Hare Beers

 

Had two beers named after Hares today.Wild Hare from Bath Ales I really want to like but do struggle with it. I don't really like diacetyl but this seems to be a charataristic of Bath Ales beers. It's much worse in their flagship beer, Gem, but Wild Hare sadly also has it. I do like their branding though, very distinctive.

 

Hopping Hare from the Badger Brewery is a very nice beer. Well hopped this beer is crisp with a good level of bitterness and a fine citrus palate. I'd recommend this beer, Badger are an established regional brewer of some standing and their beers are normally reliable.



Old Speckled Hen

I note with interest a quote from the Greene King Marketing Director re the origins of the Old Speckled Hen in a recent article in the Morning Advertiser. Named after an old factory run-around Abingdon MG Motor Car is certainly true, but it was definitely not parked next to the old paint shop which attributed to the flecked colours of the paint work.

The Owd Speckled Un, or Old Speckled Hen arose as the designers in the early MG Car works developed new paint schemes for cars. The Old Speckled Hen was a black car sprayed with flecks of gold paint.

Being part of he Morland marketing team that launched the brand on draught in the late 1980's I'm well qualified to know the history of the origins of the name.

Having criticised GK on one hand, I have to say they have done a great job in marketing and growing the brand since it's Morland days. Good luck to them and OSH, still a great beer!

Biere de Bretagne

Found some great beers in the north tip of France. Really noticed from previous visits there are more beers to choose from. You can still find the usual lagers like Pelforth which is quite refreshing, but there are some tasty delights to discover tucked away in 330ml bottles in local shops and bars.

My favourite was a beer called Cervoise Launcelot. I don't read French but discovered it is flavoured from 5 plant extracts, but I don't know which. The beer is full, malty with a hint of chocolate and best of all like a lot of the beers from this region it is unfiltered.

Another great beer was Duchess Anne Triple, again from the Launcelot brewery. Belgium style, sweet and sour, very distinctive.

The Coreff Brewery seem to have lots of nice beers and the Ambre is well worth seeking out. It appears in Adrian Tierney Jones 1001 Beers to try before you die and I certainly agree with him, its well worth trying, toffee, malt, liquorish but well balanced with some hop.

Rosko is the main brewery in Roscoff and you can find lots of their beers. The Blone is very satisfying, citrus, banana and hint of cloves on the nose.

If you go to this region of France, do look further than the draught lager or bottles of Kronenbourg, there are some good quality and tasty beers to discover.