McMullen AK XXX

McMullen AK XXX [baron rating 2/5] - 4.1% amber ale,mild sulphurous smell,thin one-sided burnt toffee bitter taste,slight sour bitter finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

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Note: Not bottle conditioned

This was part of the spring pack of the superb '52 week beer club' by myBrewerytap.

Join it now and make sure you say the baron made me do it!

Buy McMullen ales here

York Centurion's Ghost Ale

York Centurion's Ghost Ale [baron rating 4/5] - 5.4% black ale,chocolate & citrus smell,smooth bitter chocolate taste,silky bitter finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes


Note: Not bottle conditioned

This was part of the spring pack of the superb '52 week beer club' by myBrewerytap.

Join it now and make sure you say the baron made me do it!

Buy York ales here

Mallinsons Citra

Mallinsons Citra [baron rating 5/5] - 4.2% pale gold ale,fresh tropical fruit smell,zesty citrus bitter taste,long grapefruit bitter finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to Tara from Mallinsons for handing this over for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Mallinsons ales here and here

Williams Bros Joker IPA

Williams Bros Joker IPA [baron rating 5/5] - 5% gold ale,sweet floral smell,floral toffee bittersweet citrus taste,fruit salad bitter finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes


Note: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to Williams Bros. for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Williams Bros ales here and here

Thornbridge Italia

Thornbridge Italia [baron rating 3/5] - 4.7% pale gold lager,grassy faint lemon smell,delicate soft lemon grassy taste,medicinal mint finish
Note: Chris gave it a 4/5 - listen to the audio to find out why I didn't

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes


Note: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to Richard from myBrewerytap for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Thornbridge ales here

Tolly Cobbold Phoenix

Tolly Cobbold Phoenix [baron rating 2/5] - 4.2% amber ale,slightly sweet biscuity smell,mild sweet toffee taste,burnt toffee finish

Hesket Newmarket Haystacks

Hesket Newmarket Haystacks [baron rating 1/5] - 3.7% pale gold ale,citrus sulphurous pongy smell,harsh tart citrus taste,vinegar-like finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

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Note: Bottle conditioned with lively carbonation

Thank you to Greg from Hesket Newmarket for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Hesket Newmarket ales here

Warwickshire Lady Godiva

Warwickshire Lady Godiva [baron rating 5/5] - 4.2% copper ale,floral fruity smell,floral spicy citrus bittersweet taste,spicy citrus finish

Note: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to @WarksBeerCo from Warwickshire Beer Co. for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Warwickshire ales here

Otley O1

Otley O1 [baron rating 4/5] - 4% pale gold ale,grassy smell,refreshing balanced caramel & citrus bitter taste,clean bitter finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

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Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to @OtleyBrewingCo from Otley for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Otley ales here

Cotswold Farm Ale

Cotswold Farm Ale [baron rating 2/5] - 3% amber ale,biscuit aroma,balanced biscuity taste, no sweetness in the finish at all!

Langham Sundowner

Langham Sundowner [baron rating 2/5] - 4.2% copper ale,honey apple smell,tart floral apple taste,dry slightly floral finish


Buy Langham ales here

Saffron Saffron IPA

Saffron Saffron IPA [baron rating 1/5] - 3.6% amber ale,slightly earthy sulphur smell,hedgerow fruit sharp herbal taste,dry bay leaf finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes


Note: Not bottle conditioned

This was part of the spring pack of the superb '52 week beer club' by myBrewerytap.

Join it now and make sure you say the baron made me do it!

Buy Saffron ales here

Liverpool Organic Syren's Abbey

Liverpool Organic Syren's Abbey [baron rating 3/5] - 6.4% copper ale,plumy boozy smell,sweet vanilla custard berry taste,sweet fruity finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank Paul from Source Deli for coming over to Baron Towers to join Chris & I in an audio baron rating evening, we had a lot of fun! 


Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to Carl from Liverpool Organic for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Liverpool Organic ales here

Warwickshire Kingmaker

Warwickshire Kingmaker [baron rating 3/5] - 5.5% amber ale,marmalade & milk choc smell,sweet marmalade taste,sweet burnt whisky cask finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes


Note: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to @WarksBeerCo from Warwickshire Beer Co. for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Warwickshire ales here

Brentwood Brentwood Gold

Brentwood Brentwood Gold [baron rating 4/5] - 4.3% copper ale,tropical floral smell,crisp clean citrus bitter taste,long bitter fruit finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes


Note: Not bottle conditioned

This was part of the spring pack of the superb '52 week beer club' by myBrewerytap.

Join it now and make sure you say the baron made me do it!

Also I'd like to thank Paul from AlesByMail for sending this through for a 'baron rating'! (and thanks to @JimTheBrewer from the Brentwood Brewing Company for passing them on to Paul)

Buy Brentwood ales here and here

Fyne Maverick

Fyne Maverick [baron rating 4/5] - 4.2% dark amber ale,malty blackcurrants smell,roasted fruits with bit bitter taste,burnt resinous finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes


Note: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to Elaine from Fyne Ales for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Fyne Ales here or here

Freeminer Bumble Bee Honey Ale

Freeminer Bumble Bee Honey Ale [baron rating 3/5] - 4.6% gold ale,floral honey aroma,honey bittersweet taste,juicy slight metallic finish

Bristol Beer Factory Bristol Hefe

Bristol Beer Factory Bristol Hefe [baron rating 4/5] - 4.8% hazy gold ale,banana & cloves smell,sweet cloves fruit taste,sugary clean finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes


Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to @BrisBeerFactory from Bristol Beer Factory for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Bristol Beer Factory ales here

Tring Side Pocket For A Toad

Tring Side Pocket For A Toad [baron rating 5/5] - 4.5% amber ale,grapefruit smell,balanced big grapefruit bitter taste,bitter citrus finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes


Note: Not bottle conditioned

This was part of the spring pack of the superb '52 week beer club' by myBrewerytap.

Join it now and make sure you say the baron made me do it!

Buy Tring ales here

Anchor Liberty Ale

Anchor Liberty Ale [baron rating 5/5] - 5.9% copper ale,pale stone fruit smell,frothy sweet fruity with big bitter taste,dry fruity finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

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Note: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to Richard from myBrewerytap for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Anchor ales here

Liverpool Organic ShipWreck IPA

Liverpool Organic ShipWreck IPA [baron rating 5/5] - 6.5% copper ale,floral caramel citrus smell,rich marmalade taste,sticky resinous finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank Paul from Source Deli for coming over to Baron Towers to join Chris & I in an audio baron rating evening, we had a lot of fun! 


Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to Carl from Liverpool Organic for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Liverpool Organic ales here

Hesket Newmarket High Pike

Hesket Newmarket High Pike [baron rating 2/5] - 4.2% amber ale,slight toffee smell,spicy toffee slight sour taste,sour fruits finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with adequate carbonation

Thank you to Greg from Hesket Newmarket for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Hesket Newmarket ales here

Guinness Foreign Extra

Guinness Foreign Extra [baron rating 5/5] - 7.5% black stout,rich dark roasted smell,smooth bittersweet tart coffee taste,long smoky finish

Note: Not bottle conditioned

Burton Bridge Empire Pale Ale

Burton Bridge Empire Pale Ale [baron rating 5/5] - 7.5% copper ale,spicy tropical fruit smell,chewy spicy sweet fruit taste,spicy finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thanks to @StophMcBride for sending this in exchange for a bottle of Stringers IPA [baron rating 5/5]!

Kernel Porter

Kernel Porter [baron rating 5/5] - 6.8% black porter,red wine & berries smell,roasted berries slight bitter choc taste,burnt berries finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank Paul from Source Deli for coming over to Baron Towers to join Chris & I in an audio baron rating evening, we had a lot of fun! 


Note: bottle conditioned with soft carbonation (perfect for a porter)

Thank you to Paul from AlesByMail for sending this through for a 'birthday treat / baron rating'!

Buy Kernel ales here

Baron on Tour: SIBA Wales & West 2011

Last Friday Chris & I took three different trains and over three hours to go to the SIBA Wales & West beer competition. We'd been picked as judges for the event and so got up at 6am to ensure that we were at Ludlow Castle before the event started. We had a little wander round the town - it's lovely, full of quaint old wood-framed buildings and  shops.
 

The beer competition was being held in the grounds of Ludlow Castle, an impressive place within the town centre of Ludlow and the beer judging (and later beer festival) was being held within a marque in the castle's grounds.






We bumped into Nick from the Otley Brewing Company (who sent us an impressive range of bottled ales) who had quite a number of ales in the competition. Nick was a lovely guy and chatted to us and introduced Chris and I to Dan Fox who runs the excellent White Horse pub in London.

Bacon butties were first up but due to a slight slowness of turn around the queue for the butties (and the bacon smoke) was filling the judging tent when the beers were meant to be coming out! A slight delay of thirty minutes pushed everything back in order and Julian was able to start the first round of judging not long after the queue had died down.

I was judging in the first round and the final (I was made up when I found this out!). My first round was bottled golden beers. There were around sixteen different tables if judges with around six on each so you can get a sense of the scale of things.



The beers were a mixed bag, 2-3 smelling of sulphur & butterscotch, one smelling of farmyards (awful) and 2-3 being lovely examples of golden ales. We judged 14 beers in around an hour - although you are only sipping a third of a pint it catches up with you pretty quickly!


I wasn't judging the second round and so was lucky enough to get to meet Melissa Cole who was chatting to Dan at the time. The three of us when in search of lunch (which was more of a liquid lunch to be honest!) and had a nice time in a local pub's beer garden.


Then it was back to the competition to judging the final, eight carefully whittled ales, all of which were lovely in their own right, it was a pleasure to be on the judging table picking the winners!

After that it all became a bit of a blur, I smoozed with Sue from the Waen Brewery trying a half of her lovely blackberry stout, we chatted more to Nick from Otley and got to meet Simon from Real Ale Reviews (he was one of the other judges).

We also got to meet Jake from Salopian Brewery who was such a nice chap, Salopian collected loads of awards that evening and Jake was kind enough to film us giving their Oracle a live video tasting review!


Skip to 4:25 to see our review of Salopian's Oracle

Unfortunately as we lived so far away, we had to cut the fun early and get the 7pm train home, it was a horror of a journey but we had a such a fun day it didn't matter!

Thanks so much to Charlie & Lisa from SIBA for inviting us both, we had a great time and really enjoyed picking this year's winners!

Breconshire Rescue Brew

Breconshire Rescue Brew [baron rating 2/5] - 4% amber ale,slight tart toffee smell,fruity spicy english bitter taste,spicy bitter finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with flat carbonation

This was part of the spring pack of the superb '52 week beer club' by myBrewerytap.

Join it now and make sure you say the baron made me do it!

Buy Breconshire ales here

Isle of Purbeck Best Bitter

Isle of Purbeck Best Bitter [baron rating 2/5] - 3.6% amber ale,spicy aroma,spicy slight toffee taste,watery finish


Note: Bottle conditioned with dull carbonation

Thank you to @PurbeckBrewery for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Liverpool Organic Best Bitter

Liverpool Organic Best Bitter [baron rating 4/5] - 4.3% gold ale,sweet berries smell,fresh zingy citrus big bitter taste,dry bitter finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank Paul from Source Deli for coming over to Baron Towers to join Chris & I in an audio baron rating evening, we had a lot of fun! 


Note: Bottled conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to Carl from Liverpool Organic for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Liverpool Organic ales here

Mikkeller Hoppy Easter

Mikkeller Hoppy Easter [baron rating 5/5] - 6.6% copper ale,floral yeasty fruity smell,sweet chewy citrus taste,citrus hoppy finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to Richard from myBrewerytap for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Mikkeller ales here

Thornbridge Dark Star Coalition Old Ale

Thornbridge Dark Star Coalition Old Ale [baron rating 4/5] - 7% copper ale,apricot honey smell,soft delicate taste,long honey lozenge finish

Note: You HAVE to listen to the audio to get a true sense of what this beer is about,140 characters is far too few to describe this complex ale!

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank @BGRTRob from HopZine for coming over to Baron Towers to help Chris & I rate a whole loads of stouts, porters and collaboration brews, his expertise added loads to the reviews and we had a thoroughly excellent evening!


Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to James from Dark Star for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Dark Star ales here or here
Buy Thornbridge ales here or here

St Austell Proper Black

St Austell Proper Black [baron rating 5/5] - 6% black IPA,pineapple grapefruit mild choc smell,liquorice tropical taste,roasty bitter finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank Paul from Source Deli for coming over to Baron Towers to join Chris & I in an audio baron rating evening, we had a lot of fun!


Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to @StAustellBrew from St Austell for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy St Austell ales here

Looking forward to 'baron rating' Brentwood ales very soon!

Jim from the Brentwood Brewing Company got in touch with me a while ago to say that some of their beers were coming my way for review. They were being sent out by AlesByMail and the kind folk there decided that a half-empty box wasn't worth sending and so filled it up with samples of some of AlesByMail's new stock.

Here's the Hollywood trailer of the Baron Unboxing video:


Special thanks to Chris for taking the time to produce this awesome hollywood-style trailer!


Brentwood Brewing Company
  • Brentwood Gold - 4.3% rich golden beer,heavily hopped with fruity Cascade hops
  • Chockwork Orange - 6.5% complex dark ale,loaded with chocolate malt & oranges
  •  Hope & Glory - 4.5% traditional red bitter full of great malt flavours
  • Spooky Moon - 3.8% dark brown bitter with a sweet fruity finish
  • Summer Virgin - 4.5% blonde refreshing summer beer with a citrus fruity taste
Here are details of the other samples:

  • Cumbrian Legendary Grasmoor Dark Ale - 4.3% dark malty beer with a spicy flavour
  • Freedom Stout - 4% "batch 711 - sample only not for sale"
  • Great Oakley Gobble - 4.5% pale ale with a clean crisp flavour & pleasing hoppy aftertaste
  • Green Jack Canary Pale Ale - 3.8% brewed with East Anglian malt,Challenger Celia & Bramling Cross whole cone hops
  • Islay Single Malt Ale - 5% brewed only with pale malt & Amarillo & Bramling Cross hops
  • Panther Red Panther - 4.1% deliciously balanced with a sleek hoppy finish
Watch Chris & I unbox the latest AlesByMail beers:


Video recorded on Chris's excellent camera, the Panasonic LX5

Look out for 'baron ratings' for these Brentwood Brewing Company & other beers soon, and a big thank you to @JimTheBrewer from the Brentwood Brewing Company and Paul aka @AlesByMail from AlesByMail for sending these through to me!

Buy all these ales here

Liverpool Organic 24 Carat Gold

Liverpool Organic 24 Carat Gold [baron rating 4/5] - 4.3% cloudy gold ale,pithy grassy clove smell,soft sweet mandarin taste,long dry finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank Paul from Source Deli for coming over to Baron Towers to join Chris & I in an audio baron rating evening, we had a lot of fun!


Note: Bottled conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to Carl from Liverpool Organic for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Liverpool Organic ales here

Liverpool Organic Honey Blond

Liverpool Organic Honey Blond [baron rating 4/5] - 4.6% copper ale,honey peach smell,floral nectarine syrup sherbet taste,dry sherbet finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank Paul from Source Deli for coming over to Baron Towers to join Chris & I in an audio baron rating evening, we had a lot of fun!


Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to Carl from Liverpool Organic for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Liverpool Organic ales here

Asda Whitechapel Porter

Asda Whitechapel Porter [baron rating 3/5] - 5.2% dark ruby ale,roasted slight choc smell,thin spicy sweet taste,slight bitter choc finish


Note: This is brewed by Shepherd Neame

Buy Shepherd Neame ales here

Mallinsons Chocolate Stout

Mallinsons Chocolate Stout [baron rating 3/5] - 4.2% black stout,milk & dark choc smell,sweet velvety choc taste,long mild astringent finish
Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank Paul from Source Deli for coming over to Baron Towers to join Chris & I in an audio baron rating evening, we had a lot of fun!


Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to Tara from Mallinsons for handing this over for a 'baron rating'!

I'd also like to thank myBrewerytap who sent a bottle of this through recently as well.

Buy Mallinsons ales here and here

Looking forward to 'baron rating' Liverpool Organic ales very soon!

Source Deli in Ormskirk are holding a Liverpool Organic Meet The Brewer evening soon so Paul from Source Deli popped round last night with some samples for us to get the heads-up before the big night:


Liverpool Organic Brewery
  • 24 Caret Gold - 4.3% 100% Brewer's Gold hops,orange citrus finish
  • Best Bitter - 4.3% hoppy beer with citrus notes
  • Honey Blond - 4.6% pale copper ale brewed with organic wild flower honey
  • ShipWreck IPA - 6.5% true India Pale Ale,intense citrus & powerful hop flavours
  • Syren's Abbey - 6.4% strong well hopped Belgian-style ale
Look out for 'baron ratings' for these Liverpool Organic Brewery beers soon, and a big thank you to Carl from Liverpool Organic for supplying Source Deli with some samples and thanks to Paul from Source Deli for bringing them round to share with us!

Buy Liverpool Organic ales here

Rogue Mocha Porter

Rogue Mocha Porter [baron rating 3/5] - 5.1% dark brown lively conditioned ale,red berry smell,spicy coffee tart berry taste,coffee finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank @BGRTRob from HopZine for coming over to Baron Towers to help Chris & I rate a whole loads of stouts, porters and collaboration brews, his expertise added loads to the reviews and we had a thoroughly excellent evening!


Note: Bottle conditioned with lively carbonation

Thank you to Paul from AlesByMail for handing this over for a 'baron rating'!

Pitfield's 1792 Imperial Stout

Pitfield's 1792 Imperial Stout [baron rating 1/5] - 9.3% black stout,roasted red wine smell,strong boozy acidic taste,lingering sour finish

Listen to what Chris and the Baron have to say about it.

Download flash to hear the audio review

Subscribe in iTunes

Note: I'd like to thank @BGRTRob from HopZine for coming over to Baron Towers to help Chris & I rate a whole loads of stouts, porters and collaboration brews, his expertise added loads to the reviews and we had a thoroughly excellent evening!


Note: Bottle conditioned with adequate carbonation

Thank you to Paul from AlesByMail for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Pitfield's ales here

Otley 06

Otley O6 [baron rating 5/5] - 6.6% dark ruby ale,oaky choc red berry smell,choc slight sour berries taste,dry bitter choc coffee finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

Thank you to @OtleyBrewingCo from Otley for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Otley ales here