Our Tastings


Belhaven Fruit Beer

beerimg_fruit2Not just the domain of the Belgians,the Scots have combined another two things they think they are great at – beer and soft fruits. Not too sweet though, for its great fruity addition, it’s got just the right balance of fruit and bitterness. A perfect beer for summer days (raining or otherwise)

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (0 / 5)

Share this:
Share

West Berkshire Brewery – Mister Swift’s Pale Ale

Mr-SwiftsMr Swift’s Pale Ale is a light, fragrantly hoppy and extremely drinkable bitter.

The hops in this brew are a classic mix of Fuggles and Goldings over a pale malt based creating a uniquely refreshing session ale.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (3.5 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Andwell’s Ruddy Darter

untitled2The beer, the newest to the Andwell’s range, uses malted rye to create its characteristic ruby glow. The flavours and aromas derive from a combination of English hops.

A rich ruby ale with a fruity  aroma.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (4 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Wychwood Bottled Beer Collection

Wychwood collectionA range of bottle only beers from Wychwood.

Fire Catcher is a  blonde ale at 3.5% ABV.

Dr Thirsty’s no 4 is an unpasteurised blonde ale and comes in a bit stronger at 4.1%

Arrowaine is a dark chestnut ale with a flavour that lingers longer than you want it to 🙁 The Regulars had to have a quick Soundwave to take away the taste!

Goliath is a full-bodied and robust ruby ale. The most well known beer in the collection

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):

  • Fire Catcher           (3 / 5) 
  • Dr Thirsty’s no 4   (3.5 / 5) 
  • Arrowaine               (1 / 5)
  • Goliath                       (3.5 / 5)
  • Overall               (2.8 / 5)
Share this:
Share

Siren Craft Brew – Soundwave

siren-soundwave

A 5.6% west coast IPA: golden, immensely hoppy and alive with grapefruit, peach and mango flavours.

Soundwave carries her drinker to the west coast, to the golden shores of California where craft ale is nectar. She is the driest of Siren’s ales – full with flavour but subtle with bitterness.

Her resinous finish will pull you off balance.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (4.5 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Loddon Brewey Hullabaloo

HullaballooA copper coloured best bitter with a rich, nutty malt, balanced by the dry herb flavour of English Fuggle Hops.

Guaranteed to cause a stir!

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (2.5 / 5)

 

Share this:
Share

Wild Weather Ales Sunbathe in The Shade

sunbathe-in-the-shade

A pale ale where satsuma and lime sit above a rich peach base giving a strong hoppy start leading to a delicate fruit finish.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (4.5 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold

hobgoblin-gold-OPTThe latest beer from the Hobgoblin range.

A golden ale made from a combination of hops from England, New Zealand and the USA and a fusion of wheat and malted barley.

Expect a huge hop punch.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (4 / 5)

Share this:
Share

BrewDog 5AM Saint

14484507205AMSaint_5BrewDog’s Amber / Red Ale.

From their web-site..

<<Marketing bull-shit deleted>>

Ingredients: water, barley, hops, yeast.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (2 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Brakspear Oxford Gold

lg-oxford-bottle

Brakspear Oxford Gold is a remarkably zesty brew, with fresh, citrussy aromas and a firm, fruity flavour. Pale ale malts provide the beer with its gold-gilt shimmer, spruced by a hatful of crystal malts to give body, texture and a delicate honey’d wrap.

The blend of hops delivers a shamelessly fresh perfume and fermentation by the  Brakspear yeast gives Brakspear Oxford Gold a fabulous, fruity finish.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (4 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Theakston Best Bitter

bestbitter

Theakston Best Bitter is the leading session ale within the Theakston portfolio and  probably one of the longest established session ales in Yorkshire.

A full bodied, dry beer, made from five different hop varieties forming a complex but subtle taste profile. The combination of dryness as generated through the use of Target and Challenger hops, is balanced by sweetness created by the generous use of prime malting Barley providing the perfect accompaniment to a wide variety of food flavours.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (3 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Sharps Brewery – Doom Bar

Doom Bar is inspired by its namesake, the treacherous sandbank at the mouth of the Camel Estuary near Sharps’ home at Rock. Accomplished and precise, Doom Bar is the epitomy of consistency, balance and moreish appeal and is now the UK’s no.1 selling cask beer.

An enticing aroma of resinous hop, sweet malt and delicate roasted notes. The mouth feel is a balanced, complex blend of succulent dried fruit, lightly roasted malt and a subtle yet assertive bitterness. The finish is dry and refreshing.

Note that the bottled version is not actually brewed in Rock

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (4 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Carling

A masterful blend that balances depth of flavour with the thirst quenching refreshment of the UK’s no.1 lager.

Britain’s best selling lager for three decades.

As mass produced commercial lagers go, Carling is the Harper Arms benchmark.

Perfect on a hot summer’s day.

 Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (1 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

bostonlager2015btlpourlg--en--b852109a-cb8e-4bc3-ae90-7bbe22674a40
Samuel Adams Boston Lager helped lead the American beer revolution, reviving a passion for full-bodied brews that are robust and rich with character. Since 1984, Samuel Adams Boston Lager has used only the finest hand-selected ingredients to create this perfectly balanced, complex and full-bodied original brew.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (2 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Wild Weather Ales What A HORRIBLE NIGHT

Horrible_NightTrick Or Treat Treakle Stout – 4.9% ABV

A deliciously smooth stout with a thick and gooey black treacle base, starting with notes of chocolate and pepper, and growing into a bonfire toffee style finish. A must for deep contemplation in front of the fire.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (4 / 5)

Share this:
Share

West Berkshire Brewery – Good Old Boy

WBB-Good-Old-Boy-Pump-Clip-300x300
A classic bitter brewed with a blend of rich malted barley and fruity hops to produce an exceptionally well-balanced and full-flavoured beer.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (4 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Wychwood Hobgoblin

Hobgoblin-Standard-Clip-2013-2Traditionally craft brewed with Chocolate and Crystal malts and a blend of Styrian, Goldings & Fuggles hops to produce a full-bodied, Ruby beer that delivers a delicious chocolate toffee malt flavour, balanced with a rounded moderate bitterness and an overall fruity, mischievous character.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (3 / 5)

Share this:
Share

Dave’s Old English Ale

2016-01-09 14.15.12
One of The Regulars tried to brew their own – just how hard can it be?

A dark traditional bitter with a characteristic dry, hoppy finish and full bodied flavour with a hint of diesel.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (1 / 5)

 

Share this:
Share

St Austell Tribute Ale

 

Tribute-Group

Tribute is the benchmark for The Harper Arms regulars.

A  favourite choice throughout South West England as well as being one of the fastest growing premium cask ale brands in the rest of the UK.

Tribute as it’s light, hoppy, zesty, easy to drink and consistently delicious.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (5 / 5)

Share this:
Share

It's all about the beer!