Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale 2012 (Australia)

www.coopers.com.au
Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale 2012
Coopers Brewery
7.5% ABV

The 2012 version of a very firm favourite amongst long time Australian ale drinkers.  The beer sells for a lot more than your standard beer but the high alcohol and the strong malt characters are normally worth the price tag.

Review

The beer was poured and the aromatics of the hops firstly belted me on the nose.  Some wonderful mid floral hop notes complimented the malt undertones.  The beer itself was cloudy with a light brown colour with the yeast still remaining.  The off-white head sat firmly on top of the beer.  On tasting you got liquorice and toffee characters with a little bitterness and considering the beer is 7.5% the alcohol was masked just right.  The beer had a light to medium body with a creamy mouthfeel.

This is a really good beer now and it that could also sit for a few more years with the high alcohol.  I will have to cellar a few of these and watch it develop.  Recommended.

Scores

Aroma 7/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 7/10
Palate 4.5/5
Overall 16.5/20

Total 78%

Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale 2010 (Aged) (Australia)

www.coopers.com.au
Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale 2010
Coopers Brewery
7.5% ABV

I guess you could call this a little experiment to compare the 2010 Vintage Ale (that had been cellared for two years) to the 2012.

Coopers have an Extra Strong Vintage Ale range and they issue a slightly tweaked version every year.  It recommends short term cellaring to improve the beer.

Review

After removing the cap and pouring, you immediately notice black treacle notes on the nose along with the mellowed malt and alcohol.  The beer has an almost clear dark golden brown hue with a very thin just-off-white head.  On tasting the alcohol is still there and the dark treacle was apparent.   The beer had a medium body with a creamy texture.  On the whole it was a great beer with some really nicely developed flavours complimenting the warmth of the alcohol.

Scores: -

Aroma 6.5/10
Appearance 3.5/5
Taste 7.5/10
Palate 4/5
Overall 16/20

Total 75%

Old Golden Hen (England)

www.oldspeckledhen.co.uk
Old Golden Hen
Morland Breweries
4.1% ABV

The Summer Ale from the producers of Old Speckled Hen.  This is a lighter brew that uses lighter malt tones to create a lighter brother to the world famous Old Speckled Hen.  The brewery has been established since 1711.

Review

As soon as the beer is poured the skunky, fruity aromas from the Galaxy hops are apparent.  The beer is a clear golden liquid, with a slight fizz and a quickly disappearing white head.  The skunk flavour continues down on to the tongue without a great deal of depth.  The beer has a light to medium body.  Overall this beer is a good beer that is really refreshing.

Scores: -

Aroma 5/10
Appearance 4/5
Taste 5/10
Palate 3.5/5
Overall 16/20

Total 67%

Negra Modello (Mexico)

No website available
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%