Beer 309 - Sierra Nevada Ovila Dubbel (5 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Chico, CA. in collaboration with the Abbey of New Clairvaux.  Bought at HEB Cinco Ranch, who have perhaps the best selection of beer for a grocery store in and around Houston. Drunk at home on Saturday afternoon before and with lunch.

The Ovila web site: http://www.ovila.com/#/home
The abbey web site: http://www.newclairvaux.org/

The bottle says "A collaboration between Siera Nevada Brewing Co. and the monks at the Abbey of New Clairvaux, Ovila Abbey  Dubbel brings the centuries old monastery brewing tradition to America.
Ovila Abbey Dubbel features a complex and rich malty sweetness with hints of caramelized sugar.  The aroma is a heady and layered mix of fruit and spice with hints of clove and black pepper from the unique Belgian style yeast.
A portion of proceeds from this ale goes towards the restoration of the historic Santa Maria de Ovila chapter house on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux (in Vina, CA).  This medieval building stood for nearly eight centuries in Spain.  William Randolph Hearst purchased the monastery in 1931 and planned to use the stones for a castle even grander than his famous San Simeon.  Although Hearst's plans crumbled these historic stones will rise again in a California Cistercian Abbey"

This is a great beer, super taste, great aftertaste.  I liked it a lot

Beer 308 Shiner Dortmunder Spring Ale (3.5 stars out of 5)

Spoetzl Brewery, Shiner, TX.  Bought from HEB Cinco Ranch and drunk at home in Katy, TX while preparing dinner.

The web site: http://www.shiner.com/main.php

The bottle says "Spring has sprung at the little brewery in Shiner, TX (pop 2070) and with it our newest brew, Shiner Dortmunder style Spring Ale.  This old world classic pours deep gold in color with a white head and smooth flavor.  Its medium hop bitterness and hints of grain, honey and floral hops will refresh you like a sun drenched nap on a lush green lawn."

Very pleasant, easy to drink and nice flavor.

Beer 307 - Warsteiner Premium Dunkel (3 stars out of 5)

Warsteiner Brauerei Haus Cramer KG, Warstein, Germany.  Bought at HEB in Cinco Ranch and drunk at home in Katy while preparing dinner.

The web site (in English) http://www.warsteiner.com/en_US/html/our_beer_premium_dunkel.html

The web site says: "Thanks to only the best ingredients, this dark refreshes like a true lager beer.  It has a rich smooth taste and a lingering slight sweet aftertaste.  The delicate aroma and extraordinary coloration resulting from  a careful barley malt process.  alc 4.8% by vol."

Quite pleasant and easy to drink, but nothing exceptional.

Beer 306 - Lomond Gold Blonde Beer (2.5 stars out of 5)

Another beer from Traditional Scottish Ales, Stirling, Scotland and like the others bought by Stephen and carried back to Katy in our luggage.

web site: http://www.traditionalscottishales.co.uk/

The bottle says: Lomond Gold Blonde Beer.  Clean sharp and fresh tasting, a hint of citrus and a satisfying aftertaste.  Created in Scotland using pure Scottish water, malted barley, whole hops and brewers yeast.  alc 5% vol."

A little disappointing, crisp and fresh but not much taste.

Beer 305 Arran Brewery Dark (2.5 stars out of 5)

Isle of Arran Brewery, Cladoch Bradick, Isle of Arran, Scotland.  Bought by Andy in Scotland and carried back to Katy, TX so I could enjoy it tonight while cooking the first green squash from the garden for dinner.  We also have yellow squash ready to eat and green tomatoes not yet ready.  Cucumbers are slowly forming as are peppers but the onions are a disapointment.

The brewery web site: http://www.arranbrewery.com/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=6&idproduct=128

The web site says:
ALC 4.3% vol. 2.2 UK Units of Alcohol per 500ml bottle.

Nose: Rich aroma of malt and hops with ripe fruit.

Palette: Velvety texture, full malt with a deep bittersweet finish.

Comments: A traditional smooth drinking Scottish heavy beer.
Please try the following food/beer pairings.
You may be pleasantly surprised at how well these go together:

With foodFoods for this beer need to be smellier, or maybe pungent or assertive would be finer words. Venison and red cabbage; gammon in Cumberland sauce (if Cumberland and its 1746 connotations is a word that can be used north of the border!); grouse; maybe mutton and capers and onion sauce; chorizo.

With cheeseSmoked cheeses; brie and any cheese happy to walk towards the guillotine of take-your-head-away ripeness.

I was a lot disapointed with this beer.  I expected something with more body and flavor, but all I got was a lifeless beer with little body and no character.

Beer 304 - William Wallace 80/- Export (3 stars out of 5)

Traditional Scottish Ales, Scotland.  Bought by Stephen in Bathgate and drink at home in Katy, TX while preparing dinner.

The web site is: http://www.traditionalscottishales.co.uk/ but you can't get in whatever date is entered.

The bottle says; This full bodied malty beer is rich ruby in color with a satisfying crisp dry aftertaste.  Hand brewed in the heart of Scotland, with only the finest malted barley, choicest hops, yeast and pure Scotish water.
This exceptional beer is dedicated to the memory of Sir William Wallace - patriot and heroic liberator of the Scottish nation. alc 4.5% vol."

A pleasant enough drink, moderate body and pleasant taste but nothing to get excited about.  A little bland.

Beer 51 - Wychwood Brewery Organic Pale Ale

Wychwood Brewery Scarecrow Organic Pale Ale

Brewed at Marston's PLC, Wychwood Brewery, Eagle Maltings, The Crofts, Witney, Oxfordshire, UK. Bought to the US by Pat and Colin, drunk at home in Pearland where we are staying the night after a full day in Galveston and planned trips to tje Haak Winery and Kemah tomorrow.

The bottle says "Organically grown English barley malt and whole leaf Target hops combine to evoke lazy, hazy days of summer in this serenely satisfying golden harvest brew"
A nice clear light brown color when it's poured witha slight head. A pleasant hoppy smell and a delightful clean crisp taste, slightly bitter but well balanced and easy to drink.

Beer 50 - Saint Arnold Elissa IPA

September 4, 2010 - Beer 50
St Arnold Elissa India Pale Ale
Brewed by St. Arnold's Brewery, Houston TX bought and also drunk at St Arnold's Brewery during the brewery visitor tour and Saturday open house. The beer is included in the price and you bring your own food. Great concept, only downside is that the beer hall is very noisy, it is impossible to hold a normal conversation so many people bring games to play - cards or chess or dominoes or build a tower and others.
Elissa IPA is described on a table tent as "A traditional India Pale Ale, the Elissa IPA is very hoppy with a properly blanced malty body. Elissa has huge hop additions in the kettle that give it a wonderful bitterness and is then dry hopped in the fermenter to create the pleasant floral hoppy nose. This beer is named after ELISSA a tall ship now moored in Galveston that once transported casks of IPA from England to India. St Arnold is donating a portion of the proceeds of this beer for preservation of this shop."
Both Colin and I liked this beer. The full body and slight bitterness gives the beer an enjoyable feel and taste as it is being drunk.

Beer 49 Saint Arnold Octoberfest

September 4, 2010 - Beer 49
St Arnold Octoberfest
Brewed by St. Arnold's Brewery, Houston TX bought and also drunk at St Arnold's Brewery during the brewery visitor tour and Saturday open house. For $7 you get a 9oz glass and 4 tokens that are exchanged for a glass full of beer.
Octoberfest is described on a table tent as " A full bodied, malty, slightly sweet beer celebrating the Autumn harvest. This rich beer has a round malt, flavor and an above average alcohol content perfect for a cool fall evening."
Nice light brown color to the beer, pleasant taste in the mouth with a slight bite that is very pleasant. A nice beer that I enjoyed a lot though Patri preferred the Lawnmower.

Beer 48 - Saint Arnold Lawnmower

September 4, 2010 - Beer 48
St Arnold Lawnmower draft
Brewed by St. Arnold's Brewery, Houston TX bought and drunk at St Arnold's Brewery during the brewery visitor tour and Saturday open house. A great place to take a picnic lunch and drink St Arnolds beer.
Lawnmower is described on a table tent as "thirst-quenching and light with a delicate floral hop flavor, this is a true German style Kolsch. The perfect beer for drinking after mowing the lawn or when wanting to enjoy the aroma of German Hallertauer hops. We use a yeast originating from a brewery in Cologne ("Koln" in German) to yield the slightly fruity clean flavor of the beer"
This beer is pale lemon in color and very lightly flavored, it is almost like hop flavored cool aid, and very much as they describe, it is a good thirst quencher. Pat and Patri both enjoyed the beer.

Beer 47 - Sam Adams Octoberfest

September 3, 2010 - Beer 47

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Brewed by Boston Beer Co, Boston, MA bought at Walmart, Humble TX and drunk at home in Katy TX while Patri And I prepared stuffed baked potatoes for Pat and Colin's first dinner in Houston.
The bottle says "Samuel Adams Octoberfest is brewed with five varieties of malted barley for a deep amber color and a bigger richer flavor. It's everything we look forward to in the fall"

It is a nice full flavored beer, very enjoyable.

Beer 46 - Dundee Honey Brown Lager

September 2, 2010 - Beer 46
Dundee Brewing Honey Brown Lager
Brewed by Dundee Brewing Co, Rochester NY Brewing, bought at H E B Grocery Pearland TX and drunk at home in Katy TX while Patri Cleaned the house for for Pat and Colin arriving next week and I enhanced a Great Value cheese pizza with mushrooms, turkey breast, turkey sausage, red pepper, green pepper and a little more cheese.
The color of the beer in the glass is a nice honey brown. The beer is flavored with honey and Patri liked the taste where I found it rather benign and without character. It is nice enough to drink, but doesn't make me want to wax lyrical or even to go out and buy it again.

Beer 45 - Rahr's Blonde

September 1, 2010 - Beer 45
Rahr's Blonde
Brewed by Rahr and Sons Brewing, Fort Worth, TX bought at Randall's Grocery Houston TX and drunk at home in Pearland, TX while Patri and I get the house ready for Pat and Colin arriving next week.
The bottle says "back in 2004 Fritz Rahr opened Rahr and sons Brewing Company in Fort Worth, Texas and bought his family's 150 years of brewing tradition with him. Beginning in 1847 with Fritz's great-great-grandfather, the Rahr name has long been associted with great beer. Now that great beer has found a home in Texas and we plan to be around as long as you keep drinking it.
Blonde lager was the first beer Rahr and Sons Brewing Company made. It is a medium bodied traditional Munich style Helles lager that features a rounded maltiness without being too heavy. And like every good Texan, it has a good head and is pleasant, but not overly sweet."
I wonder if Rahr and Sons is also the Old Can Brewery that makes Fosters in the USA. The beer has some of the same musty smell as the Fosters and is soft and very light bodied with no real flavors to titillate the taste buds.

Beer 44 - Fosters Premium Ale

August 31, 2010 - Beer 44
Fosters Premium Ale
Brewed and packaged under the supervision of Fosters Australia Ltd. Melbourne, Australia by Oil Can Breweries, Fort Worth, TX bought at Spec's Liquor, Houston TX and drunk at home in Katy, TX while Patri and I prepared hamburger patties and stir fry for dinner. Tonight I chopped and formed, Patri cooked.
This ale, made by unon labor, has caramel color added to give it a darker, richer brown hue.
This ale smelt and tasted much better than the Foster's I drank a few nights ago. While the flavor was fairly benign and quite unremarkeable, it was at least drinkable (I hate to waste the opportunity since a UT professor opined that moderate drinkers live longest)

Beer 43 - Brooklyn Lager (2.5 stars out of 5)

August 30, 2010 - Beer 43
July 31, 2010 - On draught

Brewed and bottled by Brooklyn's Brewery, Utica, NY bought at Spec's Liquor, Houston TX and drunk at home in Katy, TX while Patri and i prepared Tortellini with mushroom, sausage and turkey Alfredo sauce and garlic toast for dinner.

web site: www.brooklynbrewery.com

The bottle says "Amber gold with a malty body and a floral hop character. Brooklyn lager is a revival of Brooklyn's pre-prohibition all malt lagers. This is the brewery's first and best selling brand, Brooklyn lager is brewed only with malted barley, hops, water and will taste best before the freshness date indicated. (oct 2010)"

I found the beer easy and pleasant to drink. The color was a lot darker than amber gold, it was more light brown. The beer was full bodied, had a pleasant roundness of flavor, solid but without bitterness.

I tried the beer again while searching for New York beers when Patricia, Sofia and I visited New York for a long weekend at the end of July 2011. After visiting three pubs looking for New York beers on tap, I came to O'Reillys on 35th street, between 5th and 6th. The first pub with New York beer on tap, but the only beer they had on tap was Brooklyn Lager, so no new beer this time.

This beer was pretty good, but not good enough that I would want to come back for more. A lot of hops coming through in the taste, which spoiled the balance a little. More of a bitter than a lager.

Beer 42 - Moylan's India Pale Ale

August 29, 2010 - Beer 42
Moylan's Brewing Co India Pale Ale
Brewed in Novato, CA bought at Spec's Liquor, Houston TX and drunk at home in Katy, TX while Patri prepared shepherds pie for dinner.
The bottle says "Exciting and provocative, India Pale Ale provides a stimulating assault on all senses. Our version of the IPA style possesses a deep golden hue that nearly winks at you from the glass. Extremely full bodied it's rich flavor wraps your tongue in a lush blanket of sweet malt with a spicy finish. Two hop varieties in the dry hopping provide an enticing floral bouquet, with notes of resin and herbs, creating a delightfully quaffable and refreshing ale we're sure you'll love"
Wow, ad writers run amok. But they have some stuff right. It is full bodied and crisp and full of flavor, but there are no signs of sweetness, in fact the bitterness ofvrje hops was the over riding taste, more rein less herbs. A beer for serious drinkers.

Beer 41 - Southern Star Pine Belt Pale Ale

August 28, 2010 - Beer 41
Southern Star Pine Belt Pale Ale
Brewed Conroe, TX bought at Spec's Liquor, Houston TX and drunk at home in Katy, TX while doing the laundry.
Patri and I visited this small craft brewery on the outskirts of Conroe, TX a few months ago and enjoyed the enthusiasm and committment of the staff. We have looked for their beer at the supermarkets we frequent but have only been able to find the beer at the Specs liquor store on Smith Street (undoubtedly the best wine and liquor store in Texas and possibly in the USA)
Southern Star do not produce any beer in bottles. They believe bottles let in light that affects the quality of beer and this may explain the message on the can "Clarity is overrated" or that may have something to do with the the beer itself!
The can says "this handcrafted American Pale Ale is brewed in small batches using high quality American two row, [malted barley] choice British crystal malts, select hops and deep-well ground water from the Evangeline aquifer. Non-filtered, never pasteurized this ale is packaged directly into cans to ensure maximum freshness for your enjoyment. This full flavored amber ale is sure to satisfy.
Not for the faint of heart, this pale ale is cloudy, full bodied and bitter, just like a good pale ale should be.

Beer 40 - Fosters

August 27, 2010 - Beer 40
Fosters
Brewed (and packaged under the supervision of Foster's Australia Ltd, Melbourne, Australia) by Oil Can Breweries, Fort Worth, TX bought at Spec's Liquor, Houston TX and drunk at Nicola and Stephen's home in Pearland, TX as we get the house ready for sale.
A nice gold color and a small head on the beer. It smells a little musty and the taste is not crisp and clean. (the date on the bottom of the can says Dec 2010)
Interestingly Fosters do not tell us what the beer is. If you were a visitor from Mars and were looking for a lager or a brown ale or an IPA or a bitter you wouldn't choose Fosters from the description on the can because Fosters is, well, Fosters.
Unfortunately this was not a good example of the genre. The beer tasted old and tired, it did not entice me to become a Fosters drinker.

Beer 39 - New Belgium Mothership WIT

August 26, 2010 - Beer 39
New Belgium Brewing Mothership WIT
Brewed in Fort Collins, CO USA bought at H.E.B. Pearland, TX and drunk at home in Katy, TX after eating way too much at Sweet Tomatoes, a salad buffet for which we had a coupon offering the second dinner for $1.
The bottle says this is an "organic wheat beer brewed with spices, certified organic by Oregon Tilth" (whoever they are!)
The instructions on the bottle say to pour a little beer into a glass, swirl what's left in the bottle then finish by pouring the remaining beer into the glass.
"True Belgium wit yeast elevates wheat and barley malt to create a cloudy, zesty brew tagged 'Mothership' our brewery nickname"
Pale lemon in color and quite cloudy in the glass, the beer smells of lemon and pumpernickel, there is a spicy fizz on the front of the tongue and the beer has a nice finish leaving pleasant memories in the mouth after the liquid is swallowed.

Beer 303 - Terrapin Mo-Hoo (2.5 stars out of 5)

The Terrapin Beer Co, Athens, GA.  Bought by Rigo on one of his flight trips to the east coast and drunk at home in katy with lunch of a beef and cheese hot pocket.

The brewery web site: http://www.terrapinbeer.com/beers/52-Moo-Hoo-

The web site says, "Our brand new seasonal selection! The Terrapin “Moo-Hoo” Chocolate Milk Stout proudly uses cocoa nibs and shells from Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Company to give this beer its great taste!
HOPS: Nugget, WillametteMALT: 2 Row Pale, Flaked Oat, Chocolate, Crystal 85, Carafa III Special, Roasted BarleyOTHER: Cocoa Nibs, Cocoa Shells & Lactose
ABV: 6%IBU: 30 O.G.: 16.7"

The beer was OK when it was very cold, but as it warnmed up the edge to the chocolate taste came through and left a not very pleasant aftertaste.

Beer 38 - Shiner Bock

August 25, 2010 - Beer 38
Shiner Bock
Brewed in Shiner, TX USA bought and drunk at Pearland Seafood, Pearland, Tx after exercising and before spending the night at the house in Pearland.
The Restaurant was empty. We were the only customers. The menu was a strange mixture of deep fried fish of varous types plus Thai dishes plus grilled seafood dinners. We started with spring rolls containing lettuce and boiled shrimp which were quite good. Patri ate grilled salmon with a steamed veggie medley and wild rice and said it was good and I had deep fried shrimp and fries which was not so good. The shrimp had been butterflied, then battered. And deep fried and the batter overwhelmed the very thin shrimp.
But, to the beer. The bottle says "small town, small brewery. Every drop of Shiner beer is brewed right here in Shiner, Texas (pop 2070) by a handful of local craftsmen who take pride in our little brewery and our classic Shiner Bock, first brewed in 1913 this lightly hopped, American style bock has a clean flavor and a slightly sweet finish. We hope you enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoyed making it. Prost.
Bock beer combines old world Bavarian heritage with Americsn handcraft brewing for a ppth, delightfully drinkable dark beet. Handcrafted in the same brewery where it was first made back in 1913, this gently hopped, medium brown brew is the pride of Shiner, Texas."
I could not agree more. I like this beer, it tastes as described and is a very pleasant accompanied by all sorts of fried food or Tex-Mex.

Beer 37 - New Belgium Ranger IPA

August 24, 2010 - Beer 37
37 - New Belgium Brewing Ranger India Pale Ale
This is New Belgium week!
Brewed in Fort Collins, CO, USA bought at H E B Grocery, Houston, TX, drunk at home in Katy, TX after the gym and cooking hamburgers and grilled corn for dinner.
The bottle says "are you a hopinista? Thank our Beer Rangers for inspiring (and begging for) this well balanced Simcoe, Cascade and Chinook hopped IPA. 70 IBUs" (I have no idea what an IBU is, time to explore their website I guess)
Unfortunately I didn't find the beer well balanced. Generally I like IPAs, but this was a little bitter for my taste and the bitterness detracted from the enjoyment. Oh well, win some lose a lot, but never, ever, ever, give up. On to the next Sam Adams beer tomorrow.

Beer 36 - New Belgium Sunshine Wheat Beer

August 23, 2010 - Beer 36
New Belgium Brewing Sunshine Wheat Beer
This is New Belgium week!
Brewed in Fort Collins, CO, USA bought at H E B Grocery, Houston, TX, drunk at home in Katy, TX while helping Patri modify a Red Baron pizza with lots more toppings for dinner.
The bottle says "Sunshine wheat beer is brewed for year-round enjoyment, using equal portions of wheat and barley malts. It is spiced with coriander and orange peel in the Belgium wheat beer tradition. Sunshine wheat is silky gold in color with a spicy aroma and a subtle citrus character."
Unfortunately the copy writer must have been smoking something when they wrote that description. The beer is pleasant enough but the wheat malt is subdued and the spicy aroma and taste are non-existent. An easy to drink light bodied beer that goes well with the Mexican cheese we snacked on before dinner. I will have to try this again, the label date says best before 11Jul10.

Beer 35 - New Belgium Blue Paddle Pilsener

August 22, 2010 - Beer 35
New Belgium Brewing Co Blue Paddle Pilsener Lager
This is New Belgium week!
Brewed in Fort Collins, CO, USA bought at H E B Grocery, Houston, TX, drunk at home in Katy, TX cooking dinner of stuffed chicken breasts, beans and sauted brocolli and mushrooms.
The bottle says "Blue Paddle Pilsener Lager crafted with malt-only brewing and noble hops (one day I'll find out why some hops are noble and others are not - must be something in their upbringing), explores the boundaries where American lagers seldom journey.
Reflective of Europes finest pilseners, Blue Paddle delivers a refreshing bitterness, vibrant finish, and a subtle but intricate depth of flavor."
Despite the copy writers hyperbole, the description of the beer's taste is accurate. I enjoyed the slight bitterness and the crisp taste as the cooks aperitif.

Beer 34 - New Belgium Abbey Ale

August 21, 2010 - Beer 34
New Belgium Brewing Abbey Belgian Style Ale
Brewed in Fort Collins, CO, USA bought at H E B Grocery, Houston, TX, drunk at home in Katy, TX listening to the Nascar race from Bristol on PRN radio on the Internet since the local ABC statio has preempted the national broadcast to show a Texans football game. Boo hiss.
This is New Belgum week. The bottle says "A beauty of a Begium dubbel with six different malts and an authentic Belgian Yeast strain that's happiest being served in a New Belgium globe glass"
I don't (yet) have a globe glass, so i used a regular glass! The beer is light brown in color and has a slightly sweet taste. There is a nose of ripe bananas, strange but very pleasant, it has a fairly light body and goes very well with cheese and biscuits.

Beer 33 - Abita Save Our Shore

August 20, 2010 - Beer 33
Abita Brewing SOS (Save Our Shore)
Brewed in Abita Springs, LA, USA bought at H E B Grocery, Houston, TX drunk at Home in Katy, TX on arriving home after helping Sofia move into her freshman dorm at the University of Texas in Austin.
This is a special 650 ml (1 pint 6 ozs) bottle. The bottle says "this Abita brew is a message in a bottle, a distress signal for the troubled waters of our Gulf Coast. For every bottle sold Abita will donate $0.75 to the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive this disastrous oil spill. Want to do more? Visit Abita.com"
There is also a description of the beer on the bottle "this unfiltered Weizen pils is made with Pilsner and wheat malts. It is hopped and dry hopped with Sterling and German Perle hops. It has a brilliant gold color, a sweet malt flavor and a pleasant bitterness and aroma."
The descriptionis succinct and accurate. The beer was very pleasant after the long day. Flavor and smell made the beer interesting and enjoyable, and I contributed to a good cause. :-)

Beer 302 Great Divide Grand Cru (4 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by the Great Divide Brewing Co, Denver, CO.  Hand carried back from Denver from my trip last month and drunk at home in Katy as an aperitif while preparing dinner and finished as a thirst quencher after dinner while working on the Sofia's project.  We took our first road trip in the Maxima today.  It was a beautiful day, so we decided to take a drive in the country.  We stayed on back country roads and drove to Brenham, where we stopped for an Ice Cream (Blue Bell of course) at the Heavens Sent restaurant.  We then drove down to Round Rock to see if it was still there and then back to Katy.  A very nice drive, Patri drove all the way while i enjoyed the countryside.

The web site: http://www.greatdivide.com/

the web site says "Grand Cru is our very special Belgian-style dark ale. Imported malts give it a round malty richness, and the fruity complexity and slightly spicy character come from brewing with a proprietary Belgian yeast strain. Don’t let the name fool you; while it may be a special occasion beer, this medium-bodied, elegant incarnation is anything but snobbish. 11% ABV. Food pairings Roasted chicken with thyme, braised short ribs, oven roasted vegetables, grilled sweet potatoes, roaring 40′s blue cheese, bread pudding."

An excellent beer, I enjoyed this a lot.  Nicely balanced with a good flavor and nice body.

Beer 301 - Sand Creek Wild Ride India Pale Ale (2.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed by Sand Creek Brewing Company, Black River Falls, WI. Bought by Rigo on his last trip up north. Drank at home in Katy, TX with lunch, when we decided that today was the day when we would go out and buy our new car.  First choice is a Toyota Avalon, but we also are considering a Nissan Maxima.

The brewery web site: http://www.sandcreekbrewing.com/beers.php#wild_ride_ipa

The web site says: "This classic India Pale Ale is wonderfully hopped for a strong start, a smooth finish, and a fine amber color. 6% ABV  60 IBUs"

There was too much bitterness in this beer for me to enjoy it.

Beer 257 - Odell's 90 Shilling Ale (3 stars out of 5)

Brewed and kegged by the Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, CO.  Bought and drunk at the Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant on 16th Street in Denver.  A pizza restaurant with an extraordinary number of beers on daught, many from local Colorado breweries.  My feet were sore and I was thirsty after spending the whole afternoon walking around Denver, looking at the architecture and trying to find local Colorado beers after a morning spent with Accenture.

The brewery web site: http://odellbrewing.com/beers/classic/90_shilling

The web site says; "We introduced 90 Shilling, our flagship beer, at our opening party in 1989. For a while, we’d been wondering what would happen if we lightened up the traditional Scottish ale? The result is an irresistibly smooth and delicious medium-bodied amber ale. The name 90 Shilling comes from the Scottish method of taxing beer. Only the highest quality beers were taxed 90 Shillings. A shilling was a British coin used from 1549 to 1982. We think you’ll find this original ale brilliantly refreshing, and worth every shilling. 5.3% Alc. By Vol. 27 IBUs"

I found the beer to be very quaffable, but without much character.  It was pleasant and easy to drink, but didn't have any depth.  The taste was easily forgotten just a few minutes after swallowing.

Beer 300 - Strathaven Claverhouse Red Ale (4 stars out of 5)

For beer number 300 I chose a beer to remind me of our trip to the UK earlier this spring.  Unfortunately the remaining beers are becoming fewer and fewer in number as we were only able to carry 16 in our suitcases, so it was very nice to find a Strathaven Ale amongst the unopened bottles in the pantry.

Strathaven Ale is brewed in Strathaven, Scotland in a delightful tiny brewery on the banks of the river Avon about 3 miles south of town. Care and pride is taken in the brewing and the resultant beers are generally excellent.  This particular bottle was bought by Andy, my brother, at the brewery since the local supermarkets in Strathaven do not yet sell this excellent beer.  It was drunk at home in Katy, TX while preparing dinner and talking to Patricia about our plans for this long Easter weekend.

the web site: http://www.strathavenales.co.uk/

The web site says; "Claverhouse is A strong red ale brewed with a blend of Scottish Crystal and red malted barley with American Oregon hops that give it a hint of citrus.

John Graham of Claverhouse was a pivotal figure during the covenanting period whose strong leadership endeared him to his followers who christened him "Bonnie Dundee".To his enemies however, he was darkly referred to as "Bluidy Clavers".

He was soundly beaten in 1679 at the battle of Drumclog near Strathaven by a covenanting force who stood their ground. His revenge was not long in coming after this event with the rout of a large Covenanter force at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge.

Following the glorious revolution of 1688 he took to the field in support of the Stuart cause. Despite his army winning the day at the battle of Killiecrankie he himself was slain and the revolt came to nothing with his leadership lost. 4.5% ABV"

A delightful beer, full of taste when drunk at room temperature.  Nice mouth-feel in the first taste, excellent follow through with good body and a very pleasant aftertaste.  Wish this was available in the US.

Beer 299 - Hereford Pale Ale (3.5 stars out of 5)

brewed and bottled by the Wye Valley Brewery, Stoke lacey, Herefordshire, England.  Bought at ASDA in Telford and carefully carried back to Katy, TX so I could drink it while helping Sophia with her homework project on RFID technology and implementation at the Metro supermarket group.

the web site: http://www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk/beers/hpa.html

The web site says, "HPA is a truly delightful pale ale. It's smooth on the palate, and boasts a citrus hop aroma leading to a balanced bitter finish.
Locally grown Target and Styrian Goldings hops play an important part in making this such a distinctive beer. With Maris Otter pale malt and malted wheat also being used, this is very much a pale ale with all the right ingredients. 4.0% ABV."

I enjoyed this beer.  It had a nice body and a nice taste that was easy to drink and enjoy.

Beer 298 - Lake Superior Mesabi red (3.5 stars out of 5)

brewed and bottled by The Lake Superior Brewing Co, Duluth, MN.  Bought by Rigo on his last trip up north and drank at home in Katy, TX after erecting a new Martin bird house to help keep our backyard free of mosquitoes.

The web site: http://www.lakesuperiorbrewing.com/

The web site says "Mesabi Red – We won't go so far as to call it our red-headed step child, but our robust American amber ale sprung more from inspired alchemy than any color-by-numbers recipe. Today, we front-load Red with five different malts, including Munich and Belgian aromatic, for a rich mahogany hue, then balance it with three hop varieties. This creates a potent, full-bodied brew with firm bitterness and a distinctive touch of dried strawberries in its finish. Named for the vast iron range that sustains Minnesota 's Arrowhead Region, Mesabi Red rewards a hard day's work with strength and complexity."

Very nice, good body and very pleasant on the first drink, the only slight drawback is the hint of bitterness in the aftertaste.

Beer 297 - Williams Fraoch Heather Ale (2.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by Heather Ale, Williams Bros Brewing, Alloa, Scotland.  Bought by Andy in Strathaven then carried back to the USA and drunk at home in Katy, TX while preparing dinner.

The brewery web site: http://williamsbrosbrew.com/  tells the interesting story of the brew and the brewery.

The web site says of the beer "Brewed in Scotland since 2000 B.C. heather ale is probably the oldest style of ale still produced in the world. From an ancient Gaelic recipe for "leann fraoich" (heather ale) it has been revived and reintroduced to the Scottish culture.
Into the boiling bree of malted barley, sweet gale and flowering heather are added, then after cooling slightly the hot ale is poured into a vat of fresh heather flowers where it infuses for an hour before being fermented.
A light amber ale with floral peaty aroma, full malt character, a spicy herbal flavour and dry wine like finish.
Recommended with : Rich and Spicy foods
Drink slightly chilled from a fluted glass. 5% abv"

I found the beer to be a little bland.  Pleasant enough to drink but nothing in the taste to make it stand out.  There was no character to the beer, which was disappointing given the flowery writing on the web site.

Beer 296 - Summit India Pale Ale (2.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by Summit Brewing Co, St. Paul, MN.  Bought by Rigo while he was flying around that part of the country and drunk at home in Katy, TX after an afternoon spent in the garden, weeding vegetables, adding fertiliser, building a small trellis for the cucumbers and spraying bug killer on the roses and magnolia tree (and everything else, 'cos it's a small garden.

The web site: http://www.summitbrewing.com/brews/india-pale-ale

The web site says: "This traditional English style was originally brewed with extra hops to help it survive the voyage to India. Our IPA is enlightened by spicy herbal hops with a hint of caramel malt sweetness. 6.4% ABV"

I found the beer to be a little bitter for my taste, both in the initial taste and the aftertaste.  S, because I was hot and sweaty and wanted something to quench my thirst I mixed the beer with sparkling lime flavored water to create something akin to a shandy, and it turned out to be just what the doctor ordered.

Beer 295 - Schell's Hopfenmalz (4 stars out of 5)

August Schell Brewing, New Ulm, MN.  Bought by Rigo on his latest flight around the North East checking on cables and drunk at home in Katy, TX just after arriving home after an amazing day driving a NASCAR race car at Texas Motor Speedway.   We drove to the speedway from the hotel this morning, checked in with Team Texas and drove 10 laps around Texas Motor Speedway at relatively high speed - around 140 miles and hour - with an instructor by my side.   It was an amazing experience. Thanks to Patricia for my Christmas present.

the brewery web site: http://www.schellsbrewery.com/ourbeers_info.php?id=28

The web site says :"Introducing ‘Hopfenmalz,’ the commemorative beer for the 150th Anniversary of the August Schell Brewing Company. Hopfenmalz was part of the Anniversary Draft Series, a collection of eight single batch, limited release brews which took place over the past two years. Fans were asked to go online and vote for their favorite in the series, with the winner becoming the commemorative beer for the sesquicentennial year. The votes are in, and the fans have spoken. So join us as we raise a glass and celebrate 150 years of brewing history with Schell’s Hopfenmalz! Prosit!
Hopfenmalz incorporates the elegant drinkability of a Pilsner, the bready maltiness of a Vienna Lager, and the hopping of a Pale Ale. The malty backbone is beautifully balanced by a bright, citrusy hop aroma and bitterness. Then we lagered it for an extended period of time to give it a crisp, dry finish.
Beer Style: Amber Lager, Alcohol By Volume: 4.9%"

A very nice beer, but perhaps I did not give it justice as I was very thirsty after the 300 mile drive back from Fort Worth (though I slept part of the way as Patricia drove)  The beer poured nicely and the first taste was great, in fact the taste was good enough that I took a very large drink and it was very satisfying.  The rest of the beer was drunk in short order and tasted pretty good as it went down.

Beer 294 - Ben Nevis Ruby Red IPA (2.5 stars out of 5)

From Traditional Scottish Ales, Stirling, Scotland. Bought by Stephen then carried back to Houston by Patricia and I after our visit to the UK two weeks ago. Drunk from the bottle in our room at the Towne Place Suites Hotel in Las Colinas, near Dallas, TX at 1145 pm after arriving for one nights stay before I use my Christmas present from Patricia and drive a NASCAR race car tomorrow at Texas Motor Speedway.

web site: http://www.traditionalscottishales.co.uk/ (though there appears to be something wrong with the birth date icon, I tried many dates and couldn't enter the site)

The bottle says "Organic ruby red beer, full malty flavor and light hoppy aftertaste. Created in Scotland using pure Scottish water, organically grown malted barley, organically grown whole hops and brewers yeast. 4%ABV"

Pleasant enough generic sort of taste with a slightly bitter aftertaste that left a less than pleasant taste behind

Beer 293 - Belhaven St Andrews Ale (3 stars out of 5)

Brewed by the Belhaven Brewery, Dunbar, Scotland.  Bought either by Andy or Stephen and drunk at home in Katy, TX while reading Kiplinger's magazine and thinking about dinner.

The web site: http://www.belhaven.co.uk/row/belhaven/standrews.php

The bottle says "It is every golfers dream to play "The Old Course". Created entirely by the forces of nature, the historic links of St Andrews are believed to be where the first ever game was played.  Belhaven are proud to name one of their finest Scottish ales after St Andrews - the nation's patron saint, and the town known throughout the world as ... the home of golf."  The web site adds "The perfect mellow way to wind down after a tough round of golf.  3.9% ABV."

I found the beer to be a little less than stellar, a pleasant enough drink that didn't offer anything to make it stand out, nothing really to distinguish this beer from the many others that offer a nice lager style beer to drink when it's hot.

Beer 292 - Deuchars IPA (4.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed in Edinburgh by the Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh, Scotland.  Not sure if this was bought by Andy or Stephen, so thanks to them both for thinking of me.  We carried it back to Houston well protected in our suitcases and I drank it at home in Katy while reading the newspaper before dinner.

The brewery web site: http://www.caledonian-brewery.co.uk/home.php

The web site says: "For you, there's nothing more rewarding than finding the perfect beer. For us, there's nothing more rewarding than brewing the perfect beer.  Wonderful coincidence, isn't it?
Deuchars IPA (India Pale Ale) has proven to be instantly quaffable - quenching the thirsts of beer judges, beer fanatics and beer lovers all over Britain. 3.8% ABV"  the bottle says "brewed in our Victorian Brewhouse witha blend of finest Golden Promise and Optic malts, which deliver Caledonian's traditional soft, full bodied maltiness."

A very nice beer, excellent body and a great taste, just what I needed after a hectic day at the office.  Excellent drinkability, I drank it chilled, as suggested on the bottle, and enjoyed every sip and drink.

Beer 291 - Davenports Englands Glory (3 stars out of 5)

Brewed in the UK by Highgate Brewery, Walsall, England.  Bought at ASDA in Telford and drunk at home in Katy, TX after carrying the beer in our luggage from the UK.

The web site: http://davenportsbeer.co.uk/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=30

The web site is still running, but the brewery web site www.highgatebrewery.com is no longer acccessible.  It appears the brewery went into liquidation in June 2010.

The web site says " Davenports Englands Glory. It’s about as English as St George wearing a bowler hat eating a Sunday Roast whilst on the phone to the Queen in a red phone box under Big Ben listening to the Beatles waiting for Bobby Moore and his pet bulldog who are stuck in traffic at Spaghetti Junction in a Mini.

Englands Glory is a 4.3% copper ale, fit to bursting with malt and citrus notes, with rich fruit coming through on the palate."

I like the beer.  It was flavorfull and full bodied and drank well at room temperature - though this may have been a little warm for the beer.

Beer 290 - Great Divide Brewing Hercules Double IPA (2.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by The Great Divide Brewing Co, Denver, CO.  Bought at the brewery during a visit to Denver last month and drunk at home in Katy, TX while putting together all  the papers for Stephen and Austin's immigration visa's to be mailed to USCIS tomorrow.

The brewery web site: http://www.greatdivide.com/

The web site says: "Hercules double IPA is not for the faint of heart. It is, however, fit for the gods.  HERCULES delivers a huge amount of hops from start to finish. Its hefty backbone of nutty, malty sweetness balances its aggressive hop profile.  10% ABV"

Obviously I am faint of heart.  This beer tasted of raw hops.  It was a lot too "hoppy" for me and was probably too strong for a beer to be drunk while trying to do something useful.

Beer 289 - Strathaven Trumpeter (2.5 stars out of 5)

From the Strathaven Brewery, Strathaven, Scotland.  Bought by Andy and given to me when we were there two weeks ago.  Drunk at home in Katy, TX while preparing dinner for Patricia and I while she studied.

The brewery web site: http://www.strathavenales.co.uk/

The web site and bottle say "Trumpeter. A strong dark ale with a generous ration of Scottish oats and a mixture of roasted barley giving it a coffee flavour, smooth dark appearance and a satisfying hoppy taste. 

Its name derives from an unfortunate 14 year old trumpeter attached to Claverhouse's troops at the battle of Drumclog in 1679. During the battle Claverhouse lost his horse and commandeered the Trumpeters mount.  The unfortunate boy was caught and killed at Calderwell and his body thrown down a well, now known as trumpeter's well, which can be seen to this day at Caldermill on the A71 outside Strathaven, still haunted by the trumpeter's ghost."

I drank the beer at room temperature, when it probably should have been chilled a little.  The chocolate coffee flavor came through strongly, detracting a lot from the taste of the beer.

Beer 288 - Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout (2.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by the Left Hand Brewing Co, Longmont, CO.  Bought at HEB Cinco Ranch and drunk at home in Katy with Sunday lunch on the patio.

The brewery web site: http://www.lefthandbrewing.com/beers

The web site says: "Dark and delicious, America's great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be. Preconceived notions are the blinders on the road to enlightenment. Udderly delightful.   6% ABV. Try some of the following recipes with our beer to really bring out the best in what each beer has to offer. Chocolate Milk Stout Cake; Milk Stout Barbecue Sauce on Beef Short Ribs; Milk Stout Cupcakes"

The beer was really dark in the glass and poured with a nice head that quickly dissipated.  The taste was neither good nor bad, a little bit blah really. Slight bitterness in the background and hints of dark chocolate.

Beer 287 - Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted (3.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed in Scotland by The Harviestoun Brewery, Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, bought at ASDA in Telford when visiting Mum last week, then carefully carried in our suitcase back to Houston so I could drink the beer at home in. Katy, TX. The bottle recommends drinking the beer cold, so I did, while preparing dinner for Patricia and I. The afternoon was spent completing the shopping at Walmart and the TLE, this time in the Flying Carpet with the top down. Stopped to look at, and test drive, a Corvette convertible. I was going to buy the car until the price increased by $4000 and the trade in value of the Flying Carpet was miserable. Oh well.

The brewery web site: http://harviestoun.com/

The web site says: "A delightfully refreshing blonde beer with a finish that is like the twist of a lemon.  B&T has a very fresh hoppy profile from the judicious use of the aromatic Hersbrucker and the spicy Challenger.  The distinctive finish comes from late hopping with Sryrian Goldings making B&T very drinkable indeed. 
The beer was crisp and sharp. There was a lot of hop flavor, providing an interesting sharp taste to the first taste of the beer. Strong, full bodied with the sharp edges becoming less pronounced as the beer warmed up.

Beer 286 - Shiner Light Blonde (3 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by Shiner in Shiner, Texas. Dundi, at colleague and friend at ITW Global Brands gave me the beer. Ame, another colleague and friend at ITW GB provided the beer as a present from her boyfriend at the Shiner beer distributor, Houston Distributing. This beer is a new offering from Shiner

It is a lovely day today and I spent the latter part of the morning doing chores around town, including an oil change for the Saturn at Walmart TLE, shopping at Walmart, Lowes and Kroger before eating lunch with Patricia at home. Thus, it was a delight to drink a beer that was light, and easy to drink but still flavorful. The beer was a fine accompaniment to the steak and cheese melt pastry I had for lunch, helping to wash the toasted sandwich down.

The brewery web site: http://www.shiner.com/main.php

The web site says: "Here at the little brewery in Shiner, we're proud to introduce Shiner Light Blonde - a refreshing, 99-calorie addition to the Spoetzl family of beers. It's brewed with the same handcrafted, small-batch pride you expect from Shiner, delivering a smooth, easy-drinking brew. 4.2% ABV"

Beer 285 - Real Ale Phoenix ESB (3 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by the Real Ale Brewing Co, Texas, USA. Bought at HEB Cinco Ranch, TX and drunk at home in Katy, TX while preparing dinner for Sofia and Patricia before they go to the Alley Theater.

the web site: http://realalebrewing.com/home

the web site says: "Our winter seasonal is inspired by the great ales of the UK but brewed with a distinctively American attitude. English crystal malt gives Phoenixx its subtle toffee and caramel notes, but this ale is about hops. The blend of English hops, highlighted by its namesake, Phoenix, yields a complex hop character that dominates this special brew.

ABV: 7.2% IBU: 50.00 OG (plato): 14.00"

A pleasant enough drink, that had a little sharpness to the taste, in the initial taste and in the aftertaste

Beer 284 - Corona Familiar (2 stars out of 5)

Made in Mexico by Cerveceria Modelo, Mexico. Bought on a whim at Walmart in Katy while restocking the fridge after our trip and drunk at home in Katy, Texas with dinner.

The corona web site: http://corona.com/about/index.jsp says nothing about Corona Familiar
Nor is there anything on the Grupo Modelo web site: http://www.gmodelo.com.mx/

I had high hopes that this would be a new offering from Corona that would, perhaps, provide some taste that did not need to be supplemented by a slice of lime. Unfortunately I was wrong, this beer was as insipid and flavorless as the original Corona, and appears to have no noticeable flavor advantages over the original Corona Extra.

Beer 283 - Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout (3.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by Great Divide Brewing Co, Denver, CO.  Bought at the brewery in Denver and drunk at home in Katy, TX while putting all the electronics back in place after the furniture had been moved to allow the new floor to be installed.

web site: http://www.greatdivide.com/

the web site says: "Oak Aged Yeti is Yeti Imperial Stout’s sophisticated sibling. They may be from the same clan, but they have entirely different personalities. Oak aging gives a subtle vanilla character, rounding out Yeti’s intense roastiness and huge hoppy nature. Who says you can’t tame a Yeti?  9.5% ABV  Food pairings Grilled NY strip, fudge brownies, strong/salty blue cheese."

This beer was dark, almost black in the glass, with a strong chocolate taste, that wasn't overly intrusive.  This is best served as an after dinner beer with chocolate cake, fudge brownies or some nice aged cheese.

Beer 282 - Michelob Ultra (2 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by Anheuser Busch InBev presumably at their Houston brewery. Bought at HEB Cinco Ranch and drunk at home in Katy after arriving home after a 10 hour flight from London. The house was very dusty because the installers of our new wooden floors finished their task this afternoon and were sweeping up when we arrived. They were supposed to finish last Friday but did not complete the job correctly. Fortunately Rigo had sent us photographs of the new floor and we were able to get the contractors to correct their mistakes before we arrived home. But they left lots of dust behind and since Patricia is allergic to dust we spent the next three hours cleaning up and wiping down to get rid of the dust.

So Michelob Ultra got 2 stars for being able to help wash away the dust from my throat

Beer 281 - Shepherd Neame 1698 (2.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by Shepherd Neame, Faversham, Kent, England.  Bought at ASDA in telford, UK and drunk at Mum's while relaxing after lunch of fish, chips and mushy peas at Smithfields fish and chip shop, a new fish shop and restaurant that opened in what used to be the Smithfield pub in Wellington.  Good fish and chips and a comfortable place to eat them.

The brewery web site; http://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/

the web site says "Thrice-hopped and bottle conditioned, 1698 is the connoisseur's choice, a beer to be savoured.  Originally brewed to celebrate the tercentenary of Britain's oldest brewer, 1698 is a characteristically hoppy Kentish ale, and has Protected Geographical Indication, the same unique regional protection afforded to Champagne and Parma Ham.
The ale matures naturally in the bottle and can be enjoyed fresh or allowed to settle for a few months to mellow. The natural effervescence produced by bottle-conditioning – the interaction of yeast and brewing sugars – gives 1698 fine, champagne-like bubbles that further enhance the fragrance, flavour and overall drinking experience.
A silver medal winner in the Taste of Britain Awards, 1698 has been included in the International Beer Challenge's World's Top 50 Beers and has won a Gold Award from the British Bottlers' Institute.
Tasting Notes

First brewed in 1998 to celebrate Shepherd Neame's tercentenary, this copper-bronze, bottle conditioned beauty is an intense yet uniquely intricate offering thrice-hopped during the brewing process. This adds rich resinous notes and spikes of citrus to a moreish strong ale already rife with notes of liquorice, Masala wine, caramel and spicy orange. A frisson of dark fruit freshens the finish. Serve with smoked cheese.
Tasting notes by beer writer Ben McFarland.  ABV: 6.5"

I do not agree with the beer writer in that I found the beer to be slightly overhopped and therefore a little bitter both in the first taste and the aftertaste.

Beer 280 - Bateman's Victory Ale (4 stars out of 5)

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Brewed in Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, England.  Bought at ASDA supermarket in Telford and drunk at Mum's house in Wellington, U.K. with a late afternoon tea of ham and cheese sandwiches and crisps.

The brewery web site: http://www.bateman.co.uk/our+beers/bottle+beers

The web site says: "6.0% ABV.  A pale copper coloured, rewarding beer brewed with pale and crystal malts and hopped with English Goldings and American Liberty hops. The aroma booms with peppery hops and bitter oranges, balanced by fresh bread maltiness. Hops and fruit dominate the palate, while the finish has sappy malt, tart fruit and lingering hop bitterness."

I enjoyed this beer, the description from the copywriters is a bit flowery, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the brew, since the beer was nicely balanced and very drinkable.

Beer 279 - Rowton Bitter (3.5 stars out of 5)

Brewed and kegged in Telford, Shropshire, UK at a new brewery opened in 1998.  Bought and drunk at The Gate Inn in Bratton, near Admaston, Shropshire at lunch with Mum and Derek and Dawn and Patricia for Mothers day.

The brewery does not appear to have a web site.  The Inn web site is: http://www.thegateatbratton.co.uk/home.htm

The beer had a nice taste to start and went very well with the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding I had for a main course.  The body of the beer was a little lacking, perhaps because the beer was 3.9% ABV and the aftertaste did not linger.  This was a nice drinkable beer without anything to make it stand out as exceptional.

Beer 278 - Daleside Old Leg Over (4 stars out of 5)

Brewed in Harrogate, Yorkshire, bought by Pat and drunk at Pat and Colin's house when we arrived to pick up Mum on our way from Scotland to Wellington.  Pat and Colin's daughter Rachel and her husband David and their children Nathan and Cameron were at Pat's to say hello when we arrived. Lovely to see them after two years.  Last time I saw them was at Mum and Aunti Beat's 90th birthday party.

The brewery web site: http://www.dalesidebrewery.com/bottled_beers1.htm

The web site says: " Old Leg Over is a beer for drinking every day, through all the seasons, with food or merely for liquid refreshment.  A mid-strength beer with a medium-dark colour. A very balanced flavour that’s easy to drink. A nutty, fruity taste and aroma with a suggestion of herbs. A traditional Yorkshire beer brewed the traditional way. A wonderfully drinkable beer.
ABV 4.1%
Drinking Old Legover
Old Legover is a beer for drinking every day, through all the seasons, with food, in company or on your own – a traditional Yorkshire brew for those who love good beer.
Did You Know…?
Old Legover was originally called Daleside Country Style.

Old Legover is brewed using quality grain malts from a traditional Yorkshire maltster.

Old Legover takes its name from fell-runners who have to put one leg over thousands of stiles, stone walls and streams in pursuing their traditional sport in the Yorkshire Dales.

One old fell-runner won three races in one day in the 1920s: another won more than 100 races over thirty years."

A very nice bottle of beer, well balanced and pleasant to drink.