4.9% alc./vol.
Producer:Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
This unfiltered wheat ale is Widmer Brothers Brewing Company's flagship brew. It is brewed with Pale, Munich, Wheat, Caramel 40L malts and Alchemy, Willamette, Cascade hops. (30 IBU & 11.75 Plato)
Appearance: Hazy, orange-amber with quickly diminishing off-white head and minimal lacing.
Aroma: White breadcrust and wheat with subtle coriander, orange citrus and clove.
Taste: Baguette bread crust with light citrus and clove.
Aftertaste: Palate fades with delicate spice.
diffordsguide rating: 4/5
9.7% alc./vol.
Producer:Stift Engelszell Trappistenbier-Brauerei
An Abt/quardupel beer made by trappist monks, named for Dom Gregorius Eisvogel, abbot of Stift Engelszell Abbey for 25 years (1925-1950).
Appearance: (13.06.14) Hazy, deep reddy-brown-almost black with thin beige head.
Aroma: Malty caramel, prunes and yeast.
Taste: Bittersweet, toasty, burnt malt with nutty burnt toffee and tobacco.
Aftertaste: Burnt toasty, malty crème brûlée.
diffordsguide rating: 3.5/5
4.8% alc./vol.
Producer:Banks Barbados Breweries Ltd
A small batch Bajan lager aged in former Mount Gay Special Reserve casks.
Appearance: (best before Jan 2014) Clear, bright golden with a thick white head which quickly fades to thin foam. Sadly this beer comes in a clear bottle so treat like you would a vampire and avoid daylight.
Aroma: Bread dough and grain with light woody vanilla and grassy hops.
Taste: Light bodied and slightly sweet but saved from being bland by white baguette crust flavour and mild oaky vanilla.
Aftertaste: White baguette crust continues with faint spice. Best appreciated by lovers of light lager in a hot climate. Beware the high change of this beer being light-struck.
diffordsguide rating: 4/5
4.5% alc./vol.
Producer:Sharps Brewery
Part of Sharp's Connoisseur's Choice range designed to be served with food, Single Brew Reserve 2012 is brewed with Pale Ale and Carapils malts. The beer is first wort-hopped to a mild bitterness and then a large amount of Citra is added during a two month cold maturation. Released February 2013.
Appearance: (best before 17-Jan-15) Clear, golden amber with generous, lasting white head.
Aroma: Fragrant tinned peaches, zesty orange and white bread crust.
Taste: Fruity hops and malt, dialled up and finely balanced. Clean zesty orange citrus and floral hops with underlying bready flavours.
Aftertaste: Dry, cleansingly bitter citrusy finish.
diffordsguide rating: 5/5
9% alc./vol.
Producer:Sharps Brewery
Part of Sharp's Connoisseur's Choice range of beers designed to be served with food, Spiced Red is a red ale brewed with coriander and a particularly fruity yeast Irish yeast strain. It is dry hopped in warm conditioning with Hallertauer Perle hops and spiced with coriander just before bottling. Launched February 2013.
Appearance: (Vintage 12, best before 23-Jan-17) Cloudy, deep tawny brown amber with moderately thick off-white head and little in the way of lacing.
Aroma: Wonderfully fruity - naval orange zest, moist fruit cake with almond going on marzipan, liquorice and cinnamon spice.
Taste: Sweet dried and stewed fruit - prunes and sultanas with balancing woody tannins.
Aftertaste: Long lingering lightly smoked brazil nuts, citrus zest and dry oak.
diffordsguide rating: 5/5
4.7% alc./vol.
Producer:Wychwood Brewery
An organic English pale ale made using organically grown English barley and organic Target hops.
Appearance: (best before 30-Nov-13) Clear, coppery amber with moderate but long lasting white head leaving heavy lacing.
Aroma: Buttery diacetyl, deep fried donut and stewed hops with herbal notes.
Taste: Yeasty bready notes with light stewed and earthy hops.
Aftertaste: Metallic pine hop influenced bitter-sweet finish.
diffordsguide rating: 3.5/5
4.5% alc./vol.
Producer:Wychwood Brewery
A blond beer brewed with pale, lager and cara malts and "thrice hopped for flavour" using English Fuggles, Styrian Goldings and Cascade hops, part of a range of beers from this Oxfordshire-based craft brewer that features old English folktale creatures such as the hobgoblin.
Appearance: Clear, golden with moderately thick white head and spotted lacing.
Aroma: Yeast, light blond honey, wood and hay with a whiff of piney hops.
Taste: Slightly acidic cleansing carbonation, toasted French baguette crust bready notes, earthy orchard fruits and caramel. Light creaminess to the mouthfeel.
Aftertaste: Long, pleasing baguette crust but with slight metallic note.
diffordsguide rating: 3.5/5
4.2% alc./vol.
Producer:Wychwood Brewery
A bitter made with pale and crystal malts and English Fuggles and Styrian Goldings hops featuring the legendary giant of folklore - "the beer to slay a mighty thirst", says the label.
Appearance: (31-Dec-13) Clear, deep golden amber with a golden glow. Thin but long lasting off-white head.
Aroma: Pancake mix, butter, donuts frying and light spice hops with faint coal tar.
Taste: Refreshing bite from hops and slightly acidic carbonation on a stale donuty base with sweet doughy bread emerging.
Aftertaste: Crisp, dry, lingering deep-fried donut finish.
diffordsguide rating: 4/5
5.2% alc./vol.
Producer:Wychwood Brewery
A dark ale brewed with Chocolate and Crystal malts, with Styrian, Goldings and Fuggles hops. Fuggles are used early in the boil with Styrian late hopped. The British cask version of this beer is 4.5% while export bottles sent to the USA are a mere 3.5% so obviously affecting flavour and style.
British advertisements for the beer used an image of a hobgoblin accompanied by the slogan, "What's the matter, lager boy - afraid you might taste something?"
Appearance: (best before 31-Dec-13) Clear, dark amber with burnished copper/bronze highlights. Thin but long lasting off-white head.
Aroma: Fudge, overripe pear, biscuit and citrus zest with faint earthy chocolate.
Taste: Dry, piney hops and stewed fruit with caramel and slight liquorice. The hops are dominant but not overpoweringly so.
Aftertaste: Dry finish with lingering pine hops.
diffordsguide rating: 4.5/5
