Number 12 - In Deep Water from Tap Social.

 Tap social is based in Botley, West Oxford. They are based on an old trading estate and are becoming a bit of an institution. The brewery was set up with the purpose of creating employment and training opportunities for ex-offenders. They seek out those shortly to be released and offer them a job in the brewing industry. This in itself would be remarkable, however, they also produce fabulous beers all named with a nod to misbehaviour or imprisonment beers like "Cell Count", "Time better spent", and "Inside out". They have a vibrant tap room and social space and consider themselves a social asset. I can't help but feel that this type of Social Enterprise is going to become more and more important in the future. 

During lockdown I arranged an online beer tasting for the staff at the school in which I teach and as our nearest brewery, Tap Social Cell Count featured and shone as one of our beers. I am a huge fan of this brewery.

So to the beer. In Deep Water is described as a red IPA. It looks like a really beautiful old bitter. On the nose it has a hint of plum and green gauge and maybe even peach. When in the mouth, this is a very quafable beer indeed, even at 3.6% abv this could still get you into trouble based on its sheer drinkability. It actually has a mid note of really good bread (honestly) with a malty finish. This is a fabulous beer from a fabulous company!

 

Beer no. 11 - Guinness

 We all love an underdog, its a character trait held by very few nations, the UK and Ireland among then. One of the reasons we like our independent traders and small, family companies is because of the sense that they might be taking on the might of the international company and maybe, just maybe winning. We even get upset when our favourite small company gets big and seems not to be the plucky little trier and becomes an economic force. So it seems illogical that Guinness (part of the Diageo giant) should be part of the Toast companion box. However, this is a very narrow minded view: If we don't bring everyone with us on this journey then its a few small voices yelling in a big space. We need the big companies involved in cutting food waste. Further to this it shows great courage by Guinness to get involved and the beer they have brewed is not bad either,

On the nose it has a dark malt smell linked with a faint vegetable character. In the mouth it is quite surprising: First of all it is clearly a Guinness. However it has a stronger alcohol feel and a very interesting chilli note on the finish. Long bitter chocolate notes complete the picture. Well done Guinness great beer.

We are up to 10 - Puffincan by Better World

 This beer is a Kveik IPA. The Kveik, or more correctly the Voss Kveik is the yeast that is used in this beer. It has its origins in Norway but turns up all over the world now and is regarded as a classic yeast. This has been used to brew a modern IPA. The team at Better World have gone with Simcoe, Ekuanot, el Dorado and Comet hops. So this beer's influences are from all over the world. Most of us believe that we should all do something to make the world a better or safer place, not all of us act on it. The team at Better World plan to use revenue to plant 100,000 trees in places where deforestation is causing devastation - more power to them!

On the nose this beer is a little reserved letting out a little hint of earthy malt and a hint of peach. In the mouth it takes off! Tropical fruits, melon and mango, then a hit of citrus, followed by citrus malt, one of those beers that lifts your eyebrows. It does not hide it abv (6.5%) but neither does it boss the beer about the depth of flavour is perfectly matched by its strength. This is definitely not a session beer but I could take a second! totally fascinating.

Number Nine! New Skies by Fyne Ales

 Fyne Ales Farm Brewery was founded in 2001 and is a family owned concern in the Argyll countryside. Their collaboration beer is a New world Pale Ale. This is unashamedly a modern beer. It is easy to assume that a brewery tucked away in the Scottish countryside would produce very old fashioned beers - nothing could be further from the truth. They produce modern innovative beers that are modern and innovative and progressive. 

On the nose this beer is a citrus attack. Pink grapefruit and blood orange give a smell that is close to sherbet and makes you want to take a big mouthful. In the mouth there is a bit of peach and maybe, nectarine. The finish is genuinely earthy and that is when the malt arrives. This beer has the potential to be a modern classic,. in simple terms, I want another.

    

It's the Eighth one - Pudding for the People by Unity.

I am a little bit later tonight as I sing in a choir and we rehearse on a Wednesday night. I had to choose a beer that might sooth an over used voice so I took a chance with Pudding for the People, a Bread and Butter porter. This is brewed by Unity, a brewery that is so positive in its attitude that it brings a smile to my face whenever I read about them, it is community owned and brews very modern beers indeed.

The beer itself is a joy. It is not as heavy as some porters as it has quite a light feel despite 5.2% alcohol. On the nose there is "rum 'n' raisin" edge to this beer with just a hint of winter spice, cinnamon maybe nutmeg. In the mouth it has a gentle spicy sweetness with a very subtle vanilla edge,  again with dried fruit followed by a lovely old fashioned finish. I could not have picked better to sooth my tired vocal chords. 

Lucky Number 7 -Northern Mornings by Northern Monk

 I have been a fan of Northern Monk Brewery for quite some time. Their beers are well made and well thought out (a particular favourite being Faith). They wear their Northern roots proudly and the fact that they started with very little and have created a highly successful brand within the Craft beer movement. They have created a Breakfast Stout.

I have struggled to find agreement on what a Breakfast Stout should be; some people say it needs to have coffee in it some give all sorts of definitions. Certain breweries have even added bacon to the mix! I am not averse to drinking at any time of the day but I'm not sure I could cope with a beer at 5.8% pint with my muesli!

And so to the beer: On the nose there is a strong smell of toast (yes honestly), also the tiniest hint of dark treacle. In the mouth there is a very strong sense of "Abbey" which ties in with the house style of Northern Monk. It is sweet and strong, rich, malty and dry at the finish. This is not a beer to be hurried, it requires the drinker to savour and consider the richness of flavours. Thoroughly well made beer, and I promise it smelled of toast!

   

The Sixth Companion - Brixton Brewery's Midnight Hour

 Those of us who started their drinking in the late 80's carry a lot of baggage when it comes to beer. We suffered the indignity of bad keg bitter, badly kept real ale and lager which didn't taste of much at all. So it is inevitable that we carry certain prejudices. Like all unconscious prejudices. it is good to have these challenged and then reflect on how much netter the world of the beer drinker is today. The prejudice that lager was merely a vehicle for alcohol has long left my psychology, there are many beautiful lagers on the market, many made at scale. However, when somebody labels a beer "Black Lager" then the prejudice that larger should be a light straw colour is thus challenged! Incidentally, Melissa Cole has written a great book on lager, well worth reading

Brixton Brewery started in a railway arch in 2013, if this is the quality of beer that they generally produce then I need to try more. This is a well made beer. I also love the naming of the beer: as if we weren't aware, time is running out!

On the nose it is like a dark chocolate Malteser (if they existed) full of malty Ovaltine tones. IN the mouth it is lighter than expected but has a lovely clean  with hops coming through at the end. By the time it has taken me to type this, it is almost finished. Very, very moreish!