the boys come round.

This is an ale that is increasingly common on UK supermarket shelves and one that you should not overlook this summer, whether it rains or shines. Brakspear’s Oxford Gold pours a golden amber and starts with the scent of honey. It tastes citrusy and gently sweet. A great accompaniment to an alfresco evening after a long day in the office.

Another fine ale from Oxfordshire!

St. Austell Brewery’s Tribute Ale, 4 .2% abv

I was not immediately taken with this ale and must admit that it was only after I was through two thirds of the bottle that I really began enjoying it. The flavour juxtaposes a lighter, almost citrus, initial flavour with a duller more full bodied aftertaste.

This combination works really well and blurs into a moderate overall taste that is really very pleasing. I found myself glugging at the bottle and, from only being a third of the way down it a when I started taking notes, within a few lines of typing it was nearly all gone, testament in itself.

I suggest you try this beer with a nice chunky handmade beefburger, homemade coleslaw and chunky chips.

I found this bar recommended in a review of places to go for real ales in London – I would be more than willing to pass the recommendation on to anyone else.

My guide for the day assured me that this wasn’t the best of areas in the capital and that he would be massively surprised if we found the sort of pub we were looking for, if I’m honest, as we walked from the tube, I began to believe him more and more. Keeping the faith I made him bash on and it wasn’t long before I was sat with my ale thinking ‘I wish I’d bet him a fiver’.

The pub, set back from the road, is smart, well kept and would surely grace any area of town. What it does have, and what I feel escapes many pubs as tidy as this, was a local atmosphere. There were a good number of locals drinking and chats at the urinal, what else do you need to feel immediately at home?

Turning to the beer I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with the fact that there was only London Pride and one guest ale available on draft. ‘When in Rome……’ I had a London Pride and I have to say it was a belting pint. At the worst of times London Pride is a smooth, easy drinking, beer and on this hot afternoon, after the walk from the tube, that effect was definitely accentuated.

Credit to the landlord because the beer was poured with patience, allowed to settle, and then topped up after payment had been taken. My cynical companion, who was already lucky not to be a fiver lighter by this stage, thought this was only because it was the landlord and because the bar was quiet. Repeat visits proved him wrong again as the other staff carried on in exactly the same way.

I’m not really sure about the surroundings, or whether this place is accessible enough to drop in on a night out, but, all in all, I would have to say I’d be chuffed to bits with having The Beehive as my local.

Website – www.thebeehivebar.co.uk

St Peters India Pale Ale

St Peter’s India Pale Ale

Brimming with hoppy character this is an India Pale Ale that tastes like it’s full of goodness. In the mouth it feels natural and has a citrus zest and spicy, malty flavours that linger on.

For a bitter IPA, St Peter’s is actually kind of thirst quenching, helped by a lighter carbonisation and the breweries own Suffolk mineral water.

An IPA with a difference and another fine brew from St Peter’s, rapidly becoming one of our favourite breweries. Hopefully see this and more at Norwich Beer Festival later in the year.

I just loved this bar as soon as I walked through the door. Located near Embankment, off Strand, I assume that this place is quite well known but I was new and, despite the blazing sunshine and extensive outdoor seating, I intended to take in the full effect of the dark underground atmosphere. I am intelligent enough to know that I was essentially sat in a sewer but, with candles burning on the tables and dark cooling air, the atmosphere was undeniable.

I was unfortunately accompanied by my hairy Cypriot ex-university mate, but I got the definite feeling that, even with my natural deficiencies with the female of the species, I could make some progress by bringing a date here.

We were drinking the house Tempranillo which, at £4.10 a glass, was expensive (by Leeds prices) for a glass of house red. That said, it was a better quality wine than you can usually expect from the average house red and was, on reflection, worth the money.

I did not eat because I was too full from a Icco’s Pizza (Goodge Street) but the food looked great and reflected the flavour of the place. Check out the menu on the ‘Food’ section of the website… www.gordonswinebar.com