Beer Tasting Notes – Thursday 26th November 2015

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At Thursday’s Mirror Ball beer festival in Manchester, where I was helping pour free pints, I was free to drink all I tried twelve ales out of the eighteen on offer, mostly in half pint selections as I was there for five hours with a pub visit to follow too. I focussed on the real ale beers I was less familiar with and ignored those I know I can find in lots of pubs anyway. Those I tried, in no particular order included; Castle Rock Pale Ale, a 3.8% citrusy ale that was nicer than most for someone more taken by darker ales. It had a distinct pleasant tanginess to it. **** Sharp’s Atlantic Ale 4.3% another citrusy beer with a not too over-powering dash of grapefruit but not one I’m so keen on. Refreshing and drinkable but not great. ** Jennings – Cocker Hoop – 4.6% The strongest gravity ale on offer all afternoon, which was another citrusy beer, but very palatable and almost clear in colour. **** Box Steam Brewery – Tunnel Vision – 4.2% A darker ale with a smoky hoppy lingering taste that was excellent. **** Ringwood Razorback 3.8% The biggest disappointment of the festival for me as I found it virtually bland and tasteless but it was well received as were all the ales promoted. * Cameron’s Strongarm – 4.4% A creamy tasting ruby ale, subtle and rich in maltiness. My favourite beer of the day. ***** Portobello – Star - A berry fruitiness to this and a fine session ale. **** Jennings – Cumberland – 3.8% A little bland unlike the fabulous Cumberland sausages from the same Cumbrian region, but perfectly drinkable. *** Marston’s EPA – 3.6% The lightest ale on offer all day and very nice too with the itrus elements penetrating the hops directly to give a distinctive edge. A crispy fnish to such a light ale. **** Thwaites’s Lancaster Bomber – 4.4% a tried and tested but always welcome session ale, malty with a slow fuse aftertaste. ***** St. Austell’s Tribute 4.5%– One customer asked me for this with the words ”Could I have a Tribute please. I told him he was a fine upstanding fellow and a pillar to the community before pouring it for him. I tried it myself, finding it a distinctive dark golden ale, with a very pleasant hoppiness. **** I also had Hook Norton’s Lion ale which I remember enjoying but I didn’t get to make tasting notes sadly. It was a 4% ale. After a meal I was off to the pub though I kept no notes there. Arthur Chappell