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Nick Stafford’s Hambleton Ales Taylors Tipple
3
November 6th, 2009Beer Reviews, Bitters
One of the biggest sellers at this years Sainsbury’s Beer Competition, I’d heard lots about Hambleton Ales’ beers before I picked this up. The North Yorkshire brewery has won a smattering of awards in its short history but I don’t think it’s gained the visibility in pubs and stores.Not endowed with huge aroma, Taylor’s Tipple poured with a frothy head which quickly subsided leaving a (very) delicate zesty scent. The first sip was subtly roasted and malty. Blink and you’ll miss ‘em hints of berries when it first hit my tongue were replaced with an autumnal feel, no doubt down to its lovely bitterness and it’s chestnut colour. I wonder if there’s a bit of caramel malt too that added a slightly sweet undercurrent to the proceedings?
Sainsbury’s claim this has a wonderful citrus aroma, but I just didn’t get it. Duff bottle perhaps but this ale’s strengths seemed to be it’s chestnut character and superbly drinkable texture.
I think I’ll need to give this another go because one bottle was a little indistinct. It is light and enjoyable, a beer that’s probably perfect for a day spent diving into piles of autumn leaves and drying off in front of a fire.
Tags: ales, autumn, caramel, chestnut, cirtus, hambleton, leaves, malt, taylors tipple, zesty
2 responses to “Nick Stafford’s Hambleton Ales Taylors Tipple” 
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FletchtheMonkey November 7th, 2009 at 11:17
I think they are designed well for the target audience. In fact, this one was one of the top sellers in the 3 weeks or so it was listed in Sainsbury’s as a finalist.
In that time frame I think a good label is essential for actually winning the competition (it’s based on sales), I’m not sure enough people would come back to repurchase to make enjoyment of the beer the largest factor in how many it sold.
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Name: Mark
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Bio: Mark is better known as @fletchthemonkey and started writing about beer in 2009. Mark is editor of Real Ale Reviews and blogs at beeralewhatever.co.uk. When not content with spending all day on the internet working for a digital marketing agency, Mark waxes lyrical at digitalmediamonkey.co.uk and types up match reports for Leeds Guide magazine.
Alan Walsh November 7th, 2009 at 11:03