(3.8 / 5)
ON TOUR: Anvil Ale – Pale Ale
After a week in South Africa where the only beer available was lager, Dave was forced to drink Gin & Tonic and Red Wine until he came across this locally brewed Pale Ale.
A copper-to-red coloured English ale. The late addition of imported Goldings hops gives this ale an aromatic floral hop character that is combined with mild fruitiness. This premium ale has a lingering spicy hop character on the back of the tongue, balanced by the malty fullness on the front of the palate.
Marstons Old Empire IPA
Crafted to produce an authentic re-creation of an IPA. With its pale appearance, strong hoppy taste and higher alcoholic strength it comprises all the genuine characteristics of a true India Pale Ale, which were necessary to survive the three month long journey from Burton to Bombay – 5.7% abv.
Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): 
(3 / 5)
Serendipity is an explosively fruity American Pale Ale. Big American hops deliver a huge nose over a subtle malt bill.
(4 / 5)
Simcoe Hopped
(4.3 / 5)BrewDog – Punk IPA
Our scene-stealing flagship is an India Pale Ale that has become a byword for craft beer rebellion; synonymous with the insurgency against mass-produced, lowest common denominator beer. Punk IPA charges the barricades to fly its colours from the ramparts – full-on, full-flavour; at full-throttle.
Layered with new world hops to create an explosion of tropical fruit and an all-out riot of grapefruit, pineapple and lychee before a spiky bitter finish, this is transatlantic fusion running at the fences of lost empires.
Nothing will ever be the same again.
Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): 
(4.8 / 5)
Hop Art – Golden IPA
This is a traditional English style of strong, powerfully hopped ale.
Hop Art has taken inspiration from the American craft beer approach of massive hop aroma but with a unique balance to create a contemporary India Pale Ale.
Pale and Crystal malts provide a golden biscuity canvas for the hops. Simcoe, Ahtanum, Admiral and Cascade combine here with late dry-hopping to deliver a hedonistic, hoppy hit.
Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (3 / 5)
Adnams Ghost Ship
At 4.5% abv, this Pale Ale has a good assertive pithy bitterness and a malty backbone. It is brewed with a selection of malts – Pale Ale, Rye and Cara – plus Citra, and a blend of other American hop varieties to create some great citrus flavours.
Ghost Ship was adapted from a recipe for Deathly Pale Ale which was withdrawn from sales because the skull and cross-bones lablel was too similar to the poison symbol.
Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):
(3.5 / 5)
Robinsons Brewery – Trooper
TROOPER is a Premium British Beer inspired by Iron Maiden and handcrafted at Robinsons Brewery.
Malt flavours and citric notes for a unique blend of Bobek, Goldings and Cascade hops give this deep golden ale a subtle hint of lemon. TROOPER takes its name from the Iron Maiden song which itself was inspired by the famous Charge of the Light Brigade.
A real ale enthusiast, band vocalist Bruce Dickinson has helped develop a beer with a true depth of character.
Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (3 / 5)
Greene King IPA
Greene King IPA is an easy drinking, session ale with a hoppy taste and aroma making it clean, crisp and moreish.
Carefully selected pale, crystal and black malts join with Pilgrim, Challenger and First Gold Hops to make a complex, refreshing ale.
What’s more it is brewed next door to Dave’s old primary school!
Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): 
(2.5 / 5)
The first beer to brewed by The Harper Arms. Hoppy Punch is an authentic IPA brewed with Thames Valley water and a single malt made from British grown Maris Otter Pale barley.
(6 / 5)
Wild Weather Ales – Storm in a Teacup
After trying this in the can we had to get a couple of growlers for a proper tasting.
Earl Grey IPA.
This is a beer with a worldwide love affair blending US and NZ hops with an Australian dry hop and Chinese inspired tea finishing with an English malt back bone.
Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): 
(5 / 5)
Meantime Brewery – London Pale Ale
One hundred and fifty years ago the new bitter beer style, Pale Ale, was so popular that brewers had to import Californian hops to meet demand. Meantime London Pale Ale continues that tradition by combining lots of American Cascade and Centennial hops to give it a complex citrus aroma and buckets full of local Kentish Goldings to provide the bitterness that makes the style so refreshing. Together they conspire to assail the nose with a complex, heady mix of spearmint, grass and ‘hop sack’ aromas, fruity citrus flavours and a bitter finish that makes pale ale drinking a truly rewarding experience
Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (3.5 / 5)
(4.5 / 5)Honorary Mention: Wild Weather Ales – Storm in a Teacup
Our friends at Wild Weather Ales have finally got their canning operation up and running with excellent results. The cans are all works of art in themselves, and they have even improved some of their most popular beers in preparation for the canning run.
One new one that they brought to my attention was this cracker of a beer, Storm In A Teacup, an Earl Grey IPA. At 6% avb the trendy craft beer sized can still packs a punch.
The whole brew went into the cans but hopefully we will get a draft sample to try so that we can rate it 🙂
