Our Tastings


Stone Brewing – Stone IPA

One of the most well-respected and best-selling IPAs in the America, this golden beauty explodes with tropical, citrusy, piney hop flavors and aromas, all perfectly balanced by a subtle malt character. This crisp, extra hoppy brew is hugely refreshing on a hot day, but will always deliver no matter when you choose to drink it.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (3.8 / 5)

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Theakston – Old Peculier

The Legend!

Old Peculier is a beautiful, yet very simple beer, brewed using a very generous blend of finest pale, crystal and roasted barley with two bitter hops combined with the majestic and noble ‘Fuggle’ hop to produce a beer of awesome full-bodied flavour with subtle cherry and rich fruit overtones.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (3.8 / 5)

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Oskar Blues – Dales Pale Ale


This voluminously Hopped Mtha delivers a hoppy nose and assertive-but-balanced flavors of pale malts and citrusy floral hops from start to finish.

Oskar Blues launched its canning ops in 2002, brewing and hand-canning Dale’s Pale Ale in the Lyons, Colorado, brewpub. America’s first-craft-canned mountain Pale is a hearty, critically acclaimed trailblazer that changed the way craft beer fiends perceive portable beer

American Strong Pale Ale 6.5%

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

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Rebellion – Red


A warming, Autumnal red ale, rich & malty, with a balancing bittersweet hop character.

10% Crystal malt blended with Maris Otter pale ale malt in the mash gives the beer its reddish hue. English First Gold & Goldings hops added at stages in the copper for flavour. Late addition Bramling Cross hops in the hop-back for a fruity aroma.

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

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Aldi Beer Selection

A selection of beers from Aldi under the Great British Brewing Company label.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): Not Rated

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Rebellion – Blonde


A light golden Summer beer, with a citrusy hop character. Serve it slightly cooler than usual for an ale, to enhance its refreshing quality.

A blend of Maris Otter pale & extra pale ale malt in the mash tun. First Gold hops in the copper, for that distinctive citrus hop bite!

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

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UPDATE: 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)

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Windsor & Eaton – Kohinoor

kohinoorBased on a classic IPA recipe which uses Imperial Malt along with Chinook, Simcoe and Pacific Jade hops. However the additional special ingredients of Jaggery (raw cane sugar from India bought from Southall market), Jasmine Petals, Cardamom and Coriander produce a distinctive twist to this “Indies Pale Ale”.

The resultant beer is a pale, smooth, full IPA with a distinct bitterness and with a hop aroma that is enhanced by a touch of the exotic!

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

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Sharps Brewery – Atlantic Pale Ale

Sharps AtlanticAtlantic is a deep golden colour. The aroma of Pale Ale is a blend of stunning citrus notes, juicy tropical fruits and fresh-picked hops with a touch of candy floss. The flavour has a delicate sweetness with fruity succulence and citrus spice to the fore. The finish is sweet at first becoming dry and lingering with hop zest.

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

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Badger Ales – Bottled Selection

badgerA collection of bottled beers from Badger.

Tangle Foot: This golden ale has hints of melon and pear that develop from fermentation. 5% ABV

Golden Champion: This pale-golden ale has subtle elderflower aromas that are crisp and fruity, and a subtle tangerine, and floral taste. 5% ABV

First Call: This malty, dark ale is distinctive with hints or orange and spice. 4% ABV

Firkin Fox: This auburn ale has a biscuity maltiness taste, with intense aromas of citrus on the nose.  4.6% ABV

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): Not Rated

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Renegade Brewery – Red Eye PA

Red-Eye-PA

A collaboration with Farmageddon Brewery in Northern Ireland, a fruity, hoppy, Red IPA with bags of flavour and a dry resinous finish.

Packed with Columbus, Galaxy and Centennial hops, this hoppy Red IPA begins with big aromas of burnt orange and passion fruit followed by sweet malt flavours and a dry resinous finish. Full-on with bags of flavour.

Specially sourced at Dave’s request following his sampling of Farmageddon – India Pale Ale

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

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Brew Dog – Dead Pony Club


PAYING HOP-FLECKED HOMAGE TO THE GLORY OF THE PACIFIC COAST, DEAD PONY CLUB HAS BEEN CRAFTED FROM AN INSANE AMOUNT OF US HOPS, DELIVERING MASSIVE CITRUS AROMAS OF LEMONGRASS AND LIME ZEST.

Dead Pony is the invigorating surf that pounds the iridescent shoreline yards from the salt-encrusted asphalt of Route 1. The hop-heavy west-coast wonderland awaits.

Dive in and the toasted malt base soon yields to a huge box-fresh hop hit, washing tropical fruit, floral garlands and spicy undertones all over your palate.

Inspired by US-Style pale ales, Dead Pony is a low amplitude, high voltage hop hit; California dreaming for the craft beer generation.

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

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Wild Weather Ales – Wild Boys

Wild-Boys-Keg
Collaboration with Yeastie Boys

Texas Brown Ale.

Drawing sweetness from a complex malt base but turning 360 with a vibrant mix of New Zealand & UK hops (with a handful of our favorite American hops in for good measure)

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

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Wild Weather Ales – Back to the Winchester

Appropriate name for the Reading vs. Fulham play-off match!

Red ale brewed with 100% Red X malt and dry hopped with Australian Galaxy.

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

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ON TOUR: Farmageddon – India Pale Ale

FaramageddonJust when he thought the only beer available in Northern Ireland was Guinness, Dave  came across this excellent locally brewed IPA.

A hoppy flavour with a stronger malt taste than your average IPA. Hopefully the LandL0rd can track some down for a proper Harper Arms tasting.

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Morland – Old Speckled Hen

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A high proportion of crystal malt in Old Speckled Hen provides the key toffee/caramel flavour. The yeast used to ferment the beer provides the other key character – estery or banana/pear drop. This estery note provides the fruity and refreshing balance. The hops used add a palate cleansing herbal note and very slight orange citrus. A very malty, full bodied and warming ale.

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

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Goose Island Beer Company – Goose IPA

GooseIslandIPApng
An India Pale Ale that recalls a time when ales shipped from England to India were highly hopped to preserve their distinct taste during the long journey. The result is a hop lover’s dream with a fruity aroma, set off by a dry malt middle, and long hop finish.

Hops: Cascade, Celeia, Centennial, Pilgrim, Styrian Golding

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (4.3 / 5)

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BrewDog – Hop Fiction

1488388763HopFiction_1.LEADAn American Pale Ale that bursts with tropical and citrus hoppy aromas.

Bright, fresh  character explodes from this seasonal brew.

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

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Harpers Brewing Company – Bottled Selection

Harpers Brewing CompanyA selection of beers from Aldi under the Harper’s Brewing Company brand.

Amber Stone is a traditional English bitter, Wild Billy’s IPA is an American IPA, Medusa is a ruby red ale and Golden Crown is a golden ale.

Brewed by Marston’s in the UK.

 

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

  • Golden Crown     (2.3 / 5)
  • Amber Stone        (2.3 / 5)
  • Wild Billy’s IPA   (2.5 / 5)
  • Medusa                 (2.8 / 5)
  • Overall               (2.5 / 5)

Note that The Regulars are currently in dispute with Aldi over the use of the Harper name. We want to  ensure that the general public do not confuse these beers with our very own Harper Arms Hoppy Punch.

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London Beer Factory – Paxton IPA

PPA2Paxton IPA is dry hopped with charismatic Australian hops known for their distinctive orange bouquet and wild herbal undertones. Full of flavour and attitude this beer does not apologise for what it is: a hard hitting, fully hopped IPA.

Featuring Vic Secret Hops – Check out the comments for the LandL0rd’s favourite Vic Secret pics.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (4.3 / 5)

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It's all about the beer!