The dodgy Christmas beer list continues with a texted contribution from Tyson, which woke me up at 00.43 this morning. Cheers Mate. He advises thus: "2 more 4 ur list. Blakemere xmas cracker shld read xmas crapper and u wld hav 2b a pudding 2 enjoy old bear xmas pudding"
So that's Blakemere and Old Bear added to the list of dishonour. I can chip in some more too. Allgates Samhain was certainly not an ordinary beer, but it was very difficult to drink. Goodness knows what was in it, bramble stems or raw cranberries maybe? Either way its sheer harshness didn't appeal to me. Three B's Santa's Skinful was a very nice beer, but as Christmassy as a barmitzvah, while Hawkshead Jingle Fells, a blend of Brodie's and Red, was excellent in every way, but its claim to taste like "Liquid Christmas Pudding" is, shall we say, stretching it a bit. And the bloody stuff ran out after one delicious but non Christmassy pint.
There was one jewel in the crown though. One of my local breweries, Greenfield, had Rudolph's Tipple. Dark, five per cent and subtly tinged with cake spices, it hit all the right notes. Seasonal, warming and delicious. Well done Peter and the lads - you are one of the few.
PS. A comment has just arrived from Tyson. Wonder if he's forgotten that text?
"Blakemere Xmas Cracker-it wasn't. And Old Bear Xmas Pudding-you'd have to be a pudding to enjoy this copper coloured xmas disaster. Basically two dodgy beers from two dodgy breweries."
Samhain shouldn't be a Christmas beer, it means Halloween - perhaps a bit past it then.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to share the joy of those two beers with your loyal readers. You're offering a valuable public service here.
ReplyDeleteShepherd Neame Rudolph's Reward is just Master Brew with a silly pump clip. Exactly what I expected but I still felt cheated.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to remember where I saw "Jingle Fells" recently and if I tried it or not....
ReplyDeleteIn discussion with Ann it turns out it was in Dalton-in-Furness at the end of a rather nice cultural tour of several hostelries around the Furness area with Jeff Pickthall. I did have one pint, apparently, and as you can tell, it was particularly unmemorable.
Last night I had Snow Ho Ho at the Strands in Nether Wasdale. That was fantastic in flavour, spicy and warming with cinnamon, ginger and cloves and at 6% just the winter warmer that was needed. That really does taste like liquid Christmas puddings.
I can confirm that Dave, it was at the Brown Cow in Dalton.
ReplyDeleteStrangely enough I'd forgotten we'd been to the BC until a couple of days later.
The Black Dog has a BF this weekend. My posse's doing Saturday. I'm suggesting it to DM too. Can you make it? They're generally good jolly events.
So Dave, who ho ho brewed it?
ReplyDeleteI had Hawkshead Jingle Fells in Liverpool last night. I agree: very nice but not very Christmassy.
ReplyDeleteNot getting much xmas cheer from Tom Woods Christmas Cheer here in Manchester. It's dark and has a sickly whisky edge to it. On the plus side there are lots of drunk women about.
ReplyDeleteSnow Ho Ho is brewed by The Strands own brewery. They don't make very much of it and probably sell it all in their own pub.
ReplyDeleteJeff, snow might create the odd problem getting to the Black Dog, but I'll see what I can do. It's tempting.....
Acorn Cracker: pale and crisp and perfectly drinkable, but probably not the Xmas beer you had in mind.
ReplyDeleteYork Brewery Three Kings is rather Christmassy, with quite a large amount of cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg and a few other indeterminable spices. Would rather have the Acorn Cracker, though, personally!
ReplyDeleteMoorhouses Mistletoe Madness-yet another non-Christmas beer.
ReplyDelete