Jurassic coast, a place called Beer and a sea of ale!

Location: back to woods and vales in the coastal SW

Moodmusic: Every love story is a ghost story .........

Today's memories and soundbites
Pouring rain, freezing fog, floods, storms, a broken down car, norovirus, woods full of squeltsh and H&S hazards ......... but it's still beautiful, the woods still loverly, and for a special bonus the sea was bright pink!!!  Then what do you know, I end up just near a place called Beer, famous for lace making and smuggling brandy. Beer is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "Bearu" which means grove or small wooded area, indicating the bay and village were once surrounded by woodland.  Shame ... a brewing history would have been something to write about.  However, whilst the Jurassic coast has become famous and earned it's World Heritage status for the amazing rock formations, hanging valleys and fossils [click here for more info] as well as the Undercliff and the French Lieutenant's woman, it is also true that there are a very large number of micro-breweries in this part of the world, 30 in the South Devon area, including Branscombe Vale, O'Hanlons, Otter, Isca, and the Mighty Hop ..... look at my haul from the local Grocer's shop all local or from next door counties .... (incidentally Trumps is worth a visit with it's original Victorian interiors)!   Word is, the quality of the water round here makes great beer, being as it is filtered as it seeps through the local sandstone, and the smugglers and sailors and naval folk based along the were coast all thirsty customers.

Drinks - Part 1!!!

1. Mighty Hop, Festival Special (3.9%)

Reactions

Emotional: Ok

Critical: Very carbonated so  a lively character to the drink.  Some sweetness.  Finishes bitter.  Peasantly plain.

2. Corinium Ales, Corinium I Gold (4.2%)

Reactions

Emotional: Tangy baby

Critical: Very tangy indeed.  Fruity complexity. Refreshing bitterness.  Very quaffable.

3. Corinium Ales, Corinium II Centurion (4.7%)

Reactions

Emotional: Thumbs up.

Critical: Toasted cereal, warming, smooth. 

4. Corinium Ales, Corinium III Ale Caesar (5%)

Reactions

Emotional: Woooow ...

Critical: Nice colour.  Immediate and strong flavour of grapefruit which lasts in the mouth in a gentle and rounded way.  Refreshing bitter ending and pleasing bitter aftertastes. Oh look ..... there's nothing left!

5. Otter, Bright (4.3%)

Reactions

Emotional: Wow! What a gorgeous colour.

Critical: Beautiful bright yellow colour.  Gentle aroma of grassy meadow.  Medium bodied.  Flavours of heather honey and lager malt, and spring water, hints of bubblegum.  Very satisfying.

6. Yeovil, Stout Hearted (4.3%)

Reactions

Emotional:

Critical: Mild textures and flavours, although somehow perhaps more Porter than Stout in overall character.  Rounded, small malt, vague taste of milky chocolate at the finish.  Pretty refined.

7. Arkell's, Kingsdown Special Ale (4,8%)

Reactions

Emotional: This has given me the giggles for some reason! 

Critical: Apple fruitiness, medium bodied, sweet rather than bitter. Could be headache material.

8. St Austell, Trelawney (3.8%)
Reactions
Emotional: Quite like that!  But what are Galaxy hops?
Critical: This is probably a singing session beer.  Very top notes, very floral and sweet summer fruit in both aroma and following taste. Peach?  Melon?  Ends with tangy hops.  It has much more flavour than you think is possible for 3.8%

9. St Austell, Smugglers Vintage Ale (6%)
Reactions
Emotional: Mmmmmmmmmmm
Critical: Rich, loverly whisky and barley wine flavours, thick plum and raison, toffee and spice.  Very nice.  Having this again.

East Devon view

pink seas

sells beer and been here since 1813

Sunny frosty woodland weekend in the West country

Location: Westward Ho!

Moodmusic: It's real autumn again ..... sun and cold in equal measure

Today's memories and soundbites
Happy weekend looking after a spinney, in the sunshine and frost, hand felling spruce trees and making log piles with my Silky handsaw .... all you need to be a lumberjill, and a great way to work up an honest thirst!  Counted 26 different bird species whilst I worked including a surprising red kite. Cinema trip for a 007 Daniel Craig moment .... brilliant.  Could not have wished for a better trip!

Drinks

As you can see a lovely west country selection on offer in the wood!

1. Arkell's 3B (4%)
Reactions
Emotional: The landlord told me this was a man's beer!! Haha!
Critical:  Apparently originates from a recipe first brewed in 1910.  The flavours are well balanced, good hop and malt, but a bit unexpectedly sweet ... sort of hazelnut caramel sweet .... not quite the combination for me.

2. Wooden Hand Brewery, Cornish Mutiny (4.8%)
Reactions
Emotional: VERY nice .... I really like this .. it has lovely chocolate notes mmmmm
Critical: A rich colour and smooth velvety head, a great deal of body coming with a sort of rum and raisin nose and fruit cake flavours which then break into chocolate fudge cake finish.  I thought it was great.

3. Dartmoor Brewery, Legend (4.4%) 
Reactions
Emotional: Ok ....
Critical: My first thought was ooohh tastes of the local water.  This has a strong water flavour and softness, which I know sounds weird but that's what I think, with some doughy bready yeasty flavours and a crisp finish.  Light and easy to drink.

4. RCH Brewery,  Pitchfork Rebellious Bitter (4.3%)
Reactions
Emotional: Oh ... surprising complexity of flavour
Critical: Bottle conditioned, so opened with care after a bit of a rough ride into the woods! Very well worth pondering this beer.  Winner of many beer awards.  Very hoppy, but no bitter edge, a bit more floral, and a slight hint of fruit, a little zesty.  Earthy ending.

5. Clearwater Brewery, Devon Darter (4.5%)
Reactions
Emotional: Ok ... bog standard maybe?
Critical: Can't quite get the measure of this one.  Great ruby amber colour. Not too strong on flavour. Again I think it tastes like the local water. More malt than hops.  It's the aftertaste which is so interesting ... it lasts as a nutty hoppiness for ages afterwards. Thought I would cross-check with other reviewers ... Elvis Appleford thought this was "refreshing" "sessionable" and "sticky in the throat"!


6. Cotleigh, Buzzard dark ale (4.8%)
Reactions
Emotional: Tastes like a kind of porter ...
Critical: First flavour is chocolate, second is treacle and third is light fruity hops ... that's an interesting combination. Smoky biscuit ending.


The rest found their way home to be enjoyed later ........ watch this space!

Corinium Dobunnorum

Location: North and west Cotswolds

Moodmusic: Touring always much more fun when you have somebody to be silly with

Today's memories and soundbites
"What?  What happened to your voice? I don't understand"
"Yew trees and cedars in churchyards, layers of meaning and history"
"The king (Henry VIII) he killed his wife?  Wow they were powerful in those days!"

Drinks

Location: Golden Cross, Cirencester

1. Arkell's, Wiltshire Gold (4%)
Reactions
Emotional: Bog standard bitter.
Critical: OK.  Another easy pint.  Has background flavour of the local limestone and chalky water. Enjoyable at a basic level.


Location: Kings Hotel, Chipping Campden

2. Hook Norton, Hooky (3.5%)
Reactions
Emotional: OOOooooooohhhh this is lovely.  I want some more please!
Critical: Really great depth of flavour.  Hoppy and comforting,  great balance and bitter finish, and very, very drinkable.  Woooppps .... there goes another afternoon in the sunshine.


Cotswold view

Random remote rural art ...... arty expensive sculpted crows ....... why???  Just because?

Golden Cross view