Negra Modello (Mexico)

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Negra Modello
5.4% ABV

Mexican's most popular dark beer.  A Vienna style beer - a dark in colour, light in body beer.  This is a really popular beer within Mexico and also in the various countries that it is exported to.

Review

On the nose the beer has the immediate hit of warm alcohol masking the malt tones.  It has a very quickly disappearing off-white head sitting upon slightly cloudy brown liquid.  On the tongue the alcohol is apparent immediately along with a honey sweetness but barely any bitterness.  The beer has a very light body.  Overall this is  a very session able beer - a good all rounder with some good malt characters but still maintaining a very light body.

Scores: -

Aroma 5/10
Appearance 2.5/5
Taste 5/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 16/20

Total 65%

Little Creatures - The Day Of The Long Shadow (Australia)

www.littlecreatures.com.au
Single Batch - The day of the long shadow - Special Ale
Little Creatures Brewery
8.9% ABV

The latest single batch from Little Creatures Brewery specifically brewed for the winter months, this christmas (in July) ale is aimed for the those cold winter nights.  This beer was purchased as soon as I heard about it (I took the last couple of bottles from the shelf) and haven't been able to find since -
The single batch brews are very popular indeed!

The beer is brewed with UK Sovereign and Challenger hops.

Review

When the beer is first poured - cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, almost mulled wine and spicey hops are all on the nose along with background malts.  The beer itself has a clear dark red/brown hue with a tan thin head.  The alcohol hits the taste buds immediately and then the dark treacle is tasted before the bitterness.  The beer has a medium body and texture wise is smooth almost creamy.

This beer is great although very different.  Perfect for a cold winters night - with the fire blazing and the logs stocked high.  Just be prepared it isn't a quaffing session beer.

Scores

Aroma 6.5/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 6/10
Palate 3/5
Overall 16/20

Total 71%

Black Sheep Ale (England)

www.blacksheep.co.uk
Black Sheep Ale
Black Sheep Brewery
4.4% ABV

Black Sheep has to be the quintessential Yorkshire brewery.  Producing a fine selection of beers ranging from the extremely strong Russian Imperial Stout to the light golden summer ale of the Golden Sheep to this; their flagship ale - Black Sheep Ale.

Review

The beer pours as a beautiful golden clear liquid and a white head. that disappears quite quickly.  The beer has a lager yeast aroma, tones of wheat and summer fruits.  The beer has a light palate with some mild bitterness from the hops.  The beer is light in body, infact too light to get a big score.

The beer tastes like a malty lager.

Scores: -

Aroma 4/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 5/10
Palate 3/5
Overall 14/20

Total 60%

Asahi Premium Black (Japan)

http://www.asahigroup-holdings.com/en/brands/alcohol/index.html
Asahi Premium Black
Asahi Brewery
5% ABV

Asahi's venture in the world of darker more complex beers.  Using roasted barley malt, rice and maize to create this beer.

Review

The beer pours an almost black clear liquid with a just off white head.  On the nose you get roasted coffee immediately before a mellowing sweeter aroma is presented.  On tasting you get bags of the roasted malts along with a little bitterness on the back.  The beer has prefect weight to add to this terrific beer.

Great amounts of malt flavour balanced with a medium palate - a great beer.

Scores: -

Aroma 6/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 6/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 16/20

Total 72%

The Kernel India Pale Ale Galaxy (England)

http://www.thekernelbrewery.com/
The Kernel India Pale Ale Galaxy
The Kernel Brewery London
7.4% ABV

The tasting of this beer was actually by accident.  Whilst at the bar at a boutique beer cafe in York I asked the barman for a recommendation.  He then directed me to a few different beers that I had previously tried.  It was infact the guy stood to the side of me that told me to try this as it had won numerous awards and was currently number one in a few of the different beer charts.  He had specifically come in to have a few of these.  When the penny dropped and I realised what it was, I was relieved that the guy had given me the recommendation, so thanks to that guy!  I did feel bad however as I received the last beer in the keg.  So apologies to that guy too.

Review

This beer is designed for hop heads....  It must be as immediately you get punched in the face with the immense pineapple and exotic fruit aromas.  The beer is a clear golden liquid with a thin white head.  The beer is quite light in body for a beer of this strength but with the expected bitter finish of a beer this hoppy.

Beautiful intense aromas and very bitter.

Scores : -

Aroma 8/10
Appearance 3/5
Taste 6/10
Palate 3/5
Overall 16/20

Total 72%

Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout (England)

www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk
Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout
Samuel Smiths Brewery
5% ABV

A very special beer this one.  Another beer that was on my must try beers.  The opening of a Samuel Smiths bottle always seems like an occasion and this is no different.

Review

The aroma of Tadcaster itself is present once the beer is poured.  Sweet oaty notes immediately hit the nose with a smokey quality.  The beer has a dark ruby hue with a tan head.  The beer looks rich.  When tasting; the oatmeal gives a sweetness to the beer with the richness of the malt combining to add chocolate qualities.  The beer is actually quite light in body but with a full flavour palate, the beer has a dry finish.  Natural carbonation adds to the texture along with the exceptionally smooth texture.

This is a brilliant beer absolutely perfect for a Tuesday night beer.

Scores: -

Aroma 7/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 7/10
Palate 5/5
Overall 17/20

Total 80%

Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout (England)

www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk
Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout
Samuel Smiths Brewery
7% ABV

The beer is called Imperial Stout as it was originally brewed to withstand the abuses of shipping in foul weather to Imperial Russia.  It was a favourite with Russian nobility whose taste for fine food and drink was world famous.

This has won many awards over the many years it has been brewed.

Review

Initially on the first pour the dark black chocolate like liquid which is so dark it is hard to see if it is clear or opaque.  The beer has a brown head.  On the nose you get coffee and roasted barley notes.  On tasting you get the roasted coffee hit with a nice warmth of alcohol on the back of the palate.  The beer itself has a creamy, smooth texture with a medium body.  The beer is good, not the greatest but certainly good.

Scores: -

Aroma 5.5/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 5/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 15/20

Total 67%

Samuel Smiths Nut Brown Ale (England)

www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk
Samuel Smiths Nut Brown Ale
Samuel Smiths Brewery
5% ABV

Samuel Smith's flagship ale.  A very popular bottled ale that is exported to the American market from Yorkshire's oldest brewery.

Review

On first pour a dark golden brown ale is presented with a just off white head.  Not a great deal going on  on the nose - some subtle malt tones perhaps some walnut characters.  On the tongue you get some nice caramel characters along with the malt although not too much bitterness.  A perfectly balanced beer, this is a perfect beer for a session.

Scores: -

Aroma 5/10
Appearance 3.5/5
Taste 5/10
Palate 5/5
Overall 15/20

Total 67%

Samuel Smiths Taddy Porter (England)

www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk
Samuel Smiths Taddy Porter
Samuel Smiths Brewery
5% ABV

The above webpage is just about as much information as you can find on the above beer.  But what the brewery lacks in marketing it certainly makes up for in amazing beers.  With an immense range of first class beers that are huge in the American market the only question that is to be asked is "Why won't they ship to Australia?"

The limited information on the beer states that the original well that was sunk in 1758 is still in use with the hard well water being drawn from 85 foot underground, malted barley, roasted malt, yeast and hops.  Fermented in stone Yorkshire Squares.

Review

The beer pours dark almost black liquid with a beige head, looking like black coffee.  A roasted caramel malt fragrance is on the nose with some dark fruit.   The taste is again of roasted malt with chocolate, coffee some caramel or fudge with a nice rich finish.  The beer is very smooth with a medium body.  Very well balanced and light carbonation.

Great beer - very session-able with some exceptional roasted qualities.

Scores: -

Aroma 6/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 6/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 16/20

Total 72%

Otley Oxymoron (Wales)

www.otleybrewing.co.uk
Otley Oxymoron
Otley Brewing Company
5.5% ABV

This beer was one I have been looking forward to trying on a recent trip to the UK.  The Otley Brewery is certainly one of the most exciting breweries in the UK releasing quality beer after beer.

This aptly titled "Oxymoron" is a dark pale Ale.  Brewed in Pontypridd in Wales this continues along the lines of both innovation and pure class.  A limited release beer.  This contains more than 5 types of hops along with German Carafa malt.

I did enquire about this beer and currently they are not bottling this beer but do have future plans to bottle and export so look out for it.

Review

This cask conditioned beer was served at the Slip Inn in York, UK.  The beer was dark almost black in colour, a thick creamy looking beer with an off white head it certainly looked rather heavy.  Dark chocolate malts sat alongside piney hops and citrus notes on the nose.  Great depths of flavour with citrus possibly grapefruit on the palate, also maybe some black treacle or even liquorice.  Some smokey coffee malt flavours are also present.  Quite a surprisingly light beer despite the dark appearance but with perfect balance.  A good bitterness on the finish.

An amazing beer.

Scores: -

Aroma 6/10
Appearance 5/5
Taste 8/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 18.5/20

Total 83%

York Brewery - Yorkshire Terrier (England)

www.york-brewery.co.uk
Yorkshire Terrier
York Brewery
4.2% ABV

York Brewery's award winning bitter.  This beer is one of the breweries more commonly known beer.  

Review

A golden clear amber beer with a small white head is poured.  There is a moderate malt nose, toasted toffee, some fudge and a light grassy hop note.  A little sweetness is felt on the palate with an average bitterness.  The beer has a medium body with a little oily texture.

An average session beer.

Scores: -

Aroma 5/10
Appearance 3.5/5
Taste 5/10
Palate 3.5/5
Overall 13.5/20

Total 61%

Black Sheep Imperial Russian (England)

www.blacksheepbrewery.com
Black Sheep Imperial Russian
Black Sheep Brewery
8.5% ABV

Black Sheep's version of the 18th century porter that was first shipped to Russia and renamed Imperial Russian Stout.

This is the second time this has been brewed as the first batch was developed for the St Petersburg Imperial Stout Tasting in June 2011.  It proved so popular the brewery decided to brew it again and is now a permanent fixture of the Masham brewery.

Review

A dark, ruby liquid is poured with a tan head.  Chocolate notes are present along with umami or marmite characters.  The beer being 8.5% is obviously very strong and you can taste the warmth of the alcohol but there are some intense dark almost tar malt flavours.  The beer has a medium to heavy body.

This is too strong for a session or mid week beer but for something special this is worth trying.  Would be great with some strong cheese.

Scores: -

Aroma 6/10
Appearance 3.5/5
Taste 6/10
Palate 3.5/5
Overall 16/20

Total 70%