Beer Swap Pt 2

It went right to the wire but I did manage to drink my beer swap beers just in time to write about them this week. I had two beer swap partners, I was sending to Adam Croft who has written about the two Leeds Brewery bottles I sent him so far, and my sender was a mystery person.

Lovibonds Henley Amber - bitter but refined

My beer swap sender turned out to be a wine blogger, none other than Andrew Barrow aka the Wine Scribbler who is based in South Oxfordshire at the exact opposite end of the county I grew up in.

And judging by the beers, there’s a wealth of brewery action in that area, the four beers coming from parts of shires Oxford, Buckingham and Berk that were close enough to home when I grew up to appear on the local news, but that I’ve never explored before.

First up was Lovibonds Amber Ale, a 3.4% premium pale ale in a 330ml bottle. Light and in a small bottle this seemed like a sensible start on a school night and was served up just after tea. I was a bit bunged up with cold when I tasted this earlier in the week so I’m not sure I got a lot from the aroma but it smelt slightly fruity and fresh, but the first sip smacked with bitterness

Rebellion Red is autumnal and possibly good with fish and chips?!

Deeper in fruity, citrus notes combined with a honey sweetness to make a bittersweet amber ale with an orangey tang – the colour was like red oranges when held up to the light. This made a relatively refreshing beer whilst being malty enough to leave me needing another sip to wash the last one down.

I plumped for the Rebellion Red next, another amber ale from the Rebellion Brewery who make their beer on a farm in Marlow, Bucks. It smelt brown and leafy and the taste was initially mostly of malt. There was something not quite roasty to it, not quite nutty, what I think can only be described as chestnuts. A bit of oxygen brings out sticky fruit and caramel undertones and a good swill adds extra depth, flavour and texture. I’ve no idea why but I had craving for fish and chips when I had this beer so I will try it with a big plate from Hillycroft fisheries next time.

It’s very easy to describe beers like these as autumnal, but it’s a trap I’m not scared to fall into as it hits the nail on the head for me.

Butts Blackguard Porter

The next night I started with Butts Blackguard Porter. Butts brew all organic ales from their farm near Hungerford, something I can only commend. Blackguard Porter (pronounced “blaggard”) is a liquorice scented porter with a roasted, buttery taste. Bertie Bassetts swim in a slightly lively sea of chocolate and cocoa paste which gives an even carbonisation in my mouth. It fizzed when I swilled and the dark liquid opened up producing sweet chocolate aromas. Double cream and brandy would suit this beer and I reckon it’s one to try again at Christmas.

Oxfordshire Marshmellow is a spicy, piney, sticky affair - fantastic!

Last on the beer swap menu was Oxfordshire Ales Marshmellow, the only one of these beers I’d come across before thanks to its distribution through the Booths supermarket chain. I didn’t remember anything other than a belief that this beer was quirky, and raising the glass to my nose the thick and sticky seedy aroma reminded me why. Red woodland berries and currants filled the nose and I expected the complexion to be red and clay-like rather than amber.

The taste is maltier with hints of toffee, spice and wild berries – it’s interesting and nice to drink if possibly not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s like BrewDog’s Dogma after rehab, mellowed and much easier to handle.

As Sam discussed in our first beer swap review, I wonder if the beers might tell you something about the person sending them (after deep self evaluation I think the beers I sent as part of beer swap strangely do reflect my personality despite not necessarily representing my favourite tipples). Or is any personality likely to be skewed by the selection being limited to local beers (which may not necessarily say a lot about you?

I don’t want to make any assumptions (especially as Andrew probably drinks a good bit more wine than beer by looking at his wine blog!)so I’ll just say a big thank you for the beers and bring on Beer Swap Round 2!

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.