Pale Ale 4.2% ABV
Malt: Maris Otter Pale Ale, T50 Crystal
Hops: Citra and Cascade

A straw coloured pale ale with a bright citrusy hop aroma.

For every pint sold, Rebellion are donating 10p to the Disasters & Emergency Committee’s Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal, so this is a great opportunity for the Harper Arms members to use their skills for the benefit of others.

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

Brewmeister Snake Venom is currently recognised as the strongest beer in the World. It is brewed in Moray from smoked, peated malt using two varieties of yeast, one beer and one Champagne. Like other ultra high strength beers it is frozen several times after the fermentation process, and the ice crystals removed. This concentrates the alcohol, flavour, and body of the beer as water is removed each time. The beer is then fortified with alcohol to increase the strength further.

The result is a powerful, viscous, intensely flavoured beer that should be treated more like a spirit with regards to its consumption. There is no carbonation as the liquid is too thick to hold carbon dioxide bubbles.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (0.3 / 5)

Now on its 25th edition, 2021 is a landmark year for Vintage Ale. At its heart, Pale Ale and Caragold malts combine with DRC®(Double Roasted Crystal), to deliver a toffee and raisin sweetness. Turning to hops, we’re showcasing younger UK varieties for their luscious fruitiness. Endeavour brings plummy tones, while Olicana® and the yet unnamed experimental hop CF182 add tropical and orange notes. All complemented, as ever, by the zesty marmalade character of our famous Fuller’s yeast.

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

A collaboration between Scotland’s BrewDog and London’s Cloudwater breweries! This New England IPA is a juicy, hoppy brew, showcasing US hops alongside wheat and oats. If tropical fruit and bitter hops are your kind of thing, this certainly will be too!

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

One of our diligent members found a young garage-based local brewery in Thatcham. He got a little over-excited and ordered the regulars 2.5 Litres of both beers they currently produce (8-9 pints total). At an emergency committee meeting, it was determined that 9 pints on a week night was probably not a smart decision and so a vote was taken, ballots were correctly counted the first time, a result was declared, no legal battle ensued and the first piece of Harper Arms homework was thus set – to taste the weaker of the two ahead of Wednesday’s formal tasting session.

A traditional English Best Bitter with fruity, grassy and blackcurrant notes from UK grown Cascade hops. With a full-bodied malty backbone. Made from all English ingredients!

We’re not expecting the regulars to complain about being set homework with this delightful tipple, which currently has an average score on Untappd of 3.90.

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

Currently with an average score on Untappd of a very respectable 3.86 but with only 14 check-ins, World’s End is a Pale Ale brewed using a variety of different hops. UK grown Chinook teams up with US grown Amarillo and Citra for a cocktail of citrus fruit and resinous pine flavours. This mid-strength beer has a moderate bitterness and a soft orange hue from a little bit of Vienna malt in the mash.

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

Since the regulars made it known they were tasting Delphic, there has been a lot of local interest in the brewery, with them selling out of both beers last week! Have the Harper Arms regulars uncovered a new local gem of a brewery? Check the scores to find out!

India Pale Ale 5.1% ABV

This is WBB’s full-bodied New World hopped jaw-dropper of an IPA with full on tropical fruit flavours, mouth-watering bitterness and a rich, earthy finish. Apparently it pairs well with sweet potato & cauliflower massaman curry – the regulars have usually eaten by tasting time, so we’ll have to leave that for another occasion. Maharaja’s last official outing at The Harper Arms was back in March 2018, since then the branding has been revised a couple of times and the recipe has been refined. Will the regulars mark it higher than its current 3.8/5 rating?

This should be a lovely warming pint to enjoy on an autumnal evening.

BREWERS NOTES

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

Cold-steeped Porter: 5% ABV.

A slight detour from the norm being the darkest beer yet to grace the Landl0rd’s key keg taps at The Harper Arms, Coldblooded is cold steeped overnight before the brew day, which gives a gorgeous chocolatey base. From there expect roasty notes layered amongst subtle smoke, coffee and dark chocolate. Coldblooded pours silky smooth and drinks with a satisfying richness. Un-chilled this is apparently perfect on a stormy night, so if it goes down well with the regulars, we may see it reappear when the weather changes.

Brewer’s ingredients
Untappd ratings

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

Undercurrent is part pale, part oats and part caramel barley. Her swirls of bold, bready and nutty malt whirl into a concoction of spicy, citrus, floral hops. Mystery lurks in those cascade and palisade hops.

Her silky, creamy body will pull you under.

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