And so it was another long overdue Bunker Summit took place, in the warming log-fire soothed vaults of Bunker Station No.1.
The format continued from previous soirees, with the three judges (myself, Ed and Summit regular Glenn) blind tasting 12 different ales, allotting scores which were then averaged in less than scientific manner, before the bottles were revealed. It's a bunch of fun this format, do try it yourself, each guest just brings 4 beers and keeps them concealed until after each has been rated.
So, cutting further ado on to the winners and losers of the night, replete with the patented* Bunker Gradings....
*not really
1. Organic Best Ale (Samuel Smiths) 5%
A very tidy start to proceedings. Lemony citrus on the nose with grass overtones. Length of it slightly grubby, but not uncomfortably so. We'd all have another. 6/10
2. Belgian Wheat Beer (Marks & Spencer) 4.5%
Brewed by Huyghe, this is a bright dazzler of a wheat beer, light, zingy and very fresh. Noted to be preferable with food, this is a Wheat Pride rainbow flag flying example of it's type, laced with coriander, herbs and spices. Rather not Glenn's cup of tea, which pulled the score down somewhat, but that's democracy. 6/10
3. Jail Ale (Dartmoor Ales) 4.8%
First salvo winner, a lovely malty easy drinker from Princetown with a lively pour but a bit of barging bitterness in the tail. Superior on draught but still proper tasty from the bottle. 7/10
4. Glaslyn Ale (Purple Moose) 4.2%
A Welsh micro-brewed ale and not really our cup of beer. After an initial apple scent the sup starts with a bit of a flavour crash as all the malt and hops collide in a big scrum, leaving an unsubtle gritty aftermath in the mouth. A little crude for us. 5/10
5. 80/- (Williams Bros) 4.2%
Wow. This beer, pronounced Eighty Shilling, is a marvel. Brown as an old tanned expat, this is proper rare Scottish heavy. It's all about the malt malt malt. If there are any hops in here we couldn't taste them, but wonderfully sweet and moreish with a rolling molasses length. A fruit cake in a glass, just delicious and the evening's Gold Medal winner. 8/10
6. Horseshoe Special Reserve (Lizard Ales) 6.2%
7. Barnsey (Bath Ales) 4.5%
Time for food!
8. Banana Bread Beer (Wells) 5.2%
Instantly recognised and identified. Without doubt the best widely available banana beer on the market, even if it's the only one. A proper example of how to introduce fruit into beer without making it awful. I fancy a banana now. 7/10 9. India Pale Ale Black (The Kernel) 6.8%
10. Quadrupel (Sharps) 10%
11. Double Dragon (Felinfoel) 4.2%
Back down to earth with a very disagreeable nasty Welsh bitter. The first taste is a sort of metallic laminate, which is swiftly bulldozered by a gritty foul aftertaste. If these tastes were guests you'd want none of them at your party. Not a good representation of the land of the dragon. 2/10
12. Black Cab Stout (Fullers) 4.5%
Form returns with this delicious textbook stout. Fruits, roast notes, some coffee, all the right black beer boxes are ticked heartily. This is nothing revolutionary, but it's an example of an old classic brewed with care and commitment. 7/10
13. Founder's Ale (Heinekin UK) 4.8%
A bit of an end of evening curve ball from the makers of 'Newkie Broon'. One note throughout, which is a bit metallic and somewhat bargain off-license, it neither inspires not disappoints too much. A little meh. 5/10 Silver Medal - India Pale Ale Black (The Kernel)
Bronze Medal - Barnsey (Bath Ales)
That'll be a trip to the recycler then.
- The Broadside
wonderful descriptions and despite not being a big beer fan I really fancy the fruit cake in a glass...and a banana for some reason! Nice words Beer Bunker.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon! I just had a banana smoothie too.
ReplyDeleteDamn, missed trying the Williams' 80/- when up in Scotland at the weekend, but will look out for it!
ReplyDeleteIt's a malty revelation Tania!
ReplyDelete