Grass, apple, grapefruit + something I can’t quite get on the nose.

Drying mouthfeel with a less bitterness than expected.

First taste is slightly disappointing. Overall not bad a 13 but for Rye Pale Ale the benchmark has been set very high by Terrapin

In a time honoured tradition, the Beer Viking crew recently had their annual Christmas Cracker.  Sometimes we get more organised and arrange a pub crawl and send out invites and sometimes it’s just the two captains, Doc and Tank, trying as many quality beers as possible.  On that point, it really is about enjoying beer for what it is, a great beverage.  At the end of year of hard tasting, one’s palate and desire to enjoy a beer can get a bit jaded and so this is the kind of line under the year kind of thing.

2009 was along the unorganised, if you like unplanning line and as you’ll see below we had some incredible beers.

Doc had recently been on a mini-raid of California, where he managed to hit up some sweet spots and uncover a great joint near Los Angeles.  I got a text from him on the way to the airport and it was such a delight to read.  One bottle of Pliny the Elder is coming back for us to share.  We discussed various options and then went for a landmark shot, which you can see a picture of below.  It meant that the drinking conditions were sub-optimal but for such a rare treat as a fresh Pliny the Elder in the UK, it was worth it.

From here, we walked through the wet and cold night to the Rake, with full intentions of carrying on from there.  It turned out Borough Market was having a bit of cheese night and so it was a slightly different crowd than normal.  A couple of nights previous the Otley brewers were in, with a special they had brewed with Glyn Davies Roberts, the Rake manager.  Most of the beer had been drunk but lucky for us the Otley O Ho H was on cask.  I’m a big fan of this beer and Doc D was quick to give his thumbs up.

This was soon followed by bottles of the Anchor Christmas ‘09 (angled for by Doc due to his excitement of his Anchor Brewery Tour the week before) and the Sierra Nevada Celebration ‘08.  Which reminded me that on my previous days visit, I had been told that a couple of kegs of ‘09 were downstairs.  A quick word with Tom and at the first opportunity this was on and soon we were having some pints of this tasty seasonal brew.

Next was the Brooklyn Winter and Great Divide Hibernation, during which we had some more conversations with Tom and soon the decision was made to share some further bounty raided in NORCAL.  Some choice cans, yes you read that right, CANS of beers.  Soon we had set up camp on by the brewers signature wall and were making our way through 21st Ammendment IPA, 21st Ammendment Monks Blood and Big Sky Brewing Co. Moose Drool.

It was at this point things started to go off the boil but we all agreed that it was a pleasant surprise to have just tasty beers out of cans.  Reminders of teenage kicks, thankfully Doc had ignored my earlier suggestion on first viewing the cans as an opportunity to do a couple of shotguns.  We followed this up with the Great Divide Denver Pale Ale, which is the point where all brewrank scores stopped for the night.

We made our way through the rare treat to most, even more special in Europe, Moonlight Death & Taxes.  We then had to taste one of my favourite Christmas beers of all time, De Dolle Stille Nacht.  Then onto the Great Divide Fresh Hop ‘09 and finishing with the Goose Island Christmas.

There may have been a few more to round out the night, like I’m thinking the Dark Star Imperial on cask but can’t be sure as this is where the notes and the memory stopped.  All in all, a wonderful and solid Christmas Cracker ‘09.  Hope you can join us next year but for now, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The list in full:

1. Pliny the Elder
2. Otley O Ho Ho
3. Anchor Chrismtas ‘09
4. Sierra Nevada Celebration ‘08
5. Sierra Nevada Celebration ‘09
6. Brooklyn Winter
7. Great Divide Hibernation
8. 21st Ammendment IPA
9. 21st Ammendment Monks Blood
10. Big Sky Brewing Co. Moose Drool
11. Great Divide Denver Pale
12. Moonlight Death & Taxes
13. Stille Nacht
14. Great Divide Harvest 09
15. Goose Island Christmas

Some of the BeerViking’s had the pleasure in being part of the first social media British Beer community Beer Swap (#beerswap on Twitter).  Doc D has already filed his report on his beers and this is mine.

I was matched to receive beers from Sam Lanes from Real Ale Reviews.  Being Leeds-based, he chose to send through the following choice Yorkshire beers:

• Copper Dragon Orange Pippin
• Leeds Brewery Pale
• Leeds Brewery Best
• Saltaire Brewery Cascade Pale

Copper Dragon Golden Pippin

What they say:

A light refreshing blonde ale brewed using a specially selected hop to create a citrus fruit flavour.  This golden coloured favourite is equally appealing to real ale and lager drinkers alike – ABV 4.2%

My Review:

White head, that goes but leaves some lacing.  Old gold colour, looks quite effervescent.  Nothing particular on the nose, some slight greeness of hops and with that floral but nothing too much.  Thin mouthfeel.  Quite sweet, with some bitterness coming through.  A brewrank of 12.

Leeds Pale Session Bitter

What they say:

An easy drinking pale ale. Light and hoppy with delicate floral notes and a well balanced finish.  ABV 3.8%

My review:

Slight head, yellow gold colour.  Slight bitterness on the nose, with perhaps some perceived (wished for) yeast smell from the Yorkshire yeast.  Nice mouthfeel, a decent amount of hops to bring some citrus through, with some faint fudge chewiness.  Would definitely have again.  A brewrank of 13.

Leeds Best

What they say:

A classic Yorkshire Bitter. Finest English hops blend perfectly with our unique Yorkshire yeast to create a full flavoured beer with a superb hoppy finish.  ABV 4.3%

My review:

Good head, again quite bubbly to look at. Russetmuscat colour.  Not getting a particular nose.  Fresh mouthfeel. A taint of bitterness, an easy drinker…I would almost say lagerish.  Might have again and a brewrank of 12.

Saltaire Brewery Cascade Pale

What they say:

American style pale ale with the floral aromas and strong bitterness of Cascade and Centennial hops.  4.8% ABV.

My review:

Nice tight head that lasts, very bubbly. Maybe as dark as burnished.  A resinous, nutty nose.  A creamy mouthfeel, with a nice warmth from the malt gives way to a joyous astringency of the hops with a great length (as in I’m hungry but don’t want that taste to go away soon).  A brewrank of 14

Overall

I thoroughly enjoyed my #beerswap experience.  The thought into what beers to send Darren from Blog ‘o Beer, Harvey’s Imperial, Dark Star Imperial, Dark Star Sunburst (collect+ blew this one out) and Ascot Alligator, was perhaps as much fun as getting them (but being obvious as no comparison to drinking them.)

It was a great idea from the guys (Mark and Andy) and I’m sure has helped pull the beer community together a little more and I’m sure that real world friendships will be formed a beer festivals around the countryside soon.

My only question is, when’s the next one!

We’ve had notice that Mark Justin, a Publican with a Master of Wine, has organised to two very special days at Le Gothique on December 3^rd and 4^th. Carola Brown from Ballards in Hampshire and Duncan Sambrook from Sambrook’s in Battersea will both be here on Thursday 3^rd to talk and field questions about their beers. With Simon Dixon from Shephard Neame on Friday 4th.

Duncan will have both his astoundingly successful “Wandle Ale” plus his long awaited new brew “Junction”. This will be the first time Duncan has had to interact with the public in relation to the new Junction ale.

Historically it was the woman of the household who brewed the beer in days of old. Now Carola Brown finds herself one of the very few female brewers in the UK. She will be making the journey up the A3 to talk and also field questions about her long running success story that is Ballards. With 6% Wassail on tap it should make for a very interesting evening.

Friday between 4pm and 6pm Simon Dixon from Shepherd Neame will be on hand with the Moshi Asahi Ale that was brewed using the same hops and malts as their world brand leader Asahi Japanese lager.

As well as the Sambrooks, Ballards and Shepherd Neame beers there will be a further 20 ales available on rotation from behind the bar.

To register your intention to attend simply email marklegothique@aol.com The first 50 to do so willreceive a free goodie bag of bottled delights.

Both days we will be open from 12 noon with our guest brewers arriving at 4pm & 7pm.on Thursday and 4pm on Friday.

Full Beer List

Earlier, I was able to pick up my beers for the Beer Swap.  I was very excited to find that Sam Lanes, from Real Ale Reviews, had sent through the following choice selection of beers from parts of Yorkshire.   Can’t wait to start the tasting.

• Copper Dragon Orange Pipin
• Leeds Brewery Best
• Leeds Brewery Pale
• Saltaire Brewery Cascade Pale

Two of the BeerVikings have signed up to be part of the first Beer Swap, an idea pulled together by Mark Dredge of Pencil and Spoon, chilliupnorth and BeerReviews.

Idea is that people from the digital beer community of Great Britain get paired up with someone from another part of the country and have to send each other 4 bottles of local (within 30miles).  Goal is then to have sent everything and then drink it, blog it, posterous it by 4th December.

What’s exciting is that this is a great impact of local social in effect.

Read the blog post with more details on Pencil and Spoon.

The first event from Mark and the team at Le Gothique was in March and was such a roaring success he’s followed it up with his second, this time with a focus on Dark, Winter and Mild ales.

From looking at the full beer list of the 75 ales, we believe he has curated one sweet collection of brews that will be great to try and make it through.

There are several featured breweries, like Downton (proving 7 from their range), Twickenham, Ballards, Shepherd Neame will once again be doing a micro-brew.

The following shouldn’t be a surprise to any of our readers but due to the touted generous use of hops (Goldings, Cascade (including a 2nd late hopping) and  Cluster).

One beer we’re keen to try is London Pale Ale from fellow sponsors, Meantime Brewing.  They are calling it a London Pale Ale and watch out for our brewrank on this one.

From a quick scan other highlights are:

1. Sarah Hughes, Dark Ruby
2. Robinsons, Old Tom
3. Orkney, Skullsplitter
4. Moorehouses, Black Cat
5. Exmoor, Beast
6. Batemans, Victory Ale
7. Buffy’s Brewery, Norwich Terrier
8. Burton Bridge, Thomas Sykes
9. Dark Star, Oktoberfest and Porter
10. Houston, Warlock Stout

Make sure to check out the microsite for the full list and information on tickets.

photo credit: 123 look at me

Updated original post with scores and notes on the Red River Belgians (See Beers)

Some of the BeerViking ( mostly Doc D but Hunter as well) crew are heading to Northern California on a serious pillage mission.

They will be filing field reports via Twitter and at HQ we’ll try to pull these together into semi-coherent summaries.

First up, some hippy music with the Grateful Dead. Key lines here are:

California, I’ll be knocking on the golden door

Which when it comes to craft beer, most people have to agree that California is exactly that.

Breweries/Pubs

Stop 1:  Beach Chalet

17 @pubrank for the Beach Chalet in San Francisco, CA. http://www.beachchalet.com/

Stop 2:  Marin Brewing Company

http://twitpic.com/aq8xo – NorCal Micro Brewery Raid – stop No 2: Marin BrewCo, Larkspur. Tasty!

Stop 3:  Russian River

http://twitpic.com/aq998 – Russian River – beer menu. So many and so good. Like ‘wine; and fine women.

View Nor Cal in a larger map

The Beers

All of these have been brewranked, here’s a Search on Twitter where you can find more details.

The Belgian Style Brews @ Russian River

Doc D filed the following update into HQ.

• Perdition – Biere de Sanoma: very lgith, sublte hints of dry white
  wine, good summer or session beer. 12
• Damnation – Strong Golden Ale: Fuck amazing want more. 17
• Salvation – Dark Strong Ale: fine for winter wrong time of year. Not
  going to finish it. 14
• Temptation: this reminds me of Orval but even more refined. Super
  graphfruity notes. 15
• Sanctification – 100% Brettanomyces, 6.25%ABV: ‘lambic’ style to my
  taste. Really smooth. 17
• Consercration – dark sour aged in oak barrels. 10% abv: ouch can’t
  rate too complex. like a whisky.
• Publication – Saison 8% abv best of the belgians in this line up today. 18!

Summary

By hitting Russian River and knocking back Pliney the Elder, arguably the prototype American Pale Ale, the guys have started the raid with impeccable standards.  As I’m living a vicarious dream from HQ, I for one can’t wait to see what the next couple of days holds.