AleGuider - The Melthair Guide to Ale

Melthair's Best Ales

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 12:25:00 +0000

After careful deliberation, the Melthair reviewers have selected their finest ales from the 1000+ reviewed on this blog. It's a mixture of the wild and familiar. Click on the link below the photos to find the original review and then go out and try for yourself. The ales are in no particular order, but if you are wondering what is the best ale of all? Find out at the bottom!

Magic Rock - Human Cannonball

"An awesome mouth-feel. Dear god. This is so nice."

http://www.aleguider.com/2011/11/magic-rock-brewing-human-canonball-92.html

Dogfish Head - Palo Santo Marron

"Whoa Momma! A real treat!"

http://www.aleguider.com/2011/10/dogfish-head-palo-santo-marron-12.html

Durham Brewery - Bede's Chalice

"An American hopped Belgian style triple turns out to be a wonderful thing."

http://www.aleguider.com/2011/09/durham-brewery-bedes-chalice-belgian.html

Skinner's Brewery - Betty Stoggs (Draught only)

"A lovely warm hug from a friendly golden retriever!"

http://www.aleguider.com/2008/08/betty-stogs-skinners-cornish-ale-4.html

Hopback Brewery - Summer Lightning (draught is better)

"Would you buy 4? - I couldn't imagine a reality where I wouldn't."

http://www.aleguider.com/2011/04/hopback-summer-lightning-5.html

Gower Breweries -Gold

"This is a perfect beer garden ale... it's just really delicious."

http://www.aleguider.com/2012/08/gower-brewery-gower-gold-45.html

Kingstone Brewery - 1503 Tudor Ale

"An almighty taste - 4 of these would transport you back to 1503!"

http://www.aleguider.com/2011/08/kingstone-brewery-1503-tudor-ale-48.html

The Very Best?

It's hard to say, but at a push...

Wye Valley Brewery - Butty Bach

Draught only AND only from the Three Tuns in Hay on Wye

A disappointment in bottled form, and inconsistent on draught, how could this be the best of the 1000+ ales we have reviewed? The wizardry of ale is the answer!

If you manage to get a pint of Butty Bach in the Three Tuns at the precise moment when all the elements combine (weather, company, preceding events, snack choice and so on and so on) then you will get the closest thing we have ever tasted to 7 stars - a perfect ale. If one of those elements is out of place, then bad luck. But it's got be worth a try, right?

Uprising - Treason West Coast IPA 6%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 21:03:00 +0000

Taste: Another welcome gift. This is right up my alley. A powerfully hopped IPA. I could drink this exclusively. But it's a floozy at 6% so I won't. Lovely beer.

Appearance: Orange I think. But it's dark in here.

Would you buy 2? Yes

Would you buy 4? Yup!

Rating (out of 7): 6****** relentlessly good beers

Uprising Brewery - White Riot 5.3%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 19:55:00 +0000

Taste: It's a good reason to come out of retirement when this pops through your letterbox! A concerning list of qualities when written down, but this is a masterpiece! I'm no longer stressed about the use of orange zest. In fact I'm going to grate some into each of my future beers. Awesome, bold brewing!

Appearance: frosty yellow. Temporary bottle.

Would you buy 2? Yes.

Would you buy 4? Definitely!

Rating (out of 7): 6****** keep them coming!

Location:Southbourne

Uprising Brewery - Treason West Coast IPA 5.8%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 22:46:00 +0000

Taste: The first beer from Windsor's newest brewery. From the son of Windsor & Eton Brewery's, Paddy. This is a really strong first beer. A wildly hopped American styled IPA, really quaffable for 5.8% but best savoured. This is really great!

Appearance: A nice conker red.

Would you buy 2? Yes!

Would you buy 4? If I could get my hands on them.

Rating (out of 7): 6****** this is great stuff. Right up my beer street.

Location:Southbourne, Dorset

Melthair's Best Breweries in Britain

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 11:41:00 +0000

Having reviewed over 1000 ales the time has come to reveal who we think are the best breweries!

The breweries have been ranked according to the average score their ales have achieved (only breweries with 3 or more reviews have been entered).
The full table can be seen on the 'Top Brewers' page.
The curse is lifted.

Rank	Brewery
1	Camden
2	Mikkeller
3	Stone
4	Durham
5	Moor Beer Company
6	Thornbridge
7	Kernel
8	Windsor & Eton
9	Goose Island
10	Magic Rock
11	Vibrant Forest
12	Artisan
13	Gower
14	Maui
15	Ska
16	Bath Ales
17	Tiny Rebel
18	Bristol Beer Factory
19	Hopback
20	Palmers
21	Oakham Ales
22	Brewdog
23	Skinner's
24	Badger
25	Morland
26	Ringwood
27	Brodies
28	Harviestoun
29	Piddle
30	Beavertown
31	Brakspear
32	Redchurch
33	Sadlers
34	Storm
35	Goff's
36	Wooden Hand
37	Otley
38	Itchen Valley
39	Odell
40	Orkney
41	Sambrook's
42	Great Orme
43	Arbor
44	Castle Rock
45	Arundel
46	Tring
47	Lymestone
48	Staffordshire
49	Ascot
50	Hepworth & Co
51	Dorset Brewing
52	Titanic
53	St Austell
54	Hogs Back
55	Adnams
56	Wye Valley
57	Darkstar
58	Brains
59	Fuller's
60	Sharp's
61	Purbeck
62	Northumberland
63	Andwell
64	Roosters
65	Downton
66	Batemans
67	Twickenham
68	William Bros
69	Breconshire
70	Jennings
71	Greene King
72	Robinsons
73	Cottage
74	Brecon Brewing
75	Caledonian
76	Hook Norton
77	Kelham Island
78	Sailtaire
79	Wickwar
80	Wychwood
81	Conwy
82	St Peters
83	Elgoods
84	Youngs
85	Celt
86	Evan Evan's
87	Art Brew
88	Art Brew
89	Duchy Original
90	Williams
91	Pen-Lon Cottage
92	Untapped
93	Black Sheep
94	J. W. Lees
95	Theakston's
96	Tomos Watkin's
97	Joseph Holt
98	Phoenix
99	Thwaite's
100	Vale of Glamorgan
101	Arkells
102	Oxfordshire
103	Sheffield Brewing
104	Shepheard Neame
105	Marstons
106	Rhymney
107	Wells
108	Wadworth's
109	Fallen Angel

Itchen Valley - Wat Tyler 5%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 21:12:00 +0000

Taste: Wet, hoppy yet chewy. You could enjoy this in winter as well as in the comfort of a beer garden on a summer's eve. Caramel lip smacks.

Appearance: Wat looks a bit like Nicholas Cage on the bottle. Wat's lesson? Don't fight the poll tax lest you lose your head. Beer is dark brown.

Would you buy 2? Yes.

Would you buy 4? Okay.

Rating (out of 7): 5*****

Piddle Brewery - Premium Ale 4.1%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 19:48:00 +0000

Taste: That's nice. Even if it's a bit too lively. It's coppery and a little bit fruity. Ooh mamma.

Appearance: wee-joke bottle. Beer doesn't look like wee.

Would you buy 2? Yes.

Would you buy 4? It's possible.

Rating (out of 7): 4**** nice.

Vibrant Forest - Wheatwave 4.8%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 20:43:00 +0000

Taste: Not usually a fan of English wheat beers, but this is edging it's way towards Belgium in style. Kind of tastes like a tasty bottle of Le Chouffe. Very Tasty.

Appearance: orange to my eyes

Would you buy 2? I have

Would you buy 4? Yes!

Rating (out of 7): 5*****

Location:Belle Vue Road,Bournemouth,United Kingdom

Fuller's - Traitor's Gate 4.5%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Taste: Musty autumn ale. It slips down a treat. But it's not going to win any awards for innovation.

Appearance: a pleasing chestnut brown.

Would you buy 2? Not today.

Would you buy 4? For friends

Rating (out of 7): 4****

Art Brew - Baby Anarchist 3.2%

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 07:43:00 +0000

Taste: Watery, zesty and tree bark are the first 3 words used for this ale. A slight bit eggy, a definite horse tail in the mouth and a quick dab with a 9v battery on the tongue.

Appearance: Holds it's own in a darken room.

Would you buy 2? Mmmmm. Could do.

Would you buy 4? No thanks.

Rating (out of 7): 4 * * * *. Good for such a low alcohol ale but not an anarchistic as it would like to think it is.

Grey Trees - Caradog's Bitter 3.8%

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 07:38:00 +0000

Taste: File away into that large section of ales, known as 'Standard Good Ale'. You know the stuff, not mind blowing tastes, nothing weird or wonderful, but pleasant and drinkable and so far removed from Creamflow syndrome you can't accuse it of being bland.

Appearance: Solid tea brown

Would you buy 2? No rush

Would you buy 4? Even less of a rush.

Rating (out of 7): 4 * * * * You won't regret having a couple - but it won't stick it the mind.

Celt - Native Storm 4.4%

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Taste: I always get tempted by Celt - it must be the labels - and then the ale is, well, underwhelming. Same story here I'm afraid. Carbon hops and a gassy taste. A metallic flavour that dries out the mouth. It's fine, but that's it.

Appearance: Disco brown

Would you buy 2? Two would not be the end of the world.

Would you buy 4? No.

Rating (out of 7): 3 * * *. It's fine - but so many ales are.

Vibrant Forest Brewery - Metropolis 6%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 21:30:00 +0000

Taste: A taste almost on par with The Kernel Brewery's Imperial Brown Stout (take 6% abv). It's hoppy, a little smokey and dark.

Appearance: an all enveloping blackness.

Would you buy 2? I have

Would you buy 4? I would

Rating (out of 7): 6******

Vibrant Forest Brewery - Vibrant IPA 7.3%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 20:35:00 +0000

Taste: Interesting stuff. It tastes like a hedgerow. Mega hopped, again. It's fruity, I get a jammy blackcurrenty taste. But I did just eat a curry.

Appearance: brown cloud.

Would you buy 2? I did.

Would you buy 4? I could again.

Rating (out of 7): 5***** another great one from the forest.

Vibrant Forest Brewery - Vibrant Pale Ale Citra 5%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 19:44:00 +0000

Taste: Oh god. Let this be good... It smells delicious.... Yes!!! It's amazing! Powerfully hopped with Citra. It's so tropical. It's not afraid either, it tastes like you didn't dust your grapefruit half with sugar. Lovely stuff.

Appearance: New brewery from the new forest. It really tastes like they know there stuff and aren't afraid to keep it modern. Beer'a clean and amber in colour.

Would you buy 2? I did. I'm happy.

Would you buy 4? Yes, back for more, I'll be.

Rating (out of 7): 6****** a good start from vibrant forest.

Shipyard Brewing Co. - Double Thumper 5%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:36:00 +0000

Taste: Wow, it's like the autumnal beer from ringwood that I've always known but with a massive bunch of hops poked in there. It's great.

Appearance: Camphor Wood Chest. Two boars on the label.

Would you buy 2? I bought a polypin.

Would you buy 4? I kind of have. I would again.

Rating (out of 7): 5***** delicious

Little Valley - Python IPA 6%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 16:12:00 +0000

Taste: tastes dissapointing. Our time is running out. And we've got this. Not on.

Appearance: brown

Would you buy 2? Yes

Would you buy 4? No

Rating (out of 7): 2**

Location:Hanham Road,Wimborne Minster,United Kingdom

Dark Star - American Pale ale 4.7%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 15:52:00 +0000

Taste: USA hop mega blast. I love this. I think I've reviewed this before. It's great. Give it to me. Straw. Pulled up from the root.

Appearance: light. delicious.

Would you buy 2? We have.

Would you buy 4? Yes

Rating (out of 7): 6******

Black Paw - IPA 5%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 15:03:00 +0000

Taste: smells like a veggiemite horror. Tastes like a void. It's not a full void. But there IS some flavour there. Slate. mud. Oil. These are our masters now.

Appearance: chestnut

Would you buy 2? We did.

Would you buy 4? I can't see it today

Rating (out of 7): 4****

Location:Priors Walk,Wimborne Minster,United Kingdom

Milestone - Harry Porter 4.8%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 14:50:00 +0000

Taste: rich blackcurrenty. Porter taste. SMOOTH!

Appearance: solid

Would you buy 2? Yes

Would you buy 4? Not sure

Rating (out of 7): 4****

Location:Allen Court,Wimborne Minster,United Kingdom

Abbeydale - Brimstone 3.9%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 14:46:00 +0000

Taste: this is good. So good. But wet. I'm enjoying it. Tastes like the ale world has opened up the ale gates and let the flavours flow forth.

Appearance: dark ale.

Would you buy 2? Yes

Would you buy 4? Yes

Rating (out of 7): 5*****

Location:Hanham Road,Wimborne Minster,United Kingdom

South Hams - Devon Pride 3.8%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 14:19:00 +0000

Taste: it's good. It's fruity water. It has a tang. It puts a spring in my step and a wobble in my belly.

Appearance: whatever

Would you buy 2? Yes

Would you buy 4? It could happen

Rating (out of 7): 4****

Location:Allen Court,Wimborne Minster,United Kingdom

North Cotswolds - Shagweaver 4.5%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 14:05:00 +0000

Taste: it's bloke in the pub no one wants to talk to but you are obliged to. He's nice, but he's boring. He wants to talk about work.

Appearance: boring.

Would you buy 2? Yeah. Probably. That's the perversity of real ale.

Would you buy 4? Yeah, (uncomfortable noises)

Rating (out of 7): a solid 3 ***

Location:River Close,Wimborne Minster,United Kingdom

Bournemouth Brewing co. - Golden Grain 4.8%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Taste: I wouldn't say the hop flavour is 'merciless' as described. There's a hint of pity in there.... But it is tasty none the less. This secret bournemouth brewery are holding their own. Biscuits.

Appearance: beer.

Would you buy 2? We did.

Would you buy 4? Yes

Rating (out of 7): 4****

Location:River Close,Wimborne Minster,United Kingdom

Salopian - Oracle 4%

noreply@blogger.com (Darren) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 13:26:00 +0000

Taste: the surprise brewer of the festival. So nice. Hopped to the max. It's unadulterated hop pleasure. I'd happily die in this stuff.

Appearance: yellow.

Would you buy 2? We have.

Would you buy 4? We will.

Rating (out of 7): 6******

Location:Allen Court,Wimborne Minster,United Kingdom