Author Archives: Rob Nesbit

About Rob Nesbit

Beer drinker and all round annoyance. Likes drinking, football, cricket and having a good time.

St. Peters Cream Stout

St. Peters Cream Stout

St. Peters 

www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk/

Brewed by St. Peter’s Brewery 
Style: Milk Stout
Bungay, England

St. Peter’s Brewery founded, in 1996, by entrepreneur and branding expert John Murphy, who saw a gap in the market for a modern-day craft artisanal brewery set in the beautiful English countryside.

St. Peters Cream StoutThe area he choose for his enterprise was to be in the village of St. Peter South Elmham, near Bungay, in former traditional agricultural buildings alongside the moated St. Peter’s Hall, deep in the picturesque Suffolk countryside, East Anglia, on the east coast of England. The location is ideal for its excellent water quality used in the brewing process – all beers brewed at St. Peter’s Brewery use water filtered through chalk deep beneath the brewery, obtained from their own deep bore-hole.

Alongside the brewery, St. Peter’s Hall is a historic venue with a bar and restaurant, and is available for functions, weddings, events, meetings and conferences.
The brewery also owns a London pub called The Jerusalem Tavern – a compact beer-lovers hostelry with a historic style, housed in a building dating from the eighteenth century.

St. Peters Cream StoutOther than their range of ‘traditional’ ales, such as Best Bitter and Gatekeeper Golden Ale, St Peters also produce some more unusual beers, such as Honey Porter, Plum Porter and Citrus Beer that replicate traditional pre-nineteenth century practice of adding honey and fruit to create special seasonal brews. Also most recent developments are contemporary session ales such as Stateside Pale Ale, Revival Pilsner and White Raven. And of course for the non alcoholic drinker they created a range of true 0.0% alcohol free beers. St Peter’s Brewery beers are thriving both at home and further afield, exporting to more than 20 countries around the world.

The famous logo of the black bird and the key can be explained with history. The bird is infact a raven and is a symbol of the Vikings, marauders of the North Sea. St Peters Hall has a moat which was most likely used to defend itself from these attackers from the east. The bird is inside a barrel, which of course depicts the brewing tradition and the key represents the keys of Saint Peter – the keys of heaven, clever eh?

Review: 500ml bottle of St. Peters Cream Stout: 6.5% vol.

Coming in a really lovely oval bottle, looks vintage and has an authentic old feel to it, looks like its a hard liquor bottle. Logo of a black crow and a key, what does it all mean? Very interesting. (explained above!)

On the pour I am getting a pitch black colour, as you would expect from a stout, and a nice enough creamy tan head appearing. The head looks like caramel. Solid look overall. 

A lot of lacing is present, intermittent and not in rings. 

St. Peters Cream StoutGetting a real porter smell on the nose, but its very faintish and not much to smell at all. Smoky and peaty, roasted malts, milk chocolate all noted but light, very light. On their site they called it an aromatic beer, but hell I didn’t detect a whole lot. Disappointing start. 

Onto the taste then and sure enough like all English ales types and strong bitters it is bloody strong, very strong. Getting a typical porter taste, very strong dark coffee flavours, roasted malts, a touch of vanilla and a creamy chocolate taste on the tongue. Yeah very strong with the coffee, especially in the after taste.  

Found it awful to drink, not nice, very deep tasting and overly bitter, the hops to the extreme. Not enjoyable at all, urgh.

Very coffee centric, not well balanced at all. Coffee, coffee, coffee, basically. Yuck, again!

A tough one to drink, wasn’t smooth or very drinkable  but heh I will get hate for this, but I don’t have the English stomach for their bitters and “stouts”. I am Irish with a softer palate, so they can suck it up all they like, ha ha.

Someone online mentioned this as “a precursor of a Black IPA”, I would have to say that’s actually a good call. It feels and tastes like that to me. 

Horrible. End of…

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Robinsons Old Tom Ginger

Robinsons Old Tom Ginger

Old Tom 

www.robinsonsbrewery.com

Brewed by Robinsons Family Brewery
Style: Strong Ale
Stockport, England

Robinsons Old Tom GingerBased in the heart of Stockport for over 181-years, owning a collection of around 260 pubs, inns and hotels across the North West of England and North Wales

From the first ale brewed in The Unicorn Pub in Stockport, Cheshire in 1849, Robinson’s has been an independent family-run brewer all the way through to today, in its sixth-generation, the where it is regarded as one of the most respected names in British brewing and innkeeping, particularly famous throughout the UK for their tasty ales. 

Review: 330ml bottle of Robinsons Old Tom Ginger: 6.0% vol.

Robinsons Old Tom GingerComing in a very cool looking black bottle with a very nice logo of a ginger cat. Very easy to buy with that lovely presentation. 

From the pour I get a dark deep ruby red looking brew, with not much of a head appearing at all. Looks a bit shitty to be honest. Head goes flat very, very fast. Small to no head is the result…… 

The smell is light, very light on the nose. Of course I get the ginger, and some fruit and malts but its very faint which is quite surprising for a beer with ginger in it…….. 

So obviously the taste is ginger, no surprise there then. Now I actually hate ginger, but don’t ask me why I bought this in the beer shop. I think I was mesmerized by the cat picture on the bottle and just put it into the basket, ha. But the thing is this isn’t actually too bad at all. The ginger is very well balanced with the malts and the caramel, so its not overbearing at all, thank God for that!

Robinsons Old Tom GingerKind of like a strong cola with ginger. It is very interesting drink and has a deep tasting English ale style to it. A vodka and coke with a touch of ginger. I like it. I even shock myself in saying that!

The alcohol is very well hidden. Perfect for the slow drinker, nice to sip and relax with. Ginger, malts and sweet cola, moderately bitter and a little fruity too (pears), all very well balanced.

Yeah, coke with ginger, but it works, very easy to drink and recommended. I liked it, but the only negative here is that the bottles were far too small as I wanted more.

I am not sure that the fact I liked this beer as someone who hates ginger, is good or bad. Good that it appeals to me, but bad in that perhaps a real ginger fan might not think there was enough ginger in it, oh I don’t know, ha!… 

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Kitchen Brew

Kitchen Brew

Kitchen Brew

www.kitchenbrew.ch/

Brewed by Kitchen Brew 
Style: Helles/Lager
Allschwil, Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland

Swiss craft beers coming out of the small town of Allschwil, north Switzerland.

North American craft beer scene implanted in Switzerland, that is what Kitchen Brew are all about. Fabian Ehinger, brewer and founder of Kitchen Brew, inspired by the craft beer revolution in the USA, drinking imports from the States made his mind wander……what if!

Finally, in spring 2012, Fabian moved to North America. On a six-month trip across the USA, he was inspired by what he had seen, from small home brewing startups based in kitchens to mega bars with 100 plus taps on the go, Fabian took it all in……. and not all industrial beers too, he discovered a wide variety of specialties of all beer types imaginable . 

As a barman and manager of a small bar in Basel, North Switzerland, Fabian could get a birds eye view of the US craft beer imports and see what made them click with consumers. He started to create a few of his own beers with highly aromatic hops and made with innovative brewing techniques such as dry hopping. He worked from an empty kitchen hence the name of the brewery……Kitchen Brew! His customers were kind of like his guinea pigs, testing his new beers and seeing if North American craft beer trends could catch on in this part of the world. 

After guest brewing for local breweries, in and around the Basel region, Fabian finally got to open, with the support of Peter Oppliger, his new factory and event hall in the small suburb of Allschwil, near Basel, in November 2016, becoming one of the youngest microbreweries in Switzerland.

Kitchen BrewIn 2013, a Cascade Amber Ale was their first real foray onto the scene. The initial beer got off to a great start, proving very popular amongst the great Swiss drinking public, and also going on to win numerous awards for its taste and quality. After that came other beers, Kölsch style brews, wheat beers with Belgian yeasts, the usual IPA’s that the connoisseurs oh so love, a variety of beers but all well balanced and pleasant to drink. 

The brewery enriches the locals palate for good regional and Swiss beer varieties while at the same time offering brews from all around the world, exciting beer styles from a wide section of beer cultures, available at affordable prices for the Basel (and Basel land) natives to enjoy.

My second tryout of their products, having had their Everyday Pale Ale which I thoroughly enjoyed, finding it very smooth and crisp with nice big creamy mouthfuls, a beer I will be returning to in the future…..  

Review: 44cl small can of Kitchen Brew Lager: 4.8% vol.

Comes in cans and on tap in and around the Basel region. 

Love the look of the can, hops and soft greenish colouring, catches my eye in the beer shop. Simple lettering for the ordinary punter too, stating name and that its a lager, that’s all you need, nothing pretentious or too fancy here. 

Looks great on pour, a very nice decent sized frothy head on pour, yellow/light golden colour, looks very appetizing, a good looking brew. 

Kitchen BrewLiking the aroma, very nice and pleasant on the nose. Getting the hops, faint but there to sniff about.

Coming cold from the fridge, the beer is well tasty, nice and crisp. The hops are alive, mild and soft enough to enjoy and with enough flavour to notice their refreshing taste. Full bodied and well balanced.

Very nice, hoppy but light in the taste, very drinkable and a good clean taste. This is a well made beer that is very easy to drink and enjoy. Fruit flavour with Citra and Callista hops very much to the fore.

I don’t feel like its a lager but more a light IPA, as the tastes and hops are much more pronounced than your average lager swill. 

The alcohol is well hidden, but still has a little kick to it which gives it a slight edge.

I liked this a lot , very tasty and very smooth. Strongly recommended and a new favourite go to beer. Thank God they sell it in the local supermarket!

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Steam Brew Imperial IPA

Steam Brew Imperial IPA

Steam Brew 

https://steam-brew.com/en/

Brewed by Privatbrauerei Eichbaum
Style: Double IPA/Imperial IPA
Mannheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

Steam Brew Imperial IPAThe Eichbaum Brewery was founded way, way back in 1679 by Jean du Chaine (Chêne) from Southern Belgium, originally as a small brewpub, and while the exact location changed, its home and heart has always been in the city of Mannheim, a southern German city touching the Rhine. The name Eichbaum came from the translation of his family name, .du Chêne, which means “Oak tree”, or “Eichbaum” in German.

All was going well for many years, even centuries, until the Nazis got into power. By this stage the company had a substantial Jewish shareholdership, and due to the toxic political atmosphere in the country, they were all expelled and the company was nationalized. 

WW2 resulted in the company ceasing to produce any beer at all, go figure! But after the war, the company reopened and did very well since they were the main beer supplier for the American army that was now based in Germany at that time! The after war boom in Germany, attributed to the rebuilding of the country and help from the Allies, especially in the 50’s and 60’s, all contributed as well. 

Steam Brew Imperial IPASince the 70’s the brewery has changed ownership many times but nowadays it is operated as a private brewery, Eichbaum GmbH & Co KG.

Today, the brewery is one of the largest and most efficient breweries in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany. Not only is it the oldest company in Mannheim but it is also one of the most modern. State-of-the-art brewing and bottling technologies make for an annual output of 1.8 million hectolitres, resulting in more than 16 different beers produced yearly for its every widening market.

This is my third beer that I have tried from the Eichbaum Brewery, I had their Bottle of Eichbaum Maibock, which I have to say was a bit of a disappointment for me. I found it too bitter and a real struggle to drink. On the other hand, the Steam Brew Imperial Stout was very smooth and oh so tasty and one I will definitely be returning too. 

Review: 0,5l can of Steam Brew Imperial IPA: 7.8% vol.

Love the Steam Brew cans, full of character and with a story behind each one. I’m fucked if I know the exact storyline, probably some bollix, but it looks well good. A logo of what looks like a mechanic/steam man surrounded by all sorts of gadgets, wheels and rusty instruments, pretty eye catching and cool. On the can it says “lets oil the gears of life”, yes sure why not, for this beer that was hopped three times……

Steam Brew Imperial IPAOn pour get a lot of carbonation, mad alive, resulting in a big creamy white head and an amber coloured beer. When it all settles down, the result is a fantastic looking beer. Great head on it, and it looks very delicious, very inviting. Lovely on the eye.

Good amount of lacing left behind on glass.

The aroma is strong, getting a lot of rich tropical fruits on the nose. It has the typical IPA smell one would expect, and it hits you straight off the bat. Nice and powerful on the nose. Get the citrus and fruits, the hops, caramel and malts.

Onto the taste, getting a very hoppy and bitter brew, very deep tasting but its not bad at all, very manageable. Get the fruits, the citrus and the hops. 

The hops are very prominent in this beer. The heavy flavours certainly matched the sombre mood I was in, listening to some old rock music of the 90s, The Offspring, and this beer matched that good mood perfectly, kind of just worked. The 7.8% was very well hidden too, didn’t feel like I was drinking a strong brew as it was very sessionable. 

The taste is alive, the hops are to the fore (Yellow Sub and Mosaic), kicking it and I love it. Lovely tasting beer, well balanced with so much character, fantastic. The fruits, the malts and the hops all well balanced to produce a very decent beer that went down very well, tasting all good yet doing well to hide the alcohol but still having that bitter bite to it. 

Loved it, very solid brew, strongly recommended…..

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Trekhgornoe Three Hills Beer (Трехгорное)

Trekhgornoe Three Hills Beer (Трехгорное)

Trekhgornoe Three Hills Beer (Трехгорное)

https://mosbrew.ru/en/about/

Brewed by Moscow Brewing Company 
Style: Premium Bitter
Moscow, Russia

The history of Trekhgornoe Beer began in 1875. Then Trekhgornoe Brewing Partnership was founded and The Three Hills Factory was built in the suburbs of Moscow. Today it is still part of Moscow life, in the district of Krasnaya Presnya.

Moscow Brewing Company launched its operations in September 2008 and today is considered Russia’s most modern brewery. The company offers a wide range of its own and licensed beer and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as imported products. The company has restored the traditional Trekhgornoe Moscow beer for 21st century consumption.

The high quality of Trekhgornoe beer was testified by two state arms on bottles and labels, proving how well regarded this beer became during the times of the Tsars.

The Trekhgornoe brand is the official partner of legendary football club Spartak Moscow

Review: small 450 ml bottle of Trekhgornoe Three Hills Beer (Трехгорное): 4.9% vol.

Tpexrophoe Mockba which I have no idea what it means, perhaps it means “Three Hills Beer”, the English name of the beer, yes that’s it, it must be that! Got it in a lovely little 450 ml bottle with a handle. Also can find in bottles.

Produced according to the original recipe of 1875. 

Trekhgornoe Three Hills Beer (Трехгорное)Multiple award winner at the World Beer Awards, taking gold three times as Country Winner in 2015, 2017 and in 2019. Not bad.

On the appearance, looks like a cup of tea, dark golden colour with no head at all. Some small initial carbonation going on, but not a lot else. 

The smell is floral, of grains and the malts but a little light on the nose. No aroma really.

Taste is unusual for me, difficult to exactly pin down but its strong on the taste buds for sure. Hops are there but very manageable. Lot of grains, and barley malts like a barley wine in fact. The hops have a unique enough taste, of nice Polaris hops which are well fruity and spicy.

Getting a lot from the small bottle, always a plus in my book.

Liked this, was easy to drink with a delicate bitterness, nice and relaxing. Nothing amazing but a mood setter and will return for future inspection. 

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post