Beer Notes 2006

Various sources, including the Breweries themselves, Ratebeer.com, Beerme.com

All beers on offer (subject to availability) at the 2006 Shelford Festival & Feast
especially our mini Beer Festival from midday till 7 pm on Saturday July 8th.(events here)
Notes on the 2004 collection here

Woodforde’s Wherry Bitter 3.8%
Named after the unique shallow-draught sailing craft built for trading on the waterways of Norfolk in the early part of the 19th century. Winner of numerous prestigious awards including: "Champion Bitter of Britain" 1996/97 and "Supreme Champion Beer of Britain" 1996/97. Amber in colour with a golden syrupy flavour that binds a well-balanced, classic, creamy bitter. A fine blend of hops, bitterness and fruit gives a light but complex feel. A long, consistent finish, with little flavour loss.

Adnams Bitter 3.7%
The classic Southwold bitter and the favourite amongst the Adnams’ stable of beers - brimming with the fragrance of hops and malt, dry yet refreshing and with a lingering bitter flavour. A true session beer and a great favourite with Bunch members and Four Blokes Who Do Walks.

Adnams Broadside 4.7%
With a name that commemorates the fierce Battle of Sole Bay fought against the Dutch Republic in 1672 off the coast of Southwold, Broadside is rich, with aromas of almonds, zest and conserved fruit, and a perfect balance of malt and hop flavours - an award-winning pint to savour. Adnams Broadside was Gold Medal Winner in the Strong Bitter Category at the CAMRA Champion Beer Of Britain 2003. One of the most popular beers at the Shelford Festival & Feast.

Milton Brewery Pegasus 4.1%
Always a favourite, this beer has collected numerous awards including: Best Seller at the 27th Camra Cambridge Beer Festival, Camra Cambridgeshire Supreme Champion 2002 and Camra Champion Beer of East Anglia 2002. It is a complex, copper-coloured beer. The initial hoppiness is balanced with a long fruity, malty finish. Milton describe it as “Very moreish” – they’re right!.

Black Sheep Best Bitter 3.8%
The Black Sheep brewery was set up by Paul Theakston, from the Theakston brewing family and is still based in Masham, North Yorkshire. Dales well water is used in Black Sheep beer. It has a light golden colour and a fairly dry taste, with a rich, creamy head. The flavour is subtle, not too strong. Perhaps a little woody, with a distinct sweetish maltiness, and a hoppy bitter taste that takes over. A very pleasant aroma rounds things off nicely.

Caledonian Deuchars 3.8%
Always a favourite, Very drinkable and refreshing, it is perhaps best suited to a summer afternoon. Its relatively low alcohol content means it makes an excellent session beer. You would be hard pressed to enter a pub in Scotland and not find Deuchars IPA on tap. In appearance it's surprisingly pale for a Scottish beer, a very clear, light golden, straw colour with very little head. The body is a little thin, but it's still fairly smooth on the tongue. It's hoppy and bitter, like an IPA should be, but it's balanced with biscuity malt. There's a tart, citrus (grapefruit?) note to the flavour with a definite peppery quality. It has a long, dry and delicate hop finish with just a hint of peatiness.

Fenland Brewery "Smokestack Lightning" Dark Mild 4.2%
Rich, strong and dark, with a delicious fruity tang. A traditional mild made using the latest hop varieties. Beautifully balanced brew. Black with red highlights as is is raised to drink. An initial malty aroma is complemented by a roasted and complex scent. The first sip suggests a mild but it is a beer with a satisfying hop bite.

Hook Norton Old Hooky 4.6%
A beautifully balanced beer, fruity by nature, with a well-rounded body and the suggestive echo of Crystal Malt. Golden-amber, slight haze. High carbonation and a thick head. Grassy, sweet aroma. Medium body. Sweetly malty. Mild grassy hop flavour. Clean finish.

Wissey Valley Khaki Sergeant Stout 6.7%
Winner of "Best beer award” at Cambridge Midwinter Beer Festival. A good stout. Dark oak colour. Espresso coffee and licorice aroma. Heavy camp coffee presence in the aroma with roast malt. Slightly sweet treacle notes too. Very smooth silky texture. The alcohol content is well hidden.

Wissey Valley Old Wobbly 4.2%
“Old” style with plenty of hops and a dark amber colour

Woodforde's Nelson's Revenge 4.5%
Norfolk premium ale, named after Norfolk's most famous hero and brewed to avenge the invasion of 'foreign' beers into Norfolk! A popular beer, it achieved "Champion Best Bitter of Britain (Silver)" 2001/02.
A full-bodied pale amber beer with the rich flavour of Dundee cake. Sultana fruitiness is balanced by a hoppy bitterness, to give a full, but light feel. The finish continues to develop into a warm, mellow glow.

BOTTLED BEERS