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     Bottled Beers Menu

 

British & Irish Ales

 

Brewdog, Scotland

The brewers describe themselves as ‘a beacon of non conformity in an increasingly monotone corporate desert.  We are proud to be an intrepid David in a desperate ocean of insipid Goliaths. We are proud to be an alternative’. The descriptions supplied are in their own words. Great brewers or over-hyped publicity seekers? The decision is yours. The beers are definitely worthy of interest.

Zeitgeist   NEW                            Black lager                                       330ml       4.9%          £2.95

Their recreation of a German Schwartzbier (a style which originally peaked 200 years ago). It, of course, has the Brewdog ‘twist’. Not so much a copy, more a new interpretation.

5am Saint                                      ‘iconoclastic amber ale’             330ml       5%             £2.95

‘The UK beer scene is sick and we are the doctor’ Brewdog claim. They may well be right, and this is a lovely beer. I do, however, take exception to the label’s claim that we are all completely ignorant about beer.

Avery Brown Dredge  NEW     ‘Imperious Pilsner’                          330ml       7.5%          £6.50

‘We wanted to showcase the awesome backbone of the Czech brewing tradition, the noble Saaz hop, and also tip our hats to the modern beers that rock our world, and the people who make them.’

Abstrakt AB 06  NEW                 ‘Imperial Black IPA’’                     375ml       11.2%       £12.50

‘The latest installment uin the limited edition concept beer series is a triple dry hopped Imperial Black IPA. A monster of an iPA combining dark malts with a monumental amount of hops. This is the hoppiest beer the brewery has ever made. The Abstrakt series is about directional, boundary pushing beers, blurring distinctions and transcending categories.’

 

Guinness, Ireland

Special Export                              Strong stout                                     330ml       8%             £5.25

Strong version of the famous stout brewed in Dublin for the Belgian market. Bottled by John Martin’s of Antwerp, and re-imported to the UK for a few lucky people!

 

Innis & Gunn, Scotland    NEW

Blonde                                            Lightly oaked beer                        330ml       6%             £3.50

Matured for 37 days, many of them in white oak bourbon casks (see below).

Original                                          Oak aged beer                              330ml       6.6%          £3.75

Reputedly discovered by mistake. The beer, was originally brewed to prepare casks for the production of Grant’s Ale Cask Whisky (also stocked at the Bhurtpore). It is brewed in Dunbar and matured in white oak bourbon casks for 30 days. At this point it had fulfilled its purpose and would have been disposed of if some inquisitive soul hadn’t decided to taste it! The beer now spends a further 47 days in a marrying tun to finish. A happy series of events! It is quite unique and rather delicious.

Lee’s, England   NEW

Harvest Ale 2009                         Vintage strong ale                         275ml       11.5%       £3.75

Harvest Ale 2010                         Vintage strong ale                         275ml       11.5%       £3.75

Superb, annually brewed strong ale from Manchester. Back on form after a few disappointing vintages.

 

Marble, England

Decadence                                   Imperial Russian Stout                   750ml       8.7%          £15.95

An excellent recreation of the style, as brewed for the Russian Court from 1770 by Thrale’s of London. Over the years this beer was moved from brewery to brewery Thrale’s to Barclay Perkins to Courage to John Smith’s) but was discontinued in 1994 (I still have a few bottles – sorry, not for sale). The flavour is typical – smoky coffee and bitter chocolate, but with a bitterness that is pure Marble. First rate stuff.

USELESS FACT: the high ABV was necessary to stop the beers freezing on the long, cold Baltic stage of the journey.

Decadence Kriek                        Imperial Russian Stout with cherries     750ml       8.7%          £17.25

Decadence Frambozen            Imperial Russian Stout with raspberries750ml       8.7%          £17.25

These are the above beer with added fruit. Cherries and raspberries have been added to Belgian ales for 300 years, often nowadays resulting in an over-sweet concoction where traditionally they would just be to offset extreme sourness in Lambic beer styles (try Cantillon’s fruit beers). These are in the best tradition, where plenty of fruit is definitely there, but it does not dominate. Distinctly superior. VERY limited stock.

Special 2009                                 Barley wine                                      750ml       10.7%       £17.25

The colour is a very traditional deep amber, the aroma full of rich malt, but distinctly hoppy and promising much depth. The real treat starts when it hits your tongue. Actually, it doesn’t so much hit it as roll across it like liquid velvet. The sweet malt is everything you might want from a big strong beer, and is quickly followed by that wonderful wave of Marble hops. These bottles are big enough to share, but you may choose not to! Straight into my top 10 brews.

 

 

O’Hanlon’s, England

Thomas Hardy’s Ale                   Strong vintage ale                         8.5fl.oz     11.7%       £4.90

One of the great classic English ales of the 20th century (then brewed by Eldridge Pope in Dorset) is reborn in the capable hands of O’Hanlon’s of Whimple in Devon. Smoky, fruity and hoppy, with an enormous length of finish. All in all, a very welcome return.          CURRENTLY SEEKING STOCK                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

Scottish Courage, England & Scotland

Mann’s Brown Ale                       Brown ale                                         275ml       2.8%          £1.60

A sweet brown ale, a bottled mild.

 

Traquair House, Scotland

Traquair House Ale                     Strong ale                                         330ml       7.2%          £3.65

Jacobite Ale                                 Strong spiced ale                           330ml       8%             £3.95

From a brewery based at the oldest inhabited house in Scotland, which specializes in high quality strong bottled beers as well as a small quantity of cask ale.

 

Whitbread, England

Gold Label                                    Barley wine                                      180ml       8.5%          £1.75

Now the nations standard, but recently downgraded from 10.9% abv. The first pale barley wine, launched in 1951 by an independent Sheffield brewer subsequently taken over by Whitbread, naturally!

 

White Shield, England

Worthington Red Shield            Blond Burton ale                             500ml       4.2%          £3.10

Red Shield is a genuine pale ale, brewed only with pale malt. The hops are English Bramling Cross and two American varieties, Cascade and Centennial. A large amount of late hops are used at the end of the copper boil for additional aroma and flavour. The beer has a tangy citrus fruit aroma plus a delicious hint of pear fruit.

Worthington E                              Premium Burton ale                       500ml       4.8%          £3.35

Copper brown in colour, with a deliciously complex aroma - nutty bread, baking spices, some caramel - and a similar set of flavours playing out across the palate, but finishing dry, spicy and nutty.

Worthington White Shield         India Pale Ale                                  500ml       5.6%          £3.75

Delicious, if perhaps lacking some of the character it had 15 or 20 years ago. The archetypal Burton brewed IPA. Try also Marston’s Old Empire if you see it on draught anywhere, though bottles are a little disappointing – unlike White Shield it is Pasteurised. BRITAIN’S CHAMPION BOTTLED BEER 2011, bronze in 2012

 

 

Lagers

 

 

Becks, Germany

Becks Vier                                      Pilsener                                              On draught – 4%

Still brewed in Bremen but specially for the UK market

Becks Bier                                      Pilsener                                              275ml       5%             £2.40

Yes. It’s here because it’s popular.

 

Bitburger, Germany

Bitburger Premium Pils               Pilsener                                              On draught – 4.8%

Bitburger Drive                             Alcohol free ‘pilsener’                  330ml       >0.5%       £1.75

The Pils is also available on draught. It is the biggest selling draught beer in Germany. Dry, crisp and really rather classy.

 

 

Budweiser, Czech Republic

Budvar Budweiser                       Pilsener                                              On draught – 5%

Budvar Budweiser Dark             Dark lager                                        On draught – 4.7%

Budvar Budweiser Half & Half Blended lager                                 On draught – 4.8%

No relation to the Milwaukee ‘King of Beers’ which we would not stock here. This is the ‘Beer of Kings’. One of the undisputed great lagers. The Half and Half is blended on demand in the cellar from the other beers, and brings together the best aspects of both beers.

 

Fruh, Germany

Fruh Kolsch                                    Kolsch                                                500ml       4.8%          £3.95

The classic beer style of Cologne. Deliciously light & fruity lagered beer. Very tasty and refreshing.

 

 

 

Trappist Ales

The jewel in the crown of continental ales. These are all certified ‘Authentic Trappist Product’ – brewed at the monastery by the monks with the help of lay workers. We stock every available variant (when available! – see Westvleteren.)

 

Trappists of Achel, Belgium

Blond                                               Trappist triple                                   330ml       8%             £3.85

Bruin                                                Trappist brown                                330ml       8%             £3.85

After an 84 year gap the Achel monastery started to brew commercially once more in 1998. In 2001 they introduced their first bottled ale, a delightfully fresh, easy drinking golden triple, followed soon after by a darker version. Very nice, and improving all the time.

Achelse Kluis Extra Bruin           Strong Trappist brown                  750ml       9.5%          £12.25

Bottled by hand by the monks at the smallest of the six Belgian Trappist breweries and rated a ‘****/* classic of it’s kind….huge, dark chestnut, sweetish, chocolaty’ by CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide to Belgium.

 

Trappists of Koningshoeven, Holland

La Trappe Blonde                        Trappist blonde                              330ml       6.5%          £3.35

La Trappe Dubbel                       Trappist double                              330ml       6.5%          £3.35

La Trappe Trippel                        Trappist triple                                   330ml       8%             £3.75

La Trappe Quadrupel                Trappist strong--                              330ml       10%           £4.45

La Trappe Quadrupel Oak Aged  Trappist strong                           375ml       10%           £11.95

The only non Belgian Trappist monastery with a commercial brewery. The right to use the ‘Authentic Trappist’ mark was withdrawn in 1999, but following reorganization and more involvement by the monks it was reinstated in 2005. The Oak aged variant is usually only available from the abbey, and is aged for two years in a succession of barrels (fresh oak, port barrels, whisky barrels and red and white wine barrels) each of which adds its own unique flavour.

 

Trappists of Orval, Belgium

Orval                                               Trappist ale - very hoppy             330ml       6.2%          £3.50

A single ale is available from this monastery though I have been lucky enough to try the lighter ‘Petit Orval which is usually kept for the brothers. Best, really, drunk after a year or two of laying down, which we try to provide. It is a very hoppy beer.

 

Trappists of Rochfort, Belgium

6                                                        Trappist double                              330ml       7.5%          £3.80

8                                                        Trappist triple                                   330ml       9.2%          £4.90

10                                                     Trappist strong                                330ml       11.3%       £6.40

Still a very traditional Trappist brewery. Availability of the 6 is quite limited. The brewery was set up in 1899 with help from brothers from the Achel monastery. The Good Beer Guide to Belgium suggests that the beers improve with age and should last for decades.

 

Trappists of Scourmont, Belgium

Chimay Red                                  Trappist double                              330ml       7%             £3.70 

Chimay White                              Trappist triple                                   330ml       8%             £4.50

Chimay Blue 2012   NEW         Trappist strong                                330ml       9%             £5.20

Chimay Blue 2011                       Trappist strong                                330ml       9%             £5.20 

Chimay Blue 2008                       Trappist strong                                330ml       9%             £5.20 

Chimay Blue 2007                       Trappist strong                                330ml       9%             £5.20 

Chimay Blue 2006                       Trappist strong                                330ml       9%             £5.20 

Chimay Blue 2005                       Trappist Strong                                330ml       9%             £5.20

Chimay Blue 2004                       Trappist strong                                330ml       9%             £5.20

The second biggest and possibly best known Trappist brewery, it was started in 1862 to help fund the completion of the then new monastery. A new brewery was opened in 1989. The ales are thought to improve with laying down, with the Red and Blue developing port like characteristics after 5 years.

 

Trappists of Stift Engelszell, Austria  NEW

Gregorius                                       Trappist strong                                330ml       9.7%          £7.95

Produced at the only Trappist monastery in Austria, founded in 1293, in Engelhartszell on the Danube. Engelszell was elevated from priory to abbey status  when Gregorius Eisvogel became Abbot in 1925. The lack of the ‘Authentic Trappist Product’ (ATP) label on the bottle signifies an early bottling. It will appear on future issues. This is a dark beer and will be joined in due course by new beers named after other abbots. Supply may be sporadic in the short term.

More information is a little sketchy – I can’t translate their website and have had to resort to looking at the dreaded ratebeer.com (there is just so much rubbish written on it). This could be one to watch as they refine their recipes.

 

Trappists of Westmalle, Belgium

Dubbel                                            Trappist double                              330ml       7%             £3.75

Tripel                                                Trappist triple                                   330ml       9.5%          £5.25

Now the largest of the Trappist breweries. They developed the original dark dubbel and blond tripel styles. They also brew a rarely seen weaker beer for the brothers, and I would love to get some! We sometimes get the Dubbel on draught.

 

Abbey Ales

 

 

Abbaye du Val Dieu, Belgium

Blonde                                            Abbey blonde                                330ml       6%             £3.30

Brune                                               Abbey double                                330ml       8%             £3.95

Triple                                                Abbey triple                                     330ml       9%             £4.25

Grand Cru                                     Abbey strong                                  750ml       10.5%       £11.75

Very accomplished beers produced in the grounds of a Cistercian Abbey, but not classified as Trappist as the monks themselves are not involved in the brewing process.

 

Bavik, Belgium

Petrus Speciale                            Abbey blonde                                330ml       5.5%          £2.85

Petrus Dubbel Bruin                    Abbey Double                                330ml       6.5%          £3.40

Petrus Blond                                  Golden abbey double                330ml       6.5%          £3.40

Petrus Gouden Tripel                  Abbey triple                                     330ml       7.5%          £3.85

Pilaarbijter Bruin                          Abbey double                                330ml       6.5%          £3.30

Pilaarbijter Blond                         Abbey triple                                     330ml       7.5%          £3.90

A fine range of abbey style ales, newly available in the UK.

 

Bosteels, Belgium

Karmeleit Tripel                            Abbey triple                                     330ml       8%             £4.70

A delicious triple with some wheat & oats in the mash.

 

De Molen, Holland    NEW

Heen & Weer                                 Abbey triple                                     330ml       9.5%          £4.80

Translates as Back & Forth (De Molen means ‘the mill’). The brewery is rated as one of the world’s top ten. Very limited stocks.

“Our brewery has two locations. At one end of the town centre is the real brewery - with kettles and stuff - and the restaurant. At the other end of town we have our warehouse and storage building. Here's where our beers ferment, lager, age and are stored until they are send all over the world. After brewing the fermenters are driven to the warehouse with a forklift. An empty fermenter is taken back to the brewery. So, we go back & forth with the beers all the time!”

 

De Ranke, Belgium

Guldenberg                                  Abbey triple                                     330ml       8.5%          £3.85

A very hoppy blond triple, setting the standard for bitter triples.

 

Lefebvre, Belgium

Floreffe Blonde                             Abbey blonde                                330ml       6.3%          £3.50

Floreffe Double                            Abbey double                                330ml       6.3%          £3.50

Floreffe Triple                                Abbey triple                                     330ml       7.5%          £3.95

Floreffe Prima Melior                  Abbey strong                                  330ml       8%             £4.50

A good range of ales that we are able to offer occasionally on draught. The Prima Melior has a hint of aniseed.

Roman, Belgium

Ename Dubbel                             Abbey double                                330ml       6.5%          £3.35

Ename Tripel                                 Abbey triple                                     330ml       9%             £4.60

An independent family business since at least 1545! Very drinkable examples.

 

St. Bernardus, Belgium

Pater 6                                            Abbey ale                                        330ml       6.7%          £3.20

Watou Tripel   NEW                    Abbey ale                                        330ml       7.5%          £3.80

Watou is a recent addition to the range, and has been well reviewed. It was originally brewed for the French market.

Tripel                                                Abbey triple                                     330ml       8%             £4.35

Prior 8                                              Abbey ale                                        330ml       8%             £4.35

Abt 12                                             Abbey strong                                  330ml       10%           £5.25

Until 1994 the 6,8 and 12 were brewed as commercial versions of the St. Sixtus beers of the Westvleteren Trappist monastery whose beers are only rarely available outside the monastery. They are fine brews, but now quite different from those of the monastery. All their beers are very accomplished.

 

Senne, Belgium

Jambe-de-Bois (Wooden Leg)Abbey triple                                   330ml       8%             £4.55

Generously hopped with a hint of ginger     

Slaapmutske, Belgium

Tripel                                                Abbey triple                                     330ml       8.1%          £4.45

Actually brewed by the excellent De Proefbrouwerij to slaapmutske's recipe. First rate.

 

Urthel, Holland

Urthel Hibernus Quentum Tripel  Abbey triple                                330ml       9.5%          £4.60

Urthel’s brewer brews her beers at the Koningshoeven Trappist monastery. It is strong, well hopped example.

 

 

Golden and Blonde Ales

Achouffe, Belgium

La Chouffe                                    Strong blond ale                            750ml       8%             £10.65

A delicious, polished blond. Really slides down!

Chouffe Houblon                        Strong blond seasonal ale          330ml       9%             £5.65

An American inspired hoppy blonde using Amarillo hops. In an IPA style with a harmonious balance of the bitterness and a pleasant fruitiness.

 

Anker, Belgium

Maneblusser                                 blond ale                                          330ml       6%             £3.25 

A smooth, quaffable ‘city beer’

Lucifer                                             Strong golden ale                          330ml       8%             £4.25 

This once famous rival to Duvel perished in 2007. Luckily Anker bought the brand and have breathed new life into this fine golden ale.

Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor    Strong golden ale                          330ml       8%             £4.50 

A new blond beer, hopped for aroma with Goldings, French Tradition, Saaz & Spalt.

Gouden Carolus Triple              Strong golden ale                          330ml       9%             £4.50 

Slightly spicy , dryish golden triple. A fine example.

 

Brooklyn, USA   NEW

Local No.1                                     Strong golden ale                          750ml       9%             £12.95

Malted barley and hops from Germany, aromatic raw sugar from Mauritius and yeast from Belgium are combined by brewing genius and beer writer Garrett Oliver. Full golden in colour, with an alluring aroma and a truly complex, deep palate. Secondary fermentation takes place in the (beautifully presented) bottle. An absolute corker.

 

Cazeau, Belgium                      

Tournay                                          Strong golden ale                          330ml       6.7%          £4.20

Very accomplished golden ale from a tiny farmhouse brewery in Hainault. Most of their output goes to the States, but we have procured a few cases! Pricey, but well worth a punt.

 

De Molen, Holland   NEW

De Molen means ‘the mill’. The brewery is rated as one of the world’s top ten. Very limited stocks.

Op & Top                                        Light IPA                                            330ml       4.5%          £3.60

“Light IPA/Bitter using European Premient as bittering hops then late hopped with US Cascade and Amarillo”

Engels                                             Golden ale                                      330ml       4.5%          £3.90

A superb English style golden ale.

Donder & Bliksem                        Pilsner inspired ale                          330ml       5.7%          £4.10

‘This is our thirst-quencher for long, warm evenings. A real session bitter De Molen style. Not just a pilsner, but brewed in the Bohemian tradition. In Bohemia they love a fruity pilsner with firm hop bitterness.’

Premiant Hopburst                      Single hop  IPA                               330ml       6.2%          £4.20

Sladek Hopburst                          Single hop  IPA                               330ml       6.2%          £4.20

Single hop IPAs  (Premiant and Sladek hop varieties).                 

Boreftsblond                                  Light IPA                                            330ml       6.5%          £3.60

“Not just another blond like there are so many others. This blond is being treated with the correct respect it deserves by our brewer and customers. At 6.5% ABV she's on top of the style. Sweet like most blondes but with a herbal aroma and flavour accompanied by some coriander. So it's not mainstream but you'll be able to enjoy it for the whole evening”.

 

De Ranke, Belgium

XX Bitter                                          Bitter pale ale                                  330ml       6.2%          £3.45

A very hoppy pale ale, managing to achieve bitterness and delicacy.

Hop Harvest 2010                        Strong bitter ale                              750ml       8%             £9.80

Somewhere between an IPA, a Saison and a strong blonde.The beer is brewed with the seasons fresh ‘wet’ hops (i.e. not dried; unkilned) and lots of them. De Ranke have only produced 5,000 bottles of this limited release beer.

 

Du Bocq, Belgium  

La Gauloise Blonde                    Strong blonde ale                          330ml       6.3%          £3.30

Mildly fruity and lightly bitter, yet with good body. Highly drinkable.

 

Duvel - Moortgat, Belgium

Duvel                                               Strong golden ale                          330ml       8.5%          £4.25

Amongst the world’s very best beers.

 

Ecaussines, Belgium

Ultra Soif                                         Blonde ale                                        330ml       5%             £2.70

Ultrablonde                                   Strong golden ale                          330ml       8%             £3.65

From a farmhouse brewery producing a fine range of quality, tasty beers.

 

Gayant, France

Biere du Desert                             Strong blonde ale                          330ml       7.2%          £3.20

Well hopped blonde ale from France,

 

Halve Maan, Belgium

Brugze Z’ot                                     Blonde ale                                        330ml       6%             £4.25

Gold Award winning golden ale from Bruges. Dangerously easy to drink! The brewery itself is a very nice, visitor friendly establishment in Bruges where the beer is sold unfiltered.

 

 

Oud Beersel, Belgium

Bersalis                                            Strong golden ale                          330ml       9.5%          £4.65

A spiced blond Tripel with citrus notes.

Bersalis Kadet                               Golden ale                                      330ml       4.5%          £3.15

Little brother to the above beer, but rather better for the drivers. The brewery has won a number of awards recently.

 

Rogue, USA  

Juniper Pale Ale                          Pale ale                                             355ml       5.2%          £4.45

Saffron coloured pale ale with a floral aroma and spicy dry finish. Whole Juniper berries are used

Dead Guy Ale                              Deep golden ale                           355ml       6.5%          £4.65

In the style of a German Maibock. Deep honey in colour , malty and rich in flavour. Brewed in honour of the Mayan Day of the Dead!

 

Roman, Belgium

Ename Blond                                Blonde ale                                        330ml       6.5%          £3.35

Sloeber                                           Strong golden ale                          330ml       7.5%          £3.70

An independent family business since at least 1545!

 

Senne, Belgium

Taras Boulba                                 Golden ale                                      330ml       4.3%          £2.95

A lightish, well hopped pale ale.

Brussels Calling                           Golden ale                                      330ml       5 %            £3.75

A very limited quantity edition, brewed for the US market. Get it while you can – it is very good indeed.

Zinnebir                                          Golden ale                                      330ml       5.5%          £3.20

A stronger hoppy pale ale..

 

Slaapmutske, Belgium

Blond                                               Blonde ale                                        330ml       6.4%          £3.70

Actually brewed by the excellent De Proefbrouwerij to their own recipe. First rate.

Van Steenberge, Belgium

Piraat                                               Strong golden ale                          330ml       10.5%       £5.20

 

Urthel, Holland

Urthel Hop-it                                  Strong blonde ale                          330ml       9%             £4.95

Urthel’s brewer brews her beers at the Koningshoeven Trappist monastery. It is a very strong, hoppy blonde.

 

Amber and Red Ales

 

Anker, Belgium

Gouden Carolus Ambrio          Amber ale                                        330ml       6.5%          £3.35

A ruddy amber ale, lightly spiced, from a brewery claiming to date back to 1369.

 

De Molen, Holland  

De Molen means ‘the mill’. The brewery is rated as one of the world’s top ten. Very limited stocks.

Mooi & Meedogenloos              Belgian ale, Czech hops              750ml       10.2%       £19.95

‘Beautiful & Merciless’. Belgian style strong ale using Czech hops.

 

Dubuison, Belgium

Scaldis Amber (Bush Beer)       Classic amber barley wine          250ml       12%           £3.75

The beers were apparently renamed Bush as a tribute to the British following liberation in 1918. This is Belgium’s strongest beer. Since 2004 the beer has been sold as Scaldis when American brewing giant Anheuser-Busch forced them to drop the Bush name so as to avoid any possible confusion between brands. You would have thought they would like to be associated with at least one decent beer!

 

Du Bocq, Belgium  

La Gauloise Ambree                  Amber ale                                        330ml       5.5%          £3.10

Bright  amber with a pleasantly hoppy aroma, good bitterness and the ability to quench a thirst.

 

Ecaussines, Belgium

Ultra                                                 Amber ale                                        330ml       7%             £3.10

From a good, farmhouse brewed range of beers

Rogue, USA  

American Amber Ale                Amber ale                                        355ml       5.3%          £4.45

Tawny amber in colour with a coffee aroma. Roasted malt flavours and a smooth hoppy finish.

St. Rogue Red Ale                       Dry hopped red ale                      355ml       5.3%          £4.85

Reddish-copper with a roasty malt flavour and a hoppy spicy finish.

Northwestern Ale                         Red ale                                             660ml       5.8%          £9.75

A deep red ale with citrusy hops and a malty backbone.

Chatoe Rogue Creek Ale         Mahogany ale with cherries      660ml       6%             £9.95

Deep mahogany red, dubbel style ale with cherries. Recommended with spicy food.

 

 

Brown and Other Dark Ales

 

Achouffe, Belgium

Mc Chouffe                                   Strong blond ale                            750ml       8%             £9.60

A Scotch style ale (a popular style in Belgium). A dark, delicious brew with a hint of liquorice.

N’ice Chouffe                               Strong blond ale                            750ml       8%             £11.30

A very dark, very strong ale. Has a very pleasant sweetness.

 

Anker, Belgium

Gouden Carolus Classic          Strong brown ale                           330ml       8.5%          £3.65

A great revamped range from a respected brewer

 

Bosteels, Belgium

Pauwel Kwak                                Brown ale                                         330ml       8%             £3.65

Amber ale darkened and sweetened with candy sugar. Very popular!

 

Cazeau, Belgium                      

Tournay Noire                               Dark ale                                            330ml       7.6%          £4.30

Splendidly tasty dark, porterish ale from a tiny farmhouse brewery in Hainault. Splendidly easy drinking. Most of their output goes to the States, but we have procured a few cases! Pricey, but well worth a punt.

 

De Molen, Holland  

De Molen means ‘the mill’. The brewery is rated as one of the world’s top ten. Very limited stocks.

SSS                                                    London triple stout                         750ml       9.99%       £19.95

Imperial Stout using an original 1914 London recipe, courtesy of beer-writer and historian Ron Pattinson.

Hel & Verdoemenis                     Imperial Russian stout                   330ml       10.2%       £8.60

Hell & Damnation

Rasputin                                         Imperial Russian stout                   330ml       11%           £8.90

Amber ale darkened and sweetened with candy sugar. Very popular!

 

 

De Ranke, Belgium

Noire de Dottignies                     Strong dark ale                               330ml       9%             £3.85

More brown than black, somewhat in the porter style.

 

Ecaussines, Belgium

Ultradelice                                     Strong brown ale                           330ml       8%             £3.45

Ultrabrune                                      Very strong brown ale                 330ml       10%           £3.65

From a good, farmhouse brewed range of beers. These are really lovely rich dark brews.

Liefmans, Belgium                   

Goudenband                               Old brown ale                                375ml       8%             £3.80

We also have a small stock of aged Goudenband at the old ABV of 6% - rather a treat at more than 9 years ‘out of date’. Please specify if you would like this version......£4.95.

Rogue, USA  NEW

Mocha Porter                                American porter                            355ml       5.3%          £4.45

 

Ruddy brown in colour, a bittersweet balance of malt and hops with a light finish.

 

St. Bernardus, Belgium

Grottenbier                                    Brown ale                                         330ml       6.5%          £3.45

 

Senne, Belgium

Stouterik                                         Stout                                                  330ml       4.2%          £2.95

‘The Brussels Stout’ – a Belgian take on an Irish stout with American hops.

Equinox                                          Strong dark ale                               330ml       7%             £3.45

A spicy, rich dark ale

 

Slaapmutske, Belgium

Bruin                                                Brown ale                                         330ml       6%             £3.35

Actually brewed by the excellent De Proef brouwerij to their own recipe. First rate.

 

Van Steenberge, Belgium

Gulden Draak                              Strong dark ale                               330ml       10.5%       £4.60

A long established family brewer produces this top rated powerful, dark ale. Handle with care.

 

Fruit Beers and Gueuzes

Anker, Belgium

Boscoulis                                        Raspberry ale                                  330ml       6.5%          £3.65

A wonderful new strong raspberry ale to rival the very finest!

 

Bavik, Belgium

Wittekerke Rose                           Raspberry wheat beer                 250ml       4.3%          £2.60

Deliciously refreshing wheat beer with added raspberry juice  

 

Cantillon, Belgium                                                                                                               

From the Anderlecht region of Brussels, this is surely about the brightest light in the Belgian firmament. Stunning, dry lambic beers to a man! Perhaps an acquired taste (be warned; they are very dry), but one of life’s great pleasures for the initiated. No wines have more complexity, in production or flavour.

Gueuze 100% Lambic Bio         Gueuze                                             375ml       5%             £5.10

Kriek 100% Lambic                     Gueuze with cherries                    375ml       5%             £5.75

Rose de Gambrinus                    Gueuze with raspberries              375ml       5%             £5.95

The above are the core Cantillon range. Splendid examples of the traditional style.

Vigneronne                                   Gueuze with grapes                     750ml       5%             £11.75

Grand Cru Bruocsella 2002      Old lambic-a still beer                   750ml       5%             £12.85

Grand Cru Bruocsella 2005      Old lambic-a still beer                   750ml       5%             £11.75

Grand Cru Bruocsella Bio 2006                                                            Old organic lambic-a still beer                                                 375ml                                                 5%             £7.20

The Bruocsella is a lambic aged for over 3 years in oak casks, and is selected for exceptional colour, taste and flavour. The beer is gold in colour and has a powerful, yet fine sourish taste. It has the aroma of a fine oxidized wine with sherry notes. Very dry. A beer to sip and savour, preferably with food.

Lou Pepe Kriek                             3yr old gueuze with cherries       750ml       5%             £14.60

Lou Pepe Framboise                  3yr old gueuze + raspberries      750ml       5%             £14.60

The Lou Pepe beers are a blend of 3 year old (when bottled) aged lambics, krausened with a little young ale just to add a little sparkle – absolutely stunning! The Kriek version is made with fresh cherries.

Cuvée Saint-Gilloise                  2yr old dry hopped gueuze       750ml       5%             £12.60

A dry hopped 2 year old blend of lambics. The unaged Hallertau hops result in a smoother character than their other gueuzes.

Saint-Lamvinus                            Lambic beer/wine blend             750ml       5%             £15.90

A blend of lambic beer and Merlot from the Libourne region of France. (

 

De Ranke, Belgium

Cuvee de Ranke                         Blend of lambic and pale ale    750ml       7%             £11.35

Kriek de Ranke                            Cherry beer                                     750ml       7%             £12.15

These beers are a blend of de Ranke pale ale and year old Girardin lambic. The Kriek adds whole cherries to the mix. Beautiful, sparkling and refreshing brews.

 

 

 

Ecaussines, Belgium

Ultramour                                       Fruits of the forest ale                    330ml       5%             £3.10

From a good, farmhouse brewed range of beers

 

Frank Boon, Belgium (pronounced ‘bone’)  

Geuze Mariage Parfait 2007    Gueuze                                             375ml       8%             £6.95

Very limited availability. A ‘Perfect Marriage’ of oak aged 3 year old lambics. Smooth and dry. Quality stuff.

 

Girardin, Belgium

Framboise 1882                           Raspberry gueuze                         375ml       5%             £4.95

Amongst the very finest lambics. Very limited availability.

 

 

Liefmans, Belgium                   

Liefman’s                                       Summer fruit ale                             250ml       4.2%          £2.85

Newly introduced crowd pleaser from the new regime at Liefmans.

Goudenband                               Old brown ale                                375ml       8%             £3.80

We also have a small stock of aged Goudenband at the old ABV of 6% - rather a treat at more than 9 years ‘out of date’. Please specify if you would like this version......£4.95.

Cuvee Brut                                    Old brown ale with cherries        375ml       6%             £4.30

Liefmans brewery has been taken over by the excellent Moortgat-Duvel. A great deal of restructuring of the range is taking place, and a number of beers are being discontinued. We hope to continue to stock what we can.

 

Lindemans, Belgium

Cassis                                              Blackcurrant gueuze                    250ml       3.5%          £2.75

Cuvee Rene                                  Traditional Gueuze                        375ml       5%             £4.30

Cuvee Rene Oud Kriek             Traditional Gueuze with cherries  750ml       5%             £8.35

The Cuvee Rene beers are the ‘authentic lambic’ range from Lindemans.

 

Marble, England

See under British ales

 

Oud Beersel, Belgium   NEW

Oude Geuze                                 Gueuze with Raspberries             375ml       6%             £5.95

Quality lambic producer. Closed recently but now back in production. The beer is a blend of different lambics with the main characteristics provided by 2 and 3 year old beers. Very refreshing with a lively sparkle.

Oude Kriek                                    Gueuze with Cherries                   375ml       6.5%          £6.75

Real cherries are slowly absorbed into the blend of lambic beers giving a fruity character and a ruby red colour. True artisanal product with around 400 grams of cherries per litre. That’s nearly half a pound per pint in English.

Framboise                                      Gueuze with raspberries              375ml       5%             £6.50

Lambis beer and fresh raspberries in perfect union. The balance is delicate, providing a smooth, natural beer. Subtle and very refreshing. The fruit is backed up with a fistful of cherries for luck! Red pink in colour.

 

Timmerman’s, Belgium

Lambicus Blanche                      Lambic wheat beer                      330ml       4.5%          £2.90

A deliciously refreshing spontaneously fermented wheat beer, fruity and delicately spiced.

Kriek                                                Gueuze with cherry                       330ml       4%             £3.20

Framboise                                      Gueuze with raspberry                 330ml       4%             £3.20

Peche                                              Gueuze with peach                      330ml       4%             £3.20

 

 

Wheat Beers

 

Bavik, Belgium

Wittekerke Rose                           Raspberry wheat beer                 250ml       4.3%          £2.60

Wittekerke                                      Wheat beer                                     330ml       5%             £2.80 

Deliciously refreshing wheat beer also with added raspberry juice 

 

 

Erdinger, Germany

Weissbier Alkoholfrei                  Low Alcohol wheat beer             500ml       >0.4%       £1.95

Weissbier Hell                               Blonde Bavarian wheat beer     Available on draught 5.3%

Urweisse                                         1880s recipe wheat beer             Available on draught 5.2%

Pikantus                                          Strong, dark wheat beer             500ml       7.2%          £4.30

An excellent range of Bavarian wheat beers from Erding near Munich

 

Heller-Trum, Germany

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier :                                                         

Weizen                                            Smoked wheat beer                     500ml       5.2%          £4.20

The wheat version of this classic Bamberg style.

St. Bernardus, Belgium      

Wit                                                    Belgian wheat beer                      330ml       5.3%          £3.20

A fine example of the style, produced with the assistance of the late Pierre Celis, the man who breathed new life into the Belgian wheat style having created the original Hoegaarden beers.

 

Schneider, Germany

Schneiderweisse Tap 7: Unser Original                                           

                                                          Bavarian wheat beer                   500ml       5.4%          £3.95

Schneiderweisse Tap X: Mein Nelson Sauvin        NEW                                                                                                                      Strong golden wheat beer         750ml       7.3%          £9.95

A special edition brewed in 2011 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ABT cafes in Holland. This is a complex, bottle fermented wheat beer. New world hops and spicy malts with a light sourness and fine bitterness. As good as one might expect!

Schneiderweisse Tap 6: Unser Aventinus                                       

                                                          Strong dark wheat beer              500ml       8%             £4.90

Schneiderweisse Tap 5: Meine Hopfen Weisse                            

                                                          Strong golden wheat beer         500ml       8.2%          £5.10

Considered by many to be the finest of all the Bavarian wheat beer producers. Tap 7 is, to my mind, the best ‘standard’ wheat beer of them all. Tap 6, the mighty Aventinus, is powerful, dark and wonderfully moreish. The Tap 5 is the result of a collaboration by Schneider and Garrett Oliver of the acclaimed Brooklyn brewery of New York. It is a riot of hops. Truly wonderful beers.

 

 

Other Speciality Ales

 

 

Bavik, Belgium

Petrus Oud Bruin                          Matured & blended brown ale     330ml       5.5%          £2.75

Petrus Aged Pale                        Matured & blended blonde ale   330ml       7.3%          £3.75

Very pleasant aged beers comparable in style to Liefmans Goudenband and Rodenbach.

 

 

Belgoo, Belgium

Magus                                             Four grain ale                                  330ml       6.6%          £3.65

Brewed by Belgoo at the Binchoise brewery. Contains barley malt, wheat malt, oats, spalt and Saaz hops. It is a 100% natural, non-filtered beer that is served cloudy like a wheat beer.

 

Bosteels, Belgium

Deus, Brut des Flandres             The last word in specialist beer! 750ml       11.5%       £20.50

Brewed in Belgium and finished in France in the Champagne style. An astonishing achievement, and undoubtedly one of the world’s truly great beers.

 

Brewdog, Scotland

See under British Ales

 

Cazeau, Belgium                      

Saison Cazeau                             Saison  - a summer ale                  330ml       5%             £3.70

Splendidly tasty golden ale from a tiny farmhouse brewery in Hainault. Most of their output goes to the States, but we have procured a few cases! Pricey, but well worth a punt.

 

Dupont, Belgium

Biere de Miel                                 Organic honey beer                     750ml       8%             £9.25

An absolutely gorgeous honey ale. Share a bottle now!

 

Ecaussines, Belgium

Cookie Beer                                  Spiced blonde ale                         330ml       8%             £3.35

La Loubecoise                              Dark ale with maple syrup          330ml       8%             £3.35

From a good, farmhouse brewed range of beers. The Cookie Beer is spiced with cinnamon, ginger & cloves, inspired by the famous Speculoos (or Bastogne Cookie) biscuit. La Loubecoise contains maple syrup imported from Quebec.

 

Eggenberg, Austria

Samichlaus Bier                           Christmas beer                                330ml       14%           £5.95

The strongest regularly brewed (once a year on 6th December) proper (neither fortified nor frozen) beer in the world!

 

Heller-Trum, Germany

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier :                                                         

Marzen                                            Smoked Marzen beer                   500ml       4.8%          £3.90

Weizen                                            Smoked wheat beer                     500ml       5.2%          £4.20

Urbock                                            Strong smoked beer                     500ml       6.5%          £4.90

Eiche                                               Strong smoked beer                     500ml       8%             £5.40

Terrific stuff! Like drinking kippers! This beer is the speciality style of the town of Bamberg in Bavaria. The Marzen is traditionally brewed in March, the similar but more intense Urbock in the summer for autumn consumption. The Wheat beer is more of a summer drink. The malt is smoked over beech logs (oak in the case of the Eiche), and the beer is matured in the 700 year old brewery’s cellar.

 

Huyghe, Belgium

Delirium (Tremens)                      Spiced ale                                        330ml       9%             £3.80

Fruity, sweetish beer made using Saaz and Styrian hops and three yeasts. Very nice!

 

Innis & Gunn, Scotland

See under British ales

 

Lefebvre, Belgium

Barbar                                             Honeyed beer                                330ml       8%             £3.70

Barbar Winter Bok                       Winter honey beer                         330ml       8%             £3.70

A very popular, very moreish pair of honey beers.

Hopus                                              Hoppy ale                                        330ml       8.5%          £3.85

A strong and very hoppy ale in a flip top bottle, Hopus is brewed using five different European hops      

 

Liefmans, Belgium                   

Goudenband                               Old brown ale                                375ml       8%             £3.80

We also have a small stock of aged Goudenband at the old ABV of 6% - rather a treat at more than 9 years ‘out of date’. Please specify if you would like this version......£4.95.

 

 

Marble, England

See under British ales

 

Rodenbach, Belgium

Rodenbach                                   Blended Flemish red ale               250ml       5.0%          £3.20

Grand Cru                                     Aged red Flemish ale                    330ml       6.5%          £3.85

Sadly, the Rodenbach brewery is no longer in private ownership. The future of Grand Cru may still be in doubt. As it is, the beer is still quite delicious and very refreshing but has lost a great deal of its superbly sour character.                                                                                                                                        

 

12.9.2012