Category Archives: 3.0 to 3.4

West Berkshire Brewery – Detour Pale Ale

Pale Ale 4.5%

Take a detour with this super easy drinking pale. Crammed full of tropical fruit and citrus flavours with a crisp, balanced bitterness.

The Regulars had the opportunity to sample this n bottles and cans. On balance, the bottled version was marginally preferred as it seemed to hold the head longer. Further scientific analysis is required to determine whether this was related to temperature effects.

Can:  Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (3.3 / 5)

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

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Watneys – Party Seven

The Party Seven was famous the world over and was at the heart of millions of parties in the ’60s and ’70s. Originally the Party Four, Watneys added the Party Seven to the range and started a revolution of party drinking and drinking at home.

Now it’s back – with a burst of tangerine and orange blossom in the aroma. This is repeated in the flavour with orange, grapefruit, and pine overlaying a base of malt biscuits. Smooth on the palate, the beer has a firm bitterness upfront which lingers on the finish.

… and no hammer and nails required.

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

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Rebellion – Beer X


Beer X is a trial brew of a medium strength golden beer. It is an easy-drinking, well balanced pale ale with a pleasing hoppy aroma.

Brewed with exclusively 100% Marris Otter pale ale malt which gives a clean and crisp base. British hops, First Gold, and Goldings add citrus and floral notes. American Citra hops added to the hopback add a distinct aroma of grapefruit and tropical fruit.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (3.4 / 5)

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Hyde & Wilde – American Style IPA

Hyde and Wilde is “Sainsbury’s own craft brewery” but its actually brewed by Marston’s exclusively for Sainsbury’s.

This one is the American Style IPA with a blend of barley and wheat, as well as Citra and Summit hops. According to Sainsburys …

Yee-Haw! Let’s thank the Yanks for their bold, citrusy hops! With a blast of grapefruit and a hit of gooseberry, this beer rocks! 

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (3.3 / 5)

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Rebellion – Near Miss

A pale ale with a hoppy finish. 100% pale ale malt for a golden colour and light biscuit flavour. Motueka and Simcoe hops add a citrus fruit character.

Malt: Maris Otter Pale Ale
Hops: Motueka, Simcoe
Strength: 4.2%

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (3.3 / 5)

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Andwell’s Resolute

Taking its name from a town within the high Arctic, despite its cool name this is the sort of bitter that you’ll easily warm to.

Andwell’s Best Bitter combines the finest malt and hops to produce a well balanced malty and hoppy flavour with a light amber colour.

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

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UPDATE: Morland – Old Speckled Hen


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)

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Devil’s Backbone America IPA by Marstons

American IPA is the first Devil’s Backbone beer to be sold outside of the United States. The beer is an original Devil’s Backbone recipe showcasing American hops and brewed especially for the English palate. It’s a mix of English (East Kent Goldings and Admiral) and American hops added late in the process with a single-infusion mash of Pale Ale malt.

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

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Rebellion – Legend

Legend is an oatmeal pale ale. The addition of oats adds subtle nuttiness, extra body and a silky smooth finish. Ernest is a rediscovered British hop that was originally disregarded due to its ‘new world’ characteristics. It produces complex fruity notes of apricot, citrus and spice.

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling):  (3 / 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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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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Marstons Old Empire IPA

Old Empire IPACrafted 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)

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Hop Art – Golden IPA

Golden-IPA-v2-label-square-400
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)

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Robinsons Brewery – Trooper

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)

 

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Morland – Old Golden Hen

Old Golden Hen

Morland’s Greene King’s “Old Golden Hen” captures a celestial ray of sunshine in the form of a rare and very special Tasmanian hop called Galaxy

A light gold hoppy bitter with loads of peach and grapefruit on the nose, and a broad, fruity taste, finished off with gentle bitterness..

Harper Arms Rating (5=Tribute, 1=Carling): (3.3 / 5)

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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)

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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)

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