Liverpool Organic Meet The Brewery night at Source Deli

Head brewer Karl is on the right

A couple of weeks ago I attended the latest "meet the brewer" night at Source Deli in Ormskirk. This time it was Liverpool Organic Brewery's turn and head brewer Karl Ctritchey was there to talk us through a good selection of their bottled ales. The evening started at 8pm with an audience of around twenty people. We worked our way through a half of each bottle and my 'baron rating' bowls were used so that we could get a feel for how each beer was going down.



Here's the running order of the beers (with baron ratings where appropriate):

It was excellent to try the Josephine Butler as it was that new that the labels hadn't arrived in time! It was a good summer ale, quite floral (a bit too floral for me) but a lot of people, especially the ladies thought it was one of the best of the night.

 Here are the 'baron rating' scores that people voted for:

Beer 5/5 4/5 3/5 2/5 1/5
24 Caret Gold 0 12 6 2 0
Honey Blond 1 11 8 1 0
Best Bitter 0 11 7 3 0
Josephine Bulter 8 8 3 2 0
ShipWreck IPA 8 10 0 3 0
Imperial Russian Stout 4 8 3 3 0

As the same as the Marble night, people could pick a bottle of their favourite to drink in or take home, I opted for the ShipWreck IPA but I did notice that a few went for the 8.1% imperial stout.

Thanks to Source Deli for putting on a great night and thanks so much to Karl from Liverpool Organic Brewery for taking the time to talk to us and share some of his beers.

Brentwood Chockwork Orange

Brentwood Chockwork Orange [baron rating 5/5] - 6.5% black ale,sweet dark choc smell,choc building orange peel taste,bitter dark choc 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 Paul Kruzycki from Ales By Mail 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

Williams Bros Fraoch

Williams Bros Fraoch [baron rating 2/5] - 5% gold ale,sweet floral smell,floral spicy citrus taste,dry herbal floral finish

I could tell that this was a nicely balanced beer and has a large following but I just found it far too floral - I'm not a fan of floral at the best of times and this was excessive for my tastebuds.


Note: Not bottle conditioned

Buy Williams Bros ales here and here

Crouch Vale Yakima Gold

Crouch Vale Yakima Gold [baron rating 4/5] - 4.2% gold ale,citrus slight floral smell,spicy bittersweet citrus taste,juicy fruity finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation
(bottling done by Mersea Island Brewery)

Buy Crouch Vale ales here

Green Jack Canary Pale Ale

Green Jack Canary Pale Ale [baron rating 5/5] - 3.8% gold ale,spicy citrus smell,fresh floral spicy lemon citrus taste,tangy floral finish

Note: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to Paul Kruzycki from Ales By Mail for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Green Jack ales here

Duvel Vedett Extra Blond

Duvel Vedett Extra Blond [baron rating 4/5] - 5.2% gold lager,savoury lemon smell,fruity lemon crisp taste,dry herbal bitter finish


Note: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to Julie from Vedett for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Oakham Bishops Farewell

Oakham Bishops Farewell [baron rating 4/5] - 5% gold ale,fruity lemon citrus smell,chewy lemon citrus bitter taste,dry prickly spicy finish


Note: Not bottle conditioned

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

Buy Oakham ales here

Mallinsons Emley Moor

Mallinsons Emley Moor [baron rating 3/5] - 3.5% ruby ale,mild choc & berries smell,roasted malt & bitter choc taste,dry bitter choc finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with lively carbonation

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

Buy Mallinsons ales here and here

Sharp's Eden Pure Ale

Sharp's Eden Pure Ale [baron rating 3/5] - 4.5% dark copper/amber ale,mild honey smell,caramel taste,light watery 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 @SharpsBrewery from Sharp's for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Sharp's ales here

Thornbridge Wild Swan

Thornbridge Wild Swan [baron rating 5/5] - 3.5% pale gold ale,tropical smell,creamy gentle lemon taste,light sweet then herbal 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 Richard from myBrewerytap for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Thornbridge ales here

Hesket Newmarket Scafell Blonde

Hesket Newmarket Scafell Blonde [baron rating 3/5] - 4.3% gold ale,grassy mild sulphur smell,fresh slight citrus taste,mild citrus finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

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

Buy Hesket Newmarket ales here

Brentwood Spooky Moon

Brentwood Spooky Moon [baron rating 3/5] - 3.8% dark amber ale,fruity smell,burnt classic english bitter taste,burnt 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: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to Paul Kruzycki from Ales By Mail 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

Anchor Bock Beer

Anchor Bock Beer [baron rating 3/5] - 5.5% dark brown ale,liquorice & roasted berries smell,soft choc tart berries taste,tart fruity finish

Note: Not bottle conditioned

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

Buy Anchor ales here

Mikkeller Green Gold

Mikkeller Green Gold [baron rating 5/5] - 7% hazy amber ale,big floral tropical smell,fruity sweet resin taste,sticky resinous 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: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

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

Buy Mikkeller ales here

Warwickshire Duck Soup

Warwickshire Duck Soup [baron rating 3/5] - 4.2% dark amber ale,mild fruity smell,balanced nutty classic bitter taste,burnt caramel 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

Bays Gold

Bays Gold [baron rating 4/5] - 4.3% copper ale,spicy toffee smell,zingy spicy citrus taste,tingling fruity finish


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 Bays ales here

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

I met Sue Hayward from The Waen Brewery when I was judging at the SIBA Wales & West regional competition in Ludlow. She was a lovely lady and allowed me to sample some of her excellent Blackberry Stout (the one featured on the Hugh & Oz programme).

She mentioned that she would sort out some samples once she had her range bottled (she sells out of it all the time!) and so last Friday a nice big box arrived for at Baron Towers:


  • Blackberry Stout - 3.8% award winning stout with a hint of dark fruit in the finish
  • Festival Gold - 4.2% subtle, citrus ale with a dry, floral & hoppy finish
  • Janner's Pride - 4.6% best bitter ale with flavours of vanilla, whiskey & ginger
  • Porter House - 6.1% strong dark & handsome traditional porter brewed with local blueberries
  • Shandygaff - 3.4% fresh ginger & lemon zest in a medium hoppy traditional ale
  • Tidy Pint! - 4% smooth, medium hopped session beer with cascade hops
Look out for 'baron ratings' for these Waen Brewery beers soon, and a big thank you to Sue from The Waen Brewery for sending these through to me!

Buy Waen ales here

Brentwood Hope & Glory

Brentwood Hope & Glory [baron rating 4/5] - 4.5% dark amber ale,sweet summer fruit smell,fruity tobacco taste,strawberry smoky 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 Paul Kruzycki from Ales By Mail 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

Stroud Budding

Stroud Budding [baron rating 4/5] - 4.5% copper ale,floral citrus smell,creamy floral soft spicy citrus taste,gentle banana toffee 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 Stroud ales here

Pipers Crisps reviews

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be sent a mixed box of Pipers Crisps. They are beautifully presented and the crisps have a wonderful crunch to them but are they any good?

Rather than give them baron ratings we though we would just record our thoughts live as we opened the pack and sampled them:

Pipers Crisps Sea Salt And Indian Black Pepper
Download flash to hear the audio review


Pipers Crisps Anglesey Sea Salt
Download flash to hear the audio review


Pipers Crisps Sea Salt And Somerset Cider Vinegar
Download flash to hear the audio review


Pipers Crisps Biggleswade Sweet Chilli
Download flash to hear the audio review


Pipers Crisps West Country Cheddar And Onion
Download flash to hear the audio review


Pipers Crisps Norfolk Bloody Mary
Download flash to hear the audio review


Pipers Crisps are very very good crisps - they have a nice crunch,look like they are made from potatoes and have some good flavours going on.

For more information visit Pipers Crisps

Hopzine C&C American Pale Ale

Hopzine C&C American Pale Ale [baron rating 4/5] - 5.5% gold ale,slight mandarin smell,soft citrus bitter taste,lasting bitter citrus finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

This was handed over by @BGRTRob when he joined us for a stout & porter night.

Mallinsons Dart

Mallinsons Dart [baron rating 4/5] - 4.2% gold ale,slightly sweet spicy smell,clean citrus bitter taste,lasting bitter citrus finish


Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect carbonation

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

Buy Mallinsons ales here

Three Castles Longbarrow

Three Castles Longbarrow [baron rating 3/5] - 4.5% dark amber ale,fruity caramel smell,spicy fruity slight acidic taste,tangy nutty finish

Note: Bottle conditioned with perfect 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 Three Castles ales here

Brentwood Summer Virgin

Brentwood Summer Virgin [baron rating 4/5] - 4.5% copper ale,slight fruity honey smell,bittersweet citrus spicy taste,lemony bitter finish

Note: Not bottle conditioned

Thank you to 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

Goose Island Pere Jacques

Goose Island Pere Jacques [baron rating 3/5] - 8% dark amber ale,fruity boiled sweets smell,very plumy very sweet boozy taste,fruity finish

Note: This is one of those beers which we realise is very good - a truly well-crafted ale - but we couldn't give it a high score as it's not a beer either of us would buy again. Please listen to the audio review to find out why.

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 (we think) with perfect carbonation

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

Buy Goose Island ales here

Hopdaemon Leviathan

Hopdaemon Leviathan [baron rating 5/5] - 6% dark amber ale,muted spicy fruitcake smell,smooth gentle fruity spicy taste,dark toffee 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

Buy Hopdaemon ales here and here

Cains Double Bock

Cains Double Bock [baron rating 1/5] - 8% dark amber ale,sweet fruity medicinal smell,sweet peppery medicinal taste,nasty cough sweet finish


Note: Not bottle conditioned

Kelham Island Pride Of Sheffield

Kelham Island Pride Of Sheffield [baron rating 4/5] - 4% amber ale,slight spicy apple smell,caramel spicy citrus taste,spicy 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 Paul from AlesByMail for sending this through for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Kelham Island ales here

Williams Bros Harvest Sun

Williams Bros Harvest Sun [baron rating 4/5] - 3.9% gold ale,mild sherbet smell,balanced bittersweet juicy citrus taste,short fruity finish


Note: Not bottle conditioned

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

Buy Williams Bros ales here and here

Lymestone Stone Faced

Lymestone Stone Faced [baron rating 3/5] - 4% dark amber ale,fruity citrus smell,toffee very bitter taste,unsweetened 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 Paul from AlesByMail for handing this over for a 'baron rating'!

Buy Lymestone ales here

Freeminer Gold Miner

Freeminer Gold Miner [baron rating 3/5] - 5% amber ale,caramel biscuit smell,tangy sweet caramel taste,dry bitter finish

Mallinsons Hidden Malt

Mallinsons Hidden Malt [baron rating 4/5] - 5.3% gold ale,tropical fruits smell,rich sweet fruity grainy taste,zingy fruity 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: 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