Comments on: Not necessarily Christmas beer

By: Community beers | Boak and Bailey's Beer Blog

Community beers | Boak and Bailey's Beer Blog — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:56:27 +0000

[...] beers have improved since they first launched. We enjoyed their Eat 17 IPA last year, and their Ho Ho Ho at Christmas, and the first of the new lot we’ve tasted were excellent [...]

By: ant

ant — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:24:11 +0000

Was pleased to discover that the Royal Oak was open into the evening last night. I remember when it only opened until 4 on Saturdays.

By: Bailey

Bailey — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:43:32 +0000

Ant — thanks for the update re: London Porter. That does sound a bit steep although (market economics in action) I’d probably pay it because the beer’s so good and so hard to find.

Haven’t been to the Royal Oak in ages, now you mention it. Must make sure to pop in soon.

By: Ant

Ant — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:27:56 +0000

Paid a very brief visit to The Rake this evening, but sadly the Dark Star Imperial Stout was done. Shame, would love to try it.

I’d spent much of the afternoon / early evening in the Royal Oak, and tried Harvey’s Christmas Ale (8.2%) for the first time. I can see why it divides opinion – it’s an extraordinary mix of sweet and sour flavours, all underpinned by that unmistakeable Harvey’s malt flavour (which, judging from the smell of the place when we visited in March, has soaked into every fibre of the brewery over the years, and the beers – in particular the Best – are all the better for it). I’m glad I tried it, but I honestly couldn’t tell you how much I actually enjoyed it.

Oh, and they had London Porter on as well. At a mildly eye-watering £3.60/pint.

By: Wittenden

Wittenden — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:20:30 +0000

I’ve had a couple of bottles of Hepworths Christmas vintage, and agree that its not as cloying as most barley wines that I’ve encountered.Hepworths seem to know their hops-their Prospect Organic Pale Ale has quite a tang to it, though I’ve only ever had it in bottle.
On another tack, I’ve noticed you, and other beer bloggers, refer to C-hops-surely not our venerable and beloved Wye Challengers?