Land of Liberty

Apparently something happened in American politics last week and it has a lot of people worried and scared. I remember well those days, when there was hope. Anyway, I've been a bit quiet because I was out with my father down Hinckley way - he wanted to show me around the new Crescent development of which he is quite proud, having played a role in the creation and construction of the place. There was a lovely micro-pub there called The Elbow Room and I had a nice half of Bath Ales stout in the place we ate.

I digress, tonight I plan to regale you with something almost topical being an American IPA by the name of Land of Liberty brewed by T. A. Sadler's for the Aldi imprint Great British Brewing Co. and I confess that I'm looking forward to it with my home made chow mein (well, almost, I used a packet sauce).

Would you like to know more?

Beer Review: Hop Bomb

This was my Easter ale, picked up and presented on the day with much fanfare. It was one that I had chosen myself and even given to other people as a gift. It is, of course, Hop Bomb by T. A. Sadler's who have gifted the world the rather wonderful Mud City Stout. I think I have even had a version of this before in 255ml. Now it's widescreen, with special features, at 500ml and 2.5 of your English Units.

However, this is not the review that you may be expecting from that introduction and it certainly isn't the review that I was intending to write. Would you like to know more?

Beer Review: Mud City Stout

Been a long time in coming but, tonight, I am getting round to reviewing one of those ales that rapidly became a staple and has been one of the key reasons I started buying more than a single bottle of some ales. In other words, this is an ale whose consumption allowed me to justify my hoarding mentality. Welcome, then, to the Kulaks' friend: Mud City Stout.

I was first pointed in this direction by other beer bloggers on the Google+ ghost-town of beer communities numbering several tens of thousands strong, so I am indebted to them, and it is of the stable of T. A. Sadler who I rather enjoy of an evening, especially following long weeks working and marking and whatnot.

Would you like to know more? Why wouldn't you like to know more? Seriously, you'd like to know more and thus understand why you, too, would want to buy and consume this ale.

Beer Review: Boris Citrov

Come one, how can you, in summer, see this and not think to yourself that it would make a great ale to drink of an evening? From the picture on the label of a man with oranges for boxing gloves through the Russian sounding title to the promise of orange flavours in the description (in fairness, I thought the bottle gave it away long before you needed to read any of the tasting notes) this is clearly an ale that will be orange and fresh to accompany a meal in the height of summer. I am, of course, talking about Boris Citrov from the T. A. Sadler's stable of ales. This particular bottle was picked up at Aldi for £1.25 (and they aren't sponsoring me either, seriously, how much do I have to plug things to get paid?) but I've seen it all around the town lately.

Given the sweaty nature of humid air and the fact that our kitchen can get quite warm on a summer's eve when preparing food this had better be the kind of ale that quenches thirst and allows you to feel a little refreshed afterward. Would you like to know more of have my admissions of home life completely put you off delving further? I wouldn't blame you if they had!

Beer Review: Peaky Blinder

This came heavily recommended, though I've had it in for a while now, and tonight was a good night to have something heavy, dark and brooding. The name, Peaky Blinder, speaks of something dark, mysterious and a big boggy and so it seemed to fit the mood. Obviously you, good reader, will be the ultimate judge of that one. But it's another from T. A. Sadler's that I knew would be more common as time goes on. And, you know, as the marking abates a moment and I can see the clear road to planning for next year up ahead I thought it was a good time to be having an ale.

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Beer Review: Red IPA

I was planning on doing a host of marking, but a good friend and ex-colleague of mine had got a new job and so I decided to sack everything off and have an ale to toast his success and just have a bit of time to myself after a busy few days. Don't get me wrong, the last few days have been absolutely lovely, if manically busy, and I do enjoy the adrenaline rush. So, tonight I have turned to Red IPA from T. A. Sadler's that has been sitting in the kitchen waiting for this moment.

This picture does not capture how red this is

It is time for a review too, would you like to know more?

Gold!

Company was over! Huzzah! I had hoped to play a game or two of Settlers of Catan and get the ales in whilst that was ongoing, but instead we were besieged by our children and so the time came to get in food, that Chinese again, and we eschewed gaming in favour of chatting and sharing youtube videos. Anyone would think that I'm set in my ways or something. Anyway, the point is that we did not really get to the ales until after the first two visitors had left. My Sherwood Forest dwelling friend and I then got down to some serious golden ales.

Which, of course, meant that I had Spandau Ballet in my head after the evening rather than a hangover. Alas, such was the lateness of the hour and the tension in the youtube videos, I failed to take pictures on the night and had to take them in the morning. You may recall some of these ales from previous frolics and so they were to be.

Would you like to travel still further?

Beer Review: Dr. Hardwicke's Double IPA

Only last week I was complaining about beer with long titles and, here, we have a beer with an incredibly long title. Still, I mustn't complain, for I have dined most exquisitely upon cous cous with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, bacon and balsamic vinegar and the remnants of our children's evening meal. All to the lovely soundtrack of Trains Formers 1-5 on youtube and the squeals of pure delight by both cherubic children upon their choice being pre-empted by an even better choice from the other. Invariably this is followed, as one would expect, by the laughter that accompanies being smacked hard by one's sibling and much merriment was had by all.

So, it is without too much ill-will toward the long name that I turn my attentions to the reviewing of Dr. Hardwicke's Double IPA from T. A. Sadler's (told you they'd be coming back), and attempt to ignore the sweet serenade of the Boy complaining that lying down makes him bored and sleepy and gives him bags under his eyes and how not tired he is. Of course.

Yes, that's some Flipside you can see there...
And Bateman's BPA too. They'll come soon enough.

Would you like to delve deeper into this beer-swilling swell's life of pure pleasure as we review together this rather fine US-style ale, all in its Statesian size pint of 330ml (give or take)?

Beer Review: Hop Bomb

Following on from the American craft beer last week, the inimitable Blue Fin Stout (link), I decided I'd stick with small bottles for the Sunday reviews. Today, in my garden, I had something from T. A. Sadler's, a brewery I can see me having more from as they keep turning up locally, and it gave me an earworm, which I shall share with you: Hop Bomb.

Hop Bomb, Hop Bomb, you're mah hop bomb...

Read on, fair traveller, the worst is past!