Jimbo's Beerblog

Imperial Red Ale that has barley wine character. Plummy, hoppy bitter, full of aromas. For very slow enjoyment. Increased appetite. True winter warmer. Here’s a boring video of first encounter. Beer got better and better (after the video reviewing) and after the bottle the final judgement is that I choose this to be the one Yule beer to rule them all :) **** Great

The most anticipated beer of the year 2013. Only one bottle down and first encounters recorded in video. Part 1 Part 2 And after a week or so the rest of the bottles in second tasting. So, what was it like? One of the best beers of 2013! **** Great

I feel I’ve deserved this: A late night IPA after a long and frustrating day. Nothing special happened, but everyone, me and the kids, were so edgy, that when I was putting my kids to bed, one of them, a 7-year old boy of mine, said: “This was a BAD day…” I rest my case. And drink some hopefully wonderful beer. This double IPA from Kansas City pours amberishly brown with huge head, that stays long. Very bitter and hoppy taste in that eatable head, btw :) Citrus and grapefruit = hops dominate. Taste is quite gentle, still, but aftertaste very dry and hoppy. There seems to be quite a lot of carbon-dioxide. Head stays and stays…bottle tells me this is 5 months old. Still good, but could have been better fresh. Finally, did I like this? American IPA, quite nice and good and hoppy but not a masterpiece, even in its own category. Still a fine brew. *** OK

Black nectar from Norway. 16% alc vol, 100EBU. Scent is sweet and a bit sharp, maybe also plumlike. Taste is FULL, as you might expect. It gives different sensations in mouth. First sweet and a bit portwinelike, also some alcohol, but not too disturbingly. Chocolate and coffee too, but definitely not that burned as in their imperial stout. This is a much more enjoyable for me. Aftertaste is very warming and pleasant as the tastes keep tingling in mouth and throat. This is definitely for slow enjoyment and this could be perfect with some nice food too, but is a very nice night cap too. I liked Red Horizon 2. edition better, but this is still very good imperial stout or strong porter, very nice indeed. Still, couldn’t probably drink another in a row, because this is so sweet :) For slow enjoying and even less than 250ml would be enough of this black sweet stuff. **** Great for slow enjoyment *** OK for drinkability

Dark copper brown outlook, nice. Scent is a bit barleywine like, sweet portwine and such. Sweetness and strength. Taste is sweet, aftertaste nice and bitter. Not so utterly toffee and over the top sweet as last year’s VA2012, that was a disappointment after splendid VA2011. Can’t compere these though, it’s been a year since VA2012 and two from VA2011. This is a nice brew from Fuller’s, they made it good this year. English strong Ale with a tradition. Nice. **** Great

Another from the earlier English surprise brewery. This is Pale Ale, and with a certain first word: Pumphouse -   a house where pumps (e.g. to irrigate) are installed and operated. Even lighter beer (from outside look) than earlier Wandle. Head is good, as in it’s big bro (?). A bit foggy outlook still, not too filtered, that’s good. Taste is odd. Metallic. Bitter. I’m sad to say, but there is a night/day situation here with these two beers from this brewery. Wandle was great, this is not. There is something very disturbing in this. Just sharp bitterness, not any pale ale freshness here. A disappointment. I’m happy to have tasted their Wandle first so that I won´t say they are a shit brewery. ** Drinkable