India Pale Ale (Goose Island)

Pours a delicate golden colour. The aroma is like an explosion, sweet citrus followed by a very powerful dry hop smell.

The taste is sweet to start, like a lemon sorbet with very limited maltiness. The middle is rather thin, lacking either a yeasty taste or a biscuity crunch. What comes along for the finish is amazing, powerful dry raw hops, eclectic bittering and a lingering notes of citrus and spice, like a lemon ginger tea.

8/10 A fantastic US IPA, one to turn to at any time. The ultimate "go to" US IPA.

Hallowe'en Special II : Pumpkin Ale (Smuttynose)

I received this as a gift from a friend over from New York, and what better time to try it.

Pours with a floral, almost spicy smell, with obvious pumpkin and similar sweet potato leanings.

The opening taste has almost no sweetness, and almost no bitterness, like a first half 0-0 draw. What comes out for the 2nd half is a deep pumpkin flavour, like a roasted butternut squash soup, mixing savoury with sweetness. It finishes with a landslide of bitterness which lingers on leaving a dry peppery taste.

4/10 Its a speciality beer for sure, its well made, but too soupy and savoury for me.

Hallowe'en Special: Hobgoblin (Wychwood) - 5.2%abv

The Bunker launches itself into what is probably an opportunistic gimmick by saluting this spooky time of the year. I have to confess though I do love Hallowe'en, partly due to it's ancient roots, but mainly because they don't sell cards for it at Clintons (I think..)

Hobgoblin of course offers itself up as a prime ghoulish-monickered product to review. It's a drink that'll be familiar to many, not least of all Barack Obama, who was given some by David Cameron when he visited earlier this year. Whatever your politics, real ale gifts are a top diplomatic move in my book. If only he'd recieved a six pack of Dogfish Head in return, the special relationship might have been cemented for another 100 years.

Hobgoblin pours a deep oxblood ruby. The head brewer says if he'd added any more dark malt it would have looked like Guinness. It's head is undulating but thin and fairly brief. The nose is rather toffee and somewhat roasty, happy autumn smells. Malts are prevalent, and the whole effect appealing.

It's proper tasty as well, sturdy and balanced. There's a wash of tea in the taste, but its a delicate edge rather than overpowering. Bitter hops are fairly intense at the end, but fruit swirls about to lessen the sourness and nothing unpleasant is left in the mouth once it's gone.

It's a fine drink, and one of the easiest to drink 'complex' beers readily available in supermarkets. I think this is a great ale to stock up on for any occasion. Only the most closed-minded lager devotee or real ale novice will fail to find something delightful in it's bewitching flavours.

8/10 - This ale is becoming something of a diabolical national treasure.

- The Broadside

Manor Ale (Hobson's) - 4.2%abv

Bitter fans - this is one for you.

Of the ales I picked up at the Ludlow Festival, Hobson's has been the brewery that has impressed me most. We've had their drinks on both Bunker Summits so far, first the sweet class act that is Postman's Knock, then their strongest ale, Old Henry, a peach-edged but complex joy. In both cases the beer is well-thought out and sublimely balanced.

The label on this less alcoholic number talks of the Severn Valley railway and heart of England roots. Again, it's in their elegant mini-wine bottle and promises "bitter amber ale"

It does pour a lovely amber, with a high, sticky, sociable head. Zest, pine and hops are a major whiff in the nose and the whole effect comes across as quite delicious.

The mouthful is less carbonated than you might expect. A fleeting toffee dash is swiftly overtaken by citrus hops. They are prevalent and bitter, but again Hobson's have managed to brew beautiful dimensions into the length of it. Its properly bitter, so perhaps not for everyones taste, but I loved it.

The aftertaste is a tad dry, which stops a Bunker Grade 8 for me, but this is another top product from one of the most impressive breweries of my year.

7/10 - Fresh and for a sub-5% ale, a remarkably involving taste. Great stuff.

- The Broadside

Hardcore IPA (Brewdog)

Pours into the glass with all the colour of a port casked whiskey. The smell is like a nuclear detonation of hops. Pine resin, strong citrus, like a lime and rum cocktail.

Initial taste is warming malt sweetness, almost like liquor rather than beer. What follows nothing can prepare for, its like a kick in the balls with a jackboot of bittering hops. This is quickly once again engulfed with more warming malt and that potent ABV.

The dry hop finish hits the tongue like a fizzy cola bottle of hops, leaving an explosion of bittersweet flavours, hints of pineapple in the finish.

9/10 An awesome beer, this is 11 on Spinal Tap's amp. This beer is the Sex Pistols, but with a bit more balance and delicate class it could have been The Clash.

Thanks to Brewdog for providing, i suggest you read their blog

You might want to read our AB04 review

Oxford Gold (Brakspear) 4.6% abv

Pours a rather standard "gold" colour, biscuity notes hidden with the nose with the odd flash of zest and gentle fresh cut grass.

Initial taste is rather malty and dry, followed by light sweetness. A biscuity middle, like a digestive, leading to a rather nutty twang. The finish is mellow without and notable hopping or bitterness.

I remember buying this beer a few years ago when it was bottled conditioned, it was as crisp and fresh as a lawn mowed in summer time. Now sadly it tastes like a rather generic Marstons beer. A real shame, a fallen hero.

4/10 Nothing offensive in this beer, but sadly nothing of note.

Station Porter (Wickwar) - 6.1%abv

I've been looking forward to this one for a while. Station Porter is a highly commended beer, named CAMRA's Champion Winter Beer of Britain in their 2008 awards.

It's a typical porter in the pour, pitchy and deeply dark, with a slight ruby glint behind direct light. The head is a pale brown but lasts as long as a sneeze. The nose is mocha and chocolate with slightly burnt roast notes, although cosy and more alluring than I've made that sound.

First taste is thin, but very flavoursome. Sweet malts waltz with the porteresque chocolate, and it's a taste to endear the Broadside to this chilly October night. It's 6.1% but feels lighter, and the dryness associated with some porters isn't present here, it's quenching. Mid-taste is fruity, in a plum and sultana style rather than citrus, before the tail trails off with hints of blackberries.

Properly delicious, it's just a smidge too sweet for me to put it at parity with Fuller's London Porter, but this is still an accomplished and excellent example of this famous old ale type.

A very solid 8/10 - an excellent porter, and if seen to be popped in the basket for the approaching chill months.

- The Broadside

Bunker Summit no. 2

Bunker Summit Two was again a fine event. As well as myself and Ed, Glenn was on hand to voice his tasting judgements in a blind tasting session. We all bought four ales to try.

Home cooked food was once more provided by the master skills of Commandant Ed. This time a legendary Fuller's Porter steak and ale stew (Recipe here!) with garden vegetables provided the perfect interim energy boost.

The evening kicked off with an auspicious curtain raiser - a review session of Brewdog's AB:04, which isn't released until later this week, but was kindly sent to us for pre-launch review. You can read the full review on this site.

We then moved on to the main tasting event. The scores we gave were completely blind and are averaged below - we had no idea what the product was until the reveal.

Bright (Otter) 4.3%ABV - Summery blond with a tiny ping of spice, a bit uninteresting. (4)

Old Henry (Hobson's) 5.2% - Fireside amber, complex and peachy (7)

First Gold (Hopcloser) 4.6% - Ed's homebrew! (Full details of how that was made here) Rated very highly, sweet and tasty in the US style (7)

Banks's Bitter (Marstons) 3.8% - Short and malty, no finish, a bit budget (4)

Entire Stout (Hopback) 4.5% - Creamy but light stout. Refreshing for a black drink (6)

American IPA (Adnams) 6.8% - Very nice (Ed loves it) extremely citrussy, some tea and depth. Took the evening's Bronze Medal (8)

Organic Old Ruby Ale (Dutchy Originals) 5% - Inoffensive, probably nice with lamb (6)

Humpty's Fuddle (Kingstone) 5.8% - Floral and malty, not much hop for an IPA (7)

ESB (Fuller's) 5.9% - Delicious and the evening's Silver Medal Drink. Perfect balance (8)

Betty Stogs (Skinners) 4% - A bit unbalanced but some nice flavours (7)

Ipswich Pale Ale (St Judes) 4% - Bloody awful, "sewage in a bottle". We can only hope this one was off for the brewery's sake - our first (0)

London Porter (Fullers) 5.4% - Delicious and superbly balanced, a textbook fine porter. The evening's Gold Medal Drink (9)

Poacher's Choice (Badger) 5.7% - Loads of gamey flavours but polarised opinion, a marmite-reaction drink (4)

Vienna broadcast the goodnight national anthem very shortly after this one. Much fun.

Gold Medal - Fuller's Porter
Silver - Fuller's ESB
Bronze - Adnams American Style IPA

- The Broadside

AB04 (Brewdog)

As much a crime re-enactment as a tasting session. The combined Bunker hierarchy massed to delve into this Brewdog prototype.

Initial impressions - Pours as a galaxy-dark stout with a blood red edge ring, like the telling mark round the plughole when the detectives arrive. This is a Hallowe'en haemoglobin porter. The scent is red wine tannin, laced with dark chocolate and iron.

The powerful sweet opening is swiftly followed by a potent burnt liquorice taste. After that a cooking chocolate bitterness rises, not reminiscent of hops, more of a pouch of tobacco being rolled by the old sailor in the corner who won’t take his one eye off you. The alcohol is mighty and assertive, not many will come your way of an evening without requiring a transfusion.

The finish lingers, like a sociopath re-tracing the fact, a swathe of ripe blackberries drifting mashed into a burnt oven roasted chilli. Powerful fortified wine flavours linger in the memory, no heat as such but stiff persistent echoes of chilli.

8/10 It’s a fortified, complex beer and undoubtedly Brewdog. The frontier has been pushed again with this ale, and bravo for that.

Thanks to Brewdog for providing, i suggest you read their blog and await details of AB:04's release.

Thanks St. Peter's!

A big thanks to St Peter's of Bungay, Suffolk who sent through the above for review.

The Bunker has already had the pleasure of reviewing both their Ruby Red Ale and Organic Best, so will look forward to trying out these others.

Well known as artisan brewers of East Anglia, St Peter's brew consistently good quality beers, and present them in their trademark oval shaped bottle. They can be bought from their online shop, or at your local Waitrose, Tesco and ASDA.

London Porter (Fuller’s) 5.4% abv

A dark porter with glimpses of amber at the edges. Invigorating smells of dark chocolate and fresh espresso powder. Beautiful big bubbles sit in a creamy cappuccino foam.

Initial sweetness, hints of toffee is followed by a biscuity middle, that famous Fuller’s yeasty crunch is there. The finish is one of rich dark chocolate, like bitter cocoa, in turn followed by coffee notes, and some noticeable but gentle hop bittering.

9/10 The benchmark of porters, a superb example of full complex flavours in perfect balance.

A huge thanks to Fullers for sending this one through. The Fuller's online shop is now open, with full online beer sales coming soon. Until then check out your local Waitrose or Occado who stock the full range.

Thanks Fuller's!

Thanks to Fuller's for sending this through to review. I've never tried this before so can't wait to give it a go.

The extended Fuller's online shop is now open, with full online beer sales coming soon. Until then you can get Fuller's beers almost anywhere, or check out your local Waitrose or Occado who stock the full range.