QUARTERLY REAL ALES Every quarter, we give pubs the choice of 50 or more beers to stock, as part of our ‘quarterly real ales’. A list of this quarter’s beers is below, for your reference. Overall, the pubs have access to over 220 beers every year.
Why not check them off, once you’ve tried them?
CALEDONIAN FIRST DAWN 3.7% ABV MARSTON’S SINGLE HOP RAKAU 4.0% ABV 01 Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh. Est. 1869 08 Marston’s Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1834
This pale golden beer has a spicy aroma, leading to This golden beer is the latest in this brewery’s popular generous citrus, tropical fruit and pine notes from the range of single-hop beers, this time profiling a New Zealand American hop varieties used, resulting in a lasting variety. Look out for abundant pine, peach and tropical fruit zesty finish. notes throughout the aroma and flavour. Hops: Chinook, Columbus, Summit Hops: Rakau
HOOK NORTON DRAYMANS DROP 3.7% ABV NELSON MIDSHIPMAN 4.0% ABV 02 Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1849 09 Nelson Brewery, Kent. Est. 1995
This auburn-coloured seasonal ale has a complex fruity This deep ruby-coloured beer is brewed in the style of a aroma, followed by a pleasing soft flavour and a fine, traditional English mild, with plenty of malt flavours, bittersweet balance, resulting in a long, fruity finish. a subtle bitterness from the Kentish hops and a roasted Hops: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings, Styrian aftertaste on the palate. Hops: Fuggles, Target
CALEDONIAN DEUCHARS IPA 3.8% ABV OTTER AMBER 4.0% ABV 03 Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh. Est. 1869 10 Otter Brewery, Devon. Est. 1990
This brilliant-gold beer has an aromatic, smooth body, This amber-coloured beer has notes of lemon and pineapple with hints of citrus, while a superb blend of malt and in the aroma, leading to a smooth (yet full-bodied) flavour, hop characters leads to a dry, delicate and refreshing hints of tropical fruit and a soft, hoppy aftertaste. hop flower finish. Hops: Aurora, Celeia, Pilgrim, Willamette Hops: Fuggles, Styrian, Super Styrian, Willamette
COACH HOUSE GUNPOWDER 3.8% ABV TITANIC LIFEBOAT 4.0% ABV 04 Coach House Brewery, Cheshire. Est. 1991 11 Titanic Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1985
This very dark beer, the winner of an impressive number This ruby-coloured bittersweet ale is brewed using the finest of awards, has a full, rich flavour, with plenty of dark malt Maris Otter pale, crystal and wheat malts combined, giving character and a pleasing, slightly bitter finish. a malty character, hints of caramel and a dry, fruity finish. Hops: Admiral Hops: Fuggles, Goldings, Pilgrim, Styrian Goldings, Yakima Galena
DARK STAR HOPHEAD 3.8% ABV CHARLES WELLS BOMBARDIER 4.1% ABV 05 Dark Star Brewery, West Sussex. Est. 1994 12 Charles Wells Brewery, Bedfordshire. Est. 1876
This pale golden ale has a strong floral aroma, with This distinctive, classic English bitter has a burnished copper elderflower notes from the Cascade hops, leading to a colour, with a tempting aroma of peppery hops and raisins clean-drinking and full-flavoured (yet extremely drinkable) leading to a palate dominated by dark fruit, juicy malt and character. tangy hops. Hops: Amarillo, Cascade Hops: Challenger, Goldings
JW LEES KALEIDOSCOPE 3.8% ABV DALESIDE OLD LEG OVER 4.1% ABV 06 JW Lees Brewery, Manchester. Est. 1828 13 Daleside Brewery, North Yorkshire. Est. 1992
This clean, sharp red ale takes its name from the This well-balanced mid brown ale has fruity and floral kaleidoscope of flavours from its hop varieties, aromas, leading to a nutty, predominantly malty flavour and delivering a full-bodied (yet easy-drinking and moreish) a lingering finish of hops and bitterness. taste experience. Hops: Bobek, Goldings, Northern Brewer Hops: Archer, Jester, Minstrel… and many other varieties
OAKHAM JHB 3.8% ABV BRAINS SA 4.2% ABV 07 Oakham Ales, Cambridgeshire. Est. 1993 14 Brains Brewery, Cardiff. Est. 1882
This golden-coloured beer is wonderfully complex and This classic copper-coloured beer has an inviting aroma, packed with flavour for its strength, with citrus notes, a with hints of spirit leading to a fine balance of nutty richness refreshing character and soft fruit flavours leading to a fine, from the malt and a satisfying dryness imparted by its hops. hoppy finish. Hops: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings Hops: Challenger, Mount Hood
QUARTERLY REAL ALES MOORHOUSE’S WHITE MIST 4.2% ABV YEOVIL LYNX WILDCAT 4.3% ABV 15 Moorhouse’s Brewery, Lancashire. Est. 1865 24 Yeovil Ales Brewery, Somerset. Est. 2006
This clear, golden-coloured wheat beer has a smooth creamy This is a bronze-coloured full-bodied bitter, with specialist head and hints of honey and citrus on the nose, leading to a malts providing a sweetness which is beautifully balanced full, generous mouthfeel and a refreshing, dry finish. by hints of grapefruit in the hoppy aroma and flavour. Hops: Willamette Hops: Centennial, Columbus, Crystal, Perle
SHARP’S ATLANTIC IPA 4.2% ABV CAIRNGORM BLACK GOLD 4.4% ABV 16 Sharp’s Brewery, Cornwall. Est. 1994 25 Cairngorm Brewery, Highlands. Est. 1997
This deep golden beer has a fresh and assertive character, This dark Scottish stout, winner of many awards, is CAMRA’s dominated by citrus flavours, with a fruity succulence and Champion Beer of Scotland for 2015/16. The traditional lingering hoppiness balanced by a delicate sweetness. smooth sweetness and underlying roasted barley hints are Hops: Aurora, Cascade, Citra, Simcoe balanced by a subtle bitterness from its hops. Hops: Challenger, Fuggles
SHEPHERD NEAME SPITFIRE 4.2% ABV LYMESTONE STONEFISH MILD 4.4% ABV 17 Shepherd Neame Brewery, Kent. Est. 1698 26 Lymestone Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 2008
This amber-coloured beer is brewed with the finest Kentish This copper-coloured mild ale has a sophisticated balance of hops, resulting in a solid hop aroma, leading to hints of flavours, with a pleasing sweetness from traditional malts marmalade, pepper and fruit, balanced by a mellow balanced by a gentle hoppiness throughout. malt character. Hops: Nugget, Pilot Hops: Admiral, Challenger, East Kent Goldings, First Gold
WHARFEBANK ADMIRAL ARMADA 4.2% ABV NAYLOR’S SPRING LOADED 4.4% ABV 18 WharfeBank Brewery, West Yorkshire. Est. 2010 27 Naylor’s Brewery, West Yorkshire. Est. 2005
This copper-coloured ale is brewed with three varieties of This light golden seasonal ale has a full hoppy aroma, English hops, resulting in an inviting hoppy aroma, citrus leading to a bold bitterness in the flavour and a refreshing, notes in the flavour and a balanced, easy-drinking character. mellow, citrus finish. Hops: Admiral, East Kent Goldings, First Gold Hops: Cascade, Chinook, Citra
WICKWAR FALLING STAR 4.2% ABV BRAINS THE REVEREND JAMES 4.5% ABV 19 Wickwar Brewery, Gloucestershire. Est. 1990 28 Brains Brewery, Cardiff. Est. 1882
This golden beer is brewed using locally grown barley and a This mid brown beer has a strong flavour of malt and fruit, careful blend of hops, delivering subtle aromas, distinctive balanced by a slight hop aroma from its blend of hops, smooth flavours and a balanced, refreshing finish. resulting in a rich and spicy palate and a deeply satisfying, Hops: Cascade, Mittlefrüh, Willamette malty finish. Hops: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings
WOODFORDE’S REEDLIGHTER 4.2% ABV BUTCOMBE SIMCOE 4.5% ABV 20 Woodforde’s Brewery, Norfolk. Est. 1980 29 Butcombe Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1978
This pale golden American pale ale-style beer is dry- This American pale ale-style beer is golden in colour, with hopped, resulting in bold hop characteristics in the aroma aromas of lemon and barley sugar leading to a bittersweet, and flavour, plus a refreshing, highly drinkable character. fruity flavour and an enticing, lingering citrus finish. Hops: Cascade, Challenger, Goldings, Nelson Sauvin Hops: Simcoe
WYCHWOOD HOBGOBLIN GOLD 4.2% ABV CAMERONS FRIDGE MAGNET PALE ALE 4.5% ABV 21 Marston’s Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1834 30 Camerons Brewery, County Durham. Est. 1865
This golden beer contains an impressive eight hop varieties This copper-coloured ale has a highly hopped and which, combined with the pale and wheat malts used, deliver delightfully complex character, with initial tangy fruit a well-balanced character and firm hop punch in the finish. flavours leading to a crisp hoppiness and a long Hops: Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Citra, Columbus, Nelson malty palate. Sauvin, Pilgrim, Summit Hops: Challenger
GREAT NEWSOME HOLDERNESS DARK 4.3% ABV EXMOOR GOLD 4.5% ABV 22 Great Newsome Brewery, East Yorkshire. Est. 2007 31 Exmoor Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1980
This dark mild ale has aromas of sweet toffee and grassy hop This classic golden ale has a soft malty nose and hints of notes, leading to a flavour dominated by a balance of citrus hops, while the subtle malt sweetness in its sweet chocolate malt and hazelnut, before the long, flavour leads to a refreshing, bittersweet finish of citrus, satisfying finish. toffee and vanilla. Hops: Northern Brewer, Pilgrim Hops: Celeia, Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings
MAULDONS CUCKOO 4.3% ABV MORLAND OLD SPECKLED HEN 4.5% ABV 23 Mauldons Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1982 32 Greene King Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1799
This traditional, deep amber-coloured beer is brewed with This copper-coloured beer has a superb fruity aroma, with its a fruity nose which develops into a soft, malty flavour, with malty, toffee and caramel character balanced by its estery balancing hop notes, before culminating in a distinctive, notes and fruity, refreshing flavour in the finish. late-hop finish. Hops: Challenger, First Gold, Goldings, Pilgrim Hops: Goldings, Sovereign
QUARTERLY REAL ALES NETHERGATE MARY’S RUBY MILD 4.5% ABV THE BEER STUDIO SHARP MOTUEKA 4.7% ABV 33 Nethergate Brewery, Essex. Est. 1986 42 Hydes Brewery, Manchester. Est. 1863
This traditional, ruby mild has an aroma full to the brim with This mid brown beer has delightful citrus and tropical fruit chocolate, smoky and malty notes which continue in the aromas and flavours, imparted by its New Zealand Motueka flavour, with just a hint of hops at the finish. hops, giving a full and refreshing character. Hops: Challenger, Fuggles Hops: Cascade, Citra, Motueka
WOOD’S SHROPSHIRE LAD 4.5% ABV DARTMOOR JAIL ALE 4.8% ABV 34 Wood Brewery, Shropshire. Est. 1980 43 Dartmoor Brewery, Devon. Est. 1994
This chestnut-coloured, well-rounded bitter has initial hints This deep amber-coloured beer delivers strong citrus and of wild berries and pear drops, leading to a well-rounded, orange aromas, leading to a smooth, well-rounded flavour, malty flavour, with a dash of toffee and a lasting with generous fruit notes and a sweet, moreish finish. bittersweet finish. Hops: Challenger, Goldings, Northdown, Northern Brewer Hops: Fuggles, Goldings
WYCHWOOD HOBGOBLIN 4.5% ABV EXMOOR XPA 4.8% ABV 35 Wychwood Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1983 44 Exmoor Ales, Somerset. Est. 1980
This full-bodied ruby-coloured beer delivers a delicious This refreshing beer is a burnished gold in colour, chocolate and toffee malt flavour, balanced by a moderate with hints of citrus and berries in the aroma, leading to an bitterness and an overall fruity, mischievous character. easy-drinking character, with citrus flavours and a pleasing Hops: Fuggles, Goldings, Styrian dry finish. Hops: Bobek, Cascade, Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings, Willamette
YOUNG’S SPECIAL 4.5% ABV VALE GRAVITAS 4.8% ABV 36 Charles Wells Brewery, Bedfordshire. Est. 1876 45 Vale Brewery, Buckinghamshire. Est. 1995
This full-flavoured amber-coloured beer has a fruity, This award-winning, strong pale ale is packed with hop and slightly estery nose, with plenty of hop aromas, followed by citrus flavours. Its pronounced hop aroma throughout is a full, rounded flavour which is a fine balance of malt and rounded off by a dry, malty, biscuit finish. hop notes. Hops: Cascade, Perle Hops: Fuggles, Goldings
GREEN JACK TRAWLERBOYS 4.6% ABV WOLD TOP WOLD GOLD 4.8% ABV 37 Green Jack Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 2003 46 Wold Top Brewery, East Yorkshire. Est. 2003
This award-winning beer is a traditional, copper-coloured best This blond, continental-style beer has a drinkable flavour bitter, with berry fruit and hop notes on the aroma, plus a rich, which belies its strength, with a good hop aroma and soft, malty flavour and a fruity finish. fruity character, plus emerging hints of spice. Hops: Bramling Cross, Challenger Hops: Goldings, Styrian Goldings
HOOK NORTON OLD HOOKY 4.6% ABV RINGWOOD FORTYNINER 4.9% ABV 38 Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1849 47 Ringwood Brewery, Hampshire. Est. 1978
This consistently popular tawny bitter has a strong fruity This consistently popular, golden-brown beer has a well- aroma and palate, with a balance of subtle hoppiness and balanced blend of malt and hops, leading to a refreshing hints of crystal malt creating a well-rounded, pleasing beer. and distinctively fruity aroma and finish. Hops: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings Hops: Admiral, Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings, Progress, Sovereign
OAKHAM BISHOPS FAREWELL 4.6% ABV ASCOT ANASTASIA’S EXILE STOUT 5.0% ABV 39 Oakham Brewery, Cambridgeshire. Est. 1993 48 Ascot Ales, Surrey. Est. 2007
This golden, award-winning beer is dominated by elaborate This award-winning black stout has a rich, roasted coffee fruity hop notes, complemented by a full-flavoured aroma which continues into the flavour and is joined background and a dry, refreshing finish. by bitter chocolate notes, resulting in a complex, Hops: Cascade, Challenger lasting character. Hops: Northern Brewer
EXE VALLEY DEVON GLORY 4.7% ABV BATH WILD HARE 5.0% ABV 40 Exe Valley Brewery, Devon. Est. 1984 49 Bath Ales, Somerset. Est. 1995
This amber-chestnut-coloured bitter is made from the This occasionally brewed golden ale has a fresh, citrus, finest Devon malt and English hops, resulting in a fruity hoppy aroma, with a crisp, full-flavoured taste leading to nose and smooth balance of malt and fruit flavours, with its moderately dry, bitter finish. an underlying bitterness and sweet finish. Hops: First Gold Hops: Challenger
MAXIM DOUBLE MAXIM 4.7% ABV GREENE KING ABBOT RESERVE 6.5% ABV 41 Maxim Brewery, County Durham. Est. 2007 50 Greene King Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1799
This beer was first brewed in 1901 and is the oldest- This occasionally brewed, rich, full-bodied beer is dark surviving example of a traditional northeastern brown ale. copper in colour, with its primarily sweet and malty The full aroma leads to a balance of ripe grain and spicy hops character balanced by bitterness and plenty of floral, fruity in the flavour, resulting in a long, bittersweet finish. notes and aromas. Hops: Goldings Hops: Challenger, First Gold, Fuggles
QUARTERLY REAL ALES HAMBLETON NIGHTMARE PORTER 5.0% ABV ELGOOD’S GREYHOUND 5.2% ABV 51 Hambleton Brewery, North Yorkshire. Est. 1991 60 Elgood’s Brewery, Cambridgeshire. Est. 1795 This award-winning dark mahogany porter has roasted This chestnut-coloured ale has malty and hoppy aromas, coffee in its aroma, leading to hints of chocolate and leading to a strong flavour, with a rich raisin character and a liquorice, a notable hop presence and a complex character. long, balanced finish of full malt and hop notes. Hops: Fuggles, Northdown Hops: Challenger, Fuggles
HANLONS STORMSTAY 5.0% ABV EVERARDS ORIGINAL 5.2% ABV 52 Hanlons Brewery, Devon. Est. 1996 61 Everards Brewery, Leicestershire. Est. 1849
This copper-coloured beer has an aroma of toffee and floral This amber-coloured beer has won many awards over the hops, with hints of tangerine, leading to a flavour which years, with its intense hoppy palate, balanced by a complex combines citrus, malt, toffee and biscuit, culminating in a malty and bittersweet flavour, leading to a satisfying finish. dry (yet mellow) finish. Hops: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings Hops: Bobek, Cascade, Phoenix, Styrian Goldings
MILESTONE LITTLE JOHN 5.0% ABV KELHAM ISLAND PALE RIDER 5.2% ABV 53 Milestone Brewery, Nottinghamshire. Est. 2005 62 Kelham Island Brewery, South Yorkshire. Est. 1990
This beautifully balanced premium ale is a deep ruby colour, This golden-coloured, award-winning beer is brewed using with a good fruity aroma and a complex blend of caramel, a blend of the finest malts and American hops, resulting in toffee and roasted malt leading to a subtle hoppiness in a fresh citrus nose, ample hints of fruit and a smooth, juicy the finish. malt character. Hops: Cascade, Chinook, Columbus, Liberty Hops: Cascade, Citra, Columbus, Willamette
RUDGATE VOLSUNG 5.0% ABV GRAINSTORE RUTLAND BEAST 5.3% ABV 54 Rudgate Brewery, North Yorkshire. Est. 1992 63 Grainstore Brewery, Rutland. Est. 1995
This golden ale has a pleasing citrus aroma, leading to a This deep-mahogany-coloured beer has a distinctive, strong full-bodied flavour with a balanced bitterness which ale aroma, with a good balance between hop bitterness and continues to the lasting finish. malty sweetness, leading to a robust, fruity finish. Hops: Bobek, Cascade, Challenger Hops: Bramling Cross, Challenger, Fuggles
SHEPHERD NEAME BISHOPS FINGER 5.0% ABV SPRINGHEAD ROARING MEG 5.5% ABV 55 Shepherd Neame Brewery, Kent. Est. 1698 64 Springhead Brewery, Nottinghamshire. Est. 1990
This rich, chestnut-brown-coloured ale has a complex, This smooth, golden beer has a citrus-honey aroma, fruity aroma, leading to a firm malt base in the flavour, a good malt and hop balance in the flavour and a refreshingly complemented by complex notes of dark fruit, pepper and dry finish, resulting in a beer which is dangerously drinkable cinnamon. for its strength. Hops: Admiral, Challenger, East Kent Goldings, First Gold Hops: Northdown
JENNINGS SNECK LIFTER 5.1% ABV CELT EXPERIENCE GALAXY EQUINOX 5.6% ABV 56 Jennings Brewery, Cumbria. Est. 1828 65 Celt Experience Brewery, Caerphilly. Est. 2007
This rich, dark and satisfying bitter contains generous This pale golden, full-bodied IPA showcases the Australian quantities of amber and chocolate malts, imparting a full hop variety Galaxy, with its fresh citrus and passion fruit malt flavour, balanced by a gentle hoppiness in the finish. aromas and a full, hoppy flavour throughout. Hops: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings Hops: Cascade, Galaxy, Saaz
RINGWOOD OLD THUMPER 5.1% ABV BRECON TARGET IPA 5.7% ABV 57 Ringwood Brewery, Hampshire. Est. 1978 66 Brecon Brewery, Powys. Est. 2011
This justifiably famous classic English ale is golden-brown This copper-coloured beer is a classic British single-hopped in colour, with a predominantly fruity flavour and slight IPA, with its spicy cedar aroma leading to a warming, sweetness, leading to a full flavour and a pleasing, dry finish. balanced malt and hop flavour, along with a lasting, Hops: Admiral, Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings, bitter finish. Progress, Sovereign Hops: Target
WILD WEATHER CHOPPY WATERS 5.1% ABV MARSTON’S OLD EMPIRE 5.7% ABV 58 Wild Weather Brewery, Hampshire. Est. 2013 67 Marston’s Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1834
This blond-coloured beer has been brewed in collaboration This golden-brown beer is brewed in the style of a traditional with staff from one of this brewery’s local Wetherspoon IPA, with plenty of hop aromas, a subtle malt character and pubs. Initial floral notes are followed by generous flavours of generous hop flavours emerging in the finish. lemon and grapefruit, leading to a subtle coconut finish. Hops: Cascade, Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings, Herkules, Hops: Cascade, Chinook, Citra, Sorachi Ace Progress, Sovereign
ARUNDEL WILD HEAVEN 5.2% ABV THORNBRIDGE JAIPUR INDIA PALE ALE 5.9% ABV 59 Arundel Brewery, West Sussex. Est. 1992 68 Thornbridge Brewery, Derbyshire. Est. 2005
This golden-coloured beer has a powerful, citrus fruit The initial impression of this award-winning ale is soft and aroma, leading to a flavour which is a stunning cocktail of smooth, yet this soon builds to a crescendo of massive grapefruit, orange and lime notes, resulting in a lingering, JAIPUR hoppiness, with hints of honey and a powerful, pleasing
dry, bitter finish. INDIA PALE ALE bitter finish. Hops: Nelson Sauvin, Sorachi Ace 5.9% ABV Hops: Ahtanum, Centennial, Chinook, Columbus, Simcoe
QUARTERLY REAL ALES