jd wetherspoon guest beer list tasting notes january ... - Real Ale

J D WETHERSPOON GUEST BEER LIST
TASTING NOTES JANUARY - MARCH 2011
GREENE KING IPA 3.6% ABV
Greene King Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1799
This perfectly balanced, award-winning beer has a hoppy aroma and taste, followed by
a clean, bitter finish.
Hops used: Challenger, First Gold
BURTON BRIDGE GOLDEN DELICIOUS 3.8% ABV
Burton Bridge Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1982
This golden-coloured beer has a strong hop aroma and a dry, bitter finish. It’s a fullflavoured,
yet easy-drinking and moreish, session bitter.
Hops used: Challenger, Styrian
CALEDONIAN DEUCHARS IPA 3.8% ABV
Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh. Est. 1869
A distinctive golden beer, long on refreshment, this has a citric, zesty hop aroma and
crisp bitterness. It’s a winner of many awards, including CAMRA’s Champion Beer of
Britain, in 2002.
Hops used: Styrian Goldings
EVERARDS BEACON 3.8% ABV
Everards Brewery, Leicestershire. Est. 1849
This excellent session ale has won numerous awards over the years. It’s amber in
colour, with a hop aroma and dry finish, creating a distinctive, moreish character.
Hops used: Challenger, Goldings

ORKNEY RAVEN ALE 3.8% ABV
The Orkney Brewery, Orkney. Est. 1988
Voted CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Scotland, in 2009, this is light brown in colour, with a
spicy hop aroma and a biscuity malt character, balanced by a gentle hoppiness in the
finish.
Hops used: Fuggles, Goldings
COACH HOUSE FARRIERS BEST BITTER 3.9% ABV
Coach House Brewery, Cheshire. Est. 1991
This golden-amber beer has a smooth flavour which is initially slightly sweet, before the
rich hop flavours develop in the mouth, resulting in a pleasing, dry finish.
Hops used: Target
ROBINSONS HANNIBAL’S NECTAR 3.9% ABV
Robinsons Brewery, Cheshire. Est. 1838
This new ruby-red ale has a floral, spicy hop aroma and a strong hop palate, exhibiting
an interesting balance of biscuit, malt and burnt toffee flavours.
Hops used: Cascade, Target
BALCHDER CYMRU WELSH PRIDE 4.0% ABV
Bragdy Conwy Brewery, Conwy. Est. 2003
This copper-coloured bitter has a well-balanced blend of malt and hops, with an initially
rich, malty mouthfeel, rounded off by a touch of spice and zesty hop flavours.
Hops used: Challenger, Goldings
BOX STEAM CHUFFIN’ ALE 4.0% ABV
Box Steam Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 2004
This traditional best bitter is dark amber in colour, with a light, fragrant nose and
pleasing hop character, balanced by a superb, malty finish.
Hops used: Fuggles

WOOD’S PARISH BITTER 4.0% ABV
The Wood Brewery, Shropshire. Est. 1980
This honey-brown beer is a traditional, light bitter, with subtle hop aromas and a
balanced malt and hop flavour, leading to a crisp, moreish bitterness in the finish.
Hops used: Fuggles, Goldings
WYCHWOOD DIRTY TACKLE 4.0% ABV
Wychwood Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1983
This reddish-coloured beer has a balance of smooth malty sweetness and resinous hop
flavours, with an aroma of citrus and pine.
Hops used: Cascade, Goldings, Styrian Goldings
Available in February and March only.
CALEDONIAN 80/- 4.1% ABV
Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh. Est. 1869
This russet-brown-coloured beer has a malty and fruity aroma, smooth and creamy
character and a good balancing dryness, leading to a subtle, hoppy finish.
Hops used: Fuggles, Goldings, WGV
INVERALMOND OSSIAN 4.1% ABV
The Inveralmond Brewery, Perthshire. Est. 1997
This golden-coloured beer, winner of many awards, has a hoppy, zesty aroma and a fullbodied,
fruity flavour, with distinct nutty tones emerging towards the finish.
Hops used: Cascade, First Gold, Fuggles, Perle
RAMSBURY KENNET VALLEY 4.1% ABV
Ramsbury Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 2004
This light, hoppy bitter is brewed using a perfect balance of hops and malted barley,
resulting in a pleasing hop aroma and distinct, light, bitter flavour.
Hops used: Goldings, Styrian

WHITE HORSE VILLAGE IDIOT 4.1% ABV
White Horse Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 2004
This pale-golden-coloured beer is fresh and fruity in character, with an explosion of
hops, creating citrus flavours which lead to a pleasing, dry finish.
Hops used: Bramling Cross, Cascade
BRAINS SA 4.2% ABV
Brains Brewery, Cardiff. Est. 1882
A justifiably renowned full-bodied bitter, this has a good balance of malt and hops,
leading to a pleasing, moreish flavour and smooth, dry finish.
Hops used: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings
HEREFORD GAMEKEEPER’S BITTER 4.2% ABV
Hereford Brewery, Hereford. Est. 2000
This best bitter has an inviting tawny-red colour and a fruity, liquorice aroma, leading to
a complex flavour, with hints of coffee and a smooth hickory aftertaste.
Hops used: Bramling Cross
WOLD TOP FALLING STONE 4.2% ABV
Wold Top Brewery, East Yorkshire. Est. 2003
This chestnut-coloured bitter has a full-bodied, well-rounded flavour, with hints of
chocolate, from roasted malts, and a bittersweet balance, leading to a dry finish.
Hops used: Northdown, Progress
BREWSTER’S HOP A DOODLE DOO 4.3% ABV
Brewster’s Brewery, Lincolnshire. Est. 1998
This copper-coloured ale has a blend of rich malt and zesty hop notes in the aroma, plus
a smooth, full-bodied flavour which culminates in hints of wild berries in the finish.
Hops used: Cascade, Centennial, Fuggles

GRAINSTORE SILLY BILLY 4.3% ABV
The Grainstore Brewery, Rutland. Est. 1995
This light-amber beer is based around Goldings hops, giving a pronounced, floral aroma
and flavour, while a residual malt sweetness and lingering grapefruit note give a fine,
fresh finish.
Hops used: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings
HARVIESTOUN HAGGIS HUNTER 4.3% ABV
Harviestoun Brewery, Clackmannanshire. Est. 1985
This light-coloured ale has a spicy, floral hop aroma and a fruity, hoppy flavour,
complemented by a blend of pale and crystal malts, resulting in a beautifully balanced
character.
Hops used: East Kent Goldings, Fuggles, Styrian
Available in January only.
LEEDS NEW MOON 4.3% ABV
Leeds Brewery, West Yorkshire. Est. 2007
Despite its dark colour, this beer has a light, easy-drinking character, with the use of
citrus hops giving a clean and unusually refreshing finish.
Hops used: Chinook, Northdown, Northern Brewer
VALE BLACK BEAUTY PORTER 4.3% ABV
Vale Brewery, Buckinghamshire. Est. 1996
This award-winning, wholesome and full-bodied porter has an intense malt flavour which
gives way to a wonderful hop flavour and pleasant finish, with hints of caramel.
Hops used: Fuggles, Goldings
WELLS BOMBARDIER 4.3% ABV
Wells & Young’s Brewery, Bedfordshire. Est. 2006
This distinctive, classic English bitter has a rich copper colour and smooth, light, fruity
flavour, leading to a robust finish.
Hops used: Challenger, Goldings

WICKWAR RITE FLANKER 4.3% ABV
Wickwar Brewery, Gloucestershire. Est. 1990
This deep-chestnut-coloured ale has an aroma and initial taste of malt and fruit,
developing into a rich, full flavour which culminates in a distinctive, dry, hoppy finish.
Hops used: Celeia, Fuggles
WOLF COYOTE 4.3% ABV
Wolf Brewery, Norfolk. Est. 1996
This straw-coloured ale has a complex, yet well-balanced, mix of hops and malt,
creating a full flavour, before developing into a crisp, well-hopped finale.
Hops used: Cascade, Celeia, Goldings
SLATER’S PREMIUM 4.4% ABV
Eccleshall Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1995
This copper-coloured beer has a rich, fruity aroma and a smooth palate, with malt and
caramel flavours creating a robust, spicy and quaffable character.
Hops used: Challenger
WHARFEBANK CAMFELL FLAME 4.4% ABV
WharfeBank Brewery, West Yorkshire. Est. 2010
This chestnut-coloured ale is brewed with three varieties of hops, three varieties of malt,
torrefied wheat and (unusually) Demerara sugar, creating a beer bursting with flavour.
Hops used: Celeia, Challenger, Pilgrim
BATEMANS HOOKER 4.5% ABV
Batemans Brewery, Lincolnshire. Est. 1874
This robust and hoppy (rather than bitter) beer has plenty of fruity character and a
spicy, dry hop aroma, leading to a pleasing apple-like finish.
Hops used: Challenger, Goldings, Liberty
Available in February and March only.

EXMOOR GOLD 4.5% ABV
Exmoor Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1980
This classic ale has a predominant maltiness throughout, balanced by an underlying
hoppiness and sweet flavour, leading to a refreshing finish.
Hops used: Fuggles, Goldings
MORDUE WORKIE TICKET 4.5% ABV
Mordue Brewery, Tyne and Wear. Est. 1995
This award-winning beer is mid brown in colour and brewed with the choicest hops to
provide a hop aroma, complex palate and well-balanced finish.
Hops used: Challenger, East Kent Goldings, Fuggles
MORLAND OLD SPECKLED HEN 4.5% ABV
Greene King Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1799
This rich amber-coloured beer has a superb fruity aroma, complemented by a malty,
smooth flavour, leading to a balanced sweetness on the back of the tongue.
Hops used: Challenger, Goldings
SALOPIAN HOP TWISTER 4.5% ABV
Salopian Brewery, Shropshire. Est. 1995
This crisp, refreshing light bitter has pronounced citrus flavours and soft malt overtones,
leading to a focus of lemon and grapefruit in the finish, balanced by a dry bitterness.
Hops used: Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, Liberty, Simcoe
SPRINGHEAD MAID MARIAN BLONDE 4.5% ABV
Springhead Brewery, Nottinghamshire. Est. 1990
This pale-golden-coloured beer has a fruity orange aroma which leads you into a hoppy
flavour, with underlying malt traces, resulting in a notable, refreshing finish.
Hops used: Cluster

TITANIC STOUT 4.5% ABV
Titanic Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1985
This truly old-fashioned dark stout has a combination of roast and dark malts and hops,
giving an excellent, well-balanced, strong, full and rich flavour.
Hops used: Goldings, Northdown, Willamette
TRING LEGLESS LAL’S WINTER ALE 4.5% ABV
Tring Brewery, Hertfordshire. Est. 1992
This ruby-red bitter is brewed with generous amounts of chocolate and crystal malts,
while rolled oats provide a smooth finish beneath traditional English hop aromas.
Hops used: East Kent Goldings
WOODFORDE’S NELSON’S REVENGE 4.5% ABV
Woodforde’s Brewery, Norfolk. Est. 1980
This truly sumptuous beer has rich and floral aromas. Its burst of flavours leads to a
biscuity, malt sweetness on the palate and a long, induced hoppiness in the finish.
Hops used: Goldings, Styrian
WYCHWOOD HOBGOBLIN 4.5% ABV
Wychwood Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1983
With its chocolate-toffee malt flavour, moderate bitterness and distinctly fruity character,
this is a ruby-red-glowing, full-bodied and well-balanced ale.
Hops used: Fuggles, Styrian Goldings
YEOVIL RUBY 4.5% ABV
Yeovil Ales Brewery, Somerset. Est. 2006
This beer has an inviting red colour, pronounced hop aroma and a smooth palate,
superbly balanced by a rich malt depth which continues through to the finish.
Hops used: First Gold, Progress

HOOK NORTON OLD HOOKY 4.6% ABV
Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1850
This consistently popular tawny bitter has a strong fruity aroma and palate, balanced by
a subtle hoppiness, creating a well-rounded and pleasing beer.
Hops used: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings
SUMMERSKILLS BLONDIE 4.6% ABV
Summerskills Brewery, Devon. Est. 1983
This new, pale golden beer has a light, fruity aroma, well-balanced flavour and hoppy
aftertaste. Funds raised from this beer’s sales will be donated to the Hasler Company,
Royal Marines, based in Plymouth – dedicated to rehabilitating those injured in combat
or suffering from long-term illness.
Hops used: First Gold, Phoenix, Pilot
ADNAMS BROADSIDE 4.7% ABV
Adnams Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1872
This classic beer is dark ruby-red in colour, rich in fruitcake aromas, with hints of
almond and fruit in the smooth flavour, leading to a pleasing, dry, bitter finish.
Hops used: First Gold
BLINDMANS SIBERIA 4.7% ABV
Blindmans Brewery, Somerset. Est. 2002
This mid brown ale is very smooth in flavour, with a light, hoppy taste throughout,
culminating in a clean, malty finish, with a slight hint of caramel.
Hops used: Challenger, Styrian Goldings
BUTCOMBE OLD VIC BRISTOL PORTER 4.7% ABV
Butcombe Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1978
This dark porter has a fruity aroma and a smooth, rich and distinctive flavour
(bittersweet, with hints of chocolate and toffee), leading to a powerful and satisfying
finish.
Hops used: Fuggles, Goldings

NEWMANS RED CASTLE CREAM 4.7% ABV
Celt Experience Brewery, Caerphilly. Est. 2003
This beer is mid brown in colour, with a reddish tinge. It has a full malt character,
delivering a full flavour and a delightfully velvety texture.
Hops used: Pacific Gem, Progress, Willamette
OXFORDSHIRE MARSHMELLOW 4.7% ABV
Oxfordshire Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 2005
This deep-amber-coloured beer is deliciously fruity and malty in character, imparting an
easy-drinking and warming flavour, along with a lingering, bitter finish.
Hops used: East Kent Goldings, Mount Hood
HOOK NORTON DOUBLE STOUT 4.8% ABV
Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1850
This impressive, smooth and full-bodied beer, with a refreshing, hoppy aftertaste and its
blend of dark malts, has a complex character all of its own.
Hops used: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings
O’HANLON’S PORT STOUT 4.8% ABV
O’Hanlon’s Brewery, Devon. Est. 1996
This complex, ruby-black beer has a biscuit & roasted barley nose, followed by a
pleasing, bitter flavour, with hints of wine-like fruit, leading to a dry, roasted finish.
Hops used: Phoenix, Styrian Goldings
COTLEIGH LONG-EARED OWL 4.9% ABV
Cotleigh Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1979
This beer was first brewed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Hawk and Owl Trust
and is dark copper in colour, with a rich floral aroma, smooth palate and long-lasting,
sweet, biscuit finish.
Hops used: First Gold, Fuggles, Goldings, Northdown

RINGWOOD FORTYNINER 4.9% ABV
Ringwood Brewery, Hampshire. Est. 1978
This superb, consistently popular, moreish beer, golden-brown in colour, has a wellbalanced
blend of malt and hops, leading to a refreshing and distinctively fruity aroma
and finish.
Hops used: Challenger, Fuggles, Goldings, Progress
ACORN CHALLENGER IPA 5.0% ABV
Acorn Brewery, South Yorkshire. Est. 2003
This rich golden, well-bittered India pale ale has a fruity, straw-like aroma, with caramel
and biscuit malt flavours, plus a lasting, crisp, dry finish.
Hops used: Challenger
ARKELL’S KINGSDOWN 5.0% ABV
Arkell’s Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 1843
This splendid, rich-coloured, strong beer has a distinct malt and hop flavour, balanced
by an underlying fruitiness and a long, dry finish.
Hops used: Fuggles, Goldings
ARUNDEL TRIDENT 5.0% ABV
Arundel Brewery, Arundel, West Sussex. Est.1992
This amber-coloured beer has a fruity, citrus aroma and a hoppy, fruity flavour, resulting
in a clean and refreshing character and a pleasing, dry, bitter finish.
Hops used: Aurora
BANKS & TAYLOR SOS 5.0% ABV
B & T Brewery, Bedfordshire. Est. 1981
This bronze-coloured bitter has a well-balanced hop aroma and a rich mixture of fruit,
hops and malt in the full flavour, leading to a pleasing slight bitterness in the finish.
Hops used: Cascade, Challenger

CAINS FA 5.0% ABV
Cains Brewery, Liverpool. Est. 1990
This impressive golden ale has fresh hop aromas and a beautiful, smooth mouthfeel,
developing into a citrus character and a full, lasting flavour.
Hops used: Styrian Goldings
SHEPHERD NEAME BISHOPS FINGER 5.0% ABV
Shepherd Neame Brewery, Kent. Est. 1698
This strong, ruby-red-coloured ale is brewed to a traditional Kentish recipe, using local
hops to create a fruity palate and impressive bitter flavour.
Hops used: First Gold, Target
TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH ALES LOMOND GOLD 5.0% ABV
Traditional Scottish Ales, Stirlingshire. Est. 2005
A clean, sharp and fresh-flavoured blond beer, with hints of citrus on the palate and a
very satisfying aftertaste, this was awarded a gold medal in the SIBA Scotland awards,
in 2001.
Hops used: First Gold, Hallertau
TRIPLE FFF COMFORTABLY NUMB 5.0% ABV
Triple FFF Brewery, Hampshire. Est. 1997
This deep-amber-coloured ale contains a secret blend of malt and hops which gives a
mouth-watering hop aroma, smooth and warming malt flavours and a deep, spicy hop
finish.
Hops used: Celeia, Northdown
CAIRNGORM WILDCAT 5.1% ABV
Cairngorm Brewery, Highlands. Est. 1997
This is a smooth, deep-amber-coloured ale with a complex malt, fruit and hop flavour. It
is strong and distinctive, like the powerful, sleek Scottish wildcat, after which it is
named.
Hops used: Challenger, Fuggles

BRENTWOOD JOLLY DECENT WALLOP 5.2% ABV
Brentwood Brewery, Essex. Est. 2006
This beer was initially brewed exclusively for those Wetherspoon pubs local to the
brewery and now makes its national début. It is deep brown in colour, with lots of malt
character and a slightly sweet finish, finely balanced by English hop flavours.
Hops used: East Kent Goldings, Fuggles, Northdown
THREE B’s SHUTTLE ALE 5.2% ABV
Three B’s Brewery, Lancashire. Est. 1999
This ruby-coloured strong ale has a superb English hop aroma and balanced malt and
hop flavour, resulting in a long, dry finish, with delicate fruit notes.
Hops used: Brewers Gold, Fuggles, Northdown
MARSTON’S OLD EMPIRE 5.7% ABV
Marston’s Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1834
In this impressive re-creation of a traditional IPA, pale in colour, the light, spicy aroma
leads to a juicy malt palate, balanced by its refreshing bitterness.
Hops used: Cascade, Fuggles, Goldings
THORNBRIDGE JAIPUR INDIA PALE ALE 5.9% ABV
Thornbridge Brewery, Derbyshire. Est. 2005
The initial impression of this award-winning ale is soft and smooth, but this soon builds
to a crescendo of massive hoppiness, with hints of honey, then finishes in a powerful,
yet pleasant, enduring bitter finish.
Hops used: Ahtanum, Centennial, Chinook
EXMOOR BEAST 6.6% ABV
Exmoor Brewery, Somerset. Est. 1980 This dark, porter-style beer has an aroma in
which espresso, currants, cocoa and rum can be detected, while the complex flavour has
hints of fruit cake and chocolate, before a spicy hoppiness develops in the long
aftertaste. Hops used: Brewers Gold, Challenger, Goldings