Beer Notes 2007

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

All beers on offer (subject to availability) at the 2007 Shelford Festival & Feast
especially our mini Beer Festival from midday till 7 pm on Saturday July 14th.(events 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.

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.

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.

Wissey Valley Old Grumpy 4.5%
.(awaiting description)

Milton Jericho 4.8%
Amber coloured bitter beer with a lovely citrus flavour and bitter finish.

Nethergate IPA 3.5%
An apple crisp session beer, hoppy throughout, with a lingering bitter end. A well-made and popular session beer.

Kilderkin Brewery (Impington) Double 6.0%
“Kilderkin Double is mainly sold bottle-conditioned at around 6.0% ABV, but is also sometimes sold in the cask at a lower ABV (around 5.5%).
Kilderkin Double is an immensely full-flavoured, rich and tasty beer brewed to the Belgian strong-ale style typified by its famous "Abbey" beers. Double is brewed with Pale, Crystal and Chocolate malts, with a modest addition of Dark Muscovado sugar, all countered with fine bittering hops. Crucially it is fermented using a genuine Belgian strong-ale yeast that gives the beer its unmistakeable Belgian characteristics, including its trademark mellow fruity flavour.”

Saffron Brewery (Henham, Essex) Pledgdon Ale 4.3%
A beer from the new brewery near Bishop Stortford. Featured at the 2006 Cambridge Beer Festival. Try it for yourself at the Shelford Feast, then contribute your rating to http://www.ratebeer.com/

Lagers

Castlemaine 4X, Grolsch, Fenland "real lager"