The Kernel Brewery - India Pale Ale Summit 7.5%

Taste: A version of their IPA brewed using Summit hops. It tastes incredible. Right up my ale street... Bitter and piney but not overpowering. I'm enjoying it.

Appearance: Orange. Severe dehydration. Classic bottle.

Would you buy 2? Yes. Now, please.

Would you buy 4? I would stock four. To drink four in a row would be a biggy.

Rating (out of 7): 6****** Great stuff.

Flying Dog Brewery - Wilde Man Farmhouse IPA 7.5%

Taste: Tastes / Smells like grapefruit skins and orange pith. It's hoppy and I can feel the enjoyment rating going up as I drink due to the strength. A peanut M&M does little to lift the flavour. Perhaps a salty snack would do better. It's interesting, just tastes a little fruity for my taste.

Appearance: Cloudy orange lager. Nice artwork as always.

Would you buy 2? 2? Why not.

Would you buy 4? Doubtful.

Rating (out of 7): 5***** it's not a four.

Green Jack Brewery - Masheer IPA 5%

Taste: Heavy Hopped but still a bit creamy. It's fruity and has a slight tang of lemon washing up liquid... Did I clean my glass properly? Grassland aftertaste. Nice. I felt like a buffalo for a second there.

Appearance: Great fish on bottle. Beer looks nice and bright.

Would you buy 2? I could go for 2.

Would you buy 4? I'd be inclined to try something else I think. It has a bit of an 'edge'. I'm all about corner-less objects.

Rating (out of 7): 4**** A fair accompaniment to Rocky on blu ray for a wet Bank Holiday,

Sambrook's Brewery - Pale Ale 4.2%

Taste: That's nice. Along the lines of their 'Wandle' beer, but has a different hop flavour. Four different varieties apparently. Delicious! I appreciate your efforts. The citrus blast will accompany my bean chilli perfectly.


Appearance: Really transparent. It almost isn't there. Although, it is.

Would you buy 2? Yes. Keep them flowing.

Would you buy 4? Yes please! I can never seem to find this one in the pubs though. They are all like "no mate, we've only got Wandle or junction on." and i'm all, like "Wandle please."

Rating (out of 7): 5***** you'd not be unhappy if you tried this.

Nøgne Ø - Pale Ale 6%

Taste: Delicious Norway! It recommends salty snacks, but it really goes well with cherry pie and Ice cream. They missed that. Hoppy, brave and good looking.

Appearance: Welly sole rubber.

Would you buy 2? Yes.

Would you buy 4? I definitely would.

Rating (out of 7): 6****** lovely stuff.

Meantime - Chocolate Porter 6.5%

Taste: The moment you're pouring a chocolate beer is the very moment that you regret buying one.... But, alas, it's delicious! More Tiramisu than just plain choc; Biscuit. Booze. Coffee? And chocolate. Am I missing something?! Oh... Creme.... I forget my point.

Appearance: It looks suspiciously like an 'Old Peculiar' I had earlier... Nice bottle.

Would you buy 2? I think I'd go that far. Maybe further...

Would you buy 4? Too far...

Rating (out of 7): 5***** good effort. A worthwhile beer in this world of three star'ers.

Harvey's Brewery - Bill's Beer 4%

Taste: Cold eggs. Slightly eggy fizz ale. Refreshing. Very Pale. Brewed for this here restaurant. Not bad!

Appearance: orange.

Would you buy 2? I've had two. In ten minutes.

Would you buy 4? Ask me in ten more minutes.

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

Moor Beer Company - Revival 3.8% (Draft)

Taste:  I wanted a porter, but it was all gone. Oh well. This is sharp, a touch soapy and there's a sort of iron aftertaste. Tangy and hoppy. I want to say it's a little creamy too although it's easily drinkable. One for a hot day?

Appearance: Creamed amber

Would you buy 2? Yes, I guess I might.

Would you buy 4? At the moment I want something more.... 4 is a possibility.

Rating (out of 7): 5 * * * * *. 

Wye Valley Brewery - Greenman Growler 3.7%

Taste: There's a slight waxiness but also a lovely refreshing quality. Not too wild - just really pleasant. An excellent safety net ale for a festival.

Appearance: Corduroy sunshine

Would you buy 2? It has happened.

Would you buy 4? This is pretty likely

Rating (out of 7): 5 * * * * * Standard but a good standard.

Festival Brewery - Festival Gold 4.4%

Taste: Rusty 2p coins - a metallic taste. This can be a good thing but there's a bit of a lab chemical essence. Bit too watery for this occasion.

Appearance: Bronze coinage

Would you buy 2? Mmmmmm, not sure.

Would you buy 4? No. No I wouldn't

Rating (out of 7): 3 * * *.

Tudor Brewery - Blorenge 3.8%

Taste: It's soapy and a bit waxy. There's a taste of orange peel. It's a bit of a challenge, but a challenge is good. My accomplice sums this ale up thus: "Slightly harsh egg." Make of that what you will, but I may get another pint.

Appearance: Caramel fox

Would you buy 2? Yes, it's interesting.

Would you buy 4? Wait a minute, there's a whole ale bar here.

Rating (out of 7): 4 * * * *. Not an easy gulp, but interesting.

Hackney Brewery - Golden Ale 'Emperor Yes Ltd Edition' 4%

Taste: A nice special edition here to celebrate my best friend's band, Emperor Yes' single launch. It's nice stuff. A Heavily hopped golden ale which should be drunk long and deep to be best enjoyed. Home-brew yeastiness is lurking there in the background. But that's like getting a handshake from an old friend.

Appearance: Maui Sunset Orange.

Would you buy 2? Yes! You'd be a fool not to.

Would you buy 4? Over four is when you'd be getting the benefits. So yes.

Rating (out of 7): 5***** Mmmm Delicious!

Dark Star - Six Hop 6.5%

Taste: Yum! Sweet piney hops! It's not a bitter overload. It's massively tasty! Lemon zested pine needles.

Appearance: It's dark in here. But I'd say, honey.

Would you buy 2? Yes. And drink them both.

Would you buy 4? Yes. For multiple nights.

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

The Kernel Brewery - Export India Porter 6.1%

Taste: That's nice! Lighter than I expected. Lots of toasted flavours in there. Malty. It's paired my homemade chips and tamarind sauce nicely. My word, it's very easy drinking for it's strength!

Appearance: Mahogany. stained Oak. Classic bottle, now with not so good font.

Would you buy 2? Yes please.

Would you buy 4? Of course. I told you!!!

Rating (out of 7): 6****** lovely stuff!

Mikkeller - Green Gold 7%

Taste: Aggressive. With a buttery flank. It feels so thick going in. I like that. Beer flavoured Frijj milkshake. I think this has 3 type of hops. Hops are certainly the dominating force.

Appearance: Classic Mikkeller bottle with very little info. Ale's looking pretty good.

Would you buy 2? Certainly. It's lovely.

Would you buy 4? I'd buy four to drink on consecutive nights. Not all in one go.

Rating (out of 7): 6****** it's strength just made me delete 5 and put a six....

Moor Brewing Company - Nor'Hop 4.3%

Taste: Lucky me. Another one from Moor! Hops from Norway? (I assume) Sounds good. Mmm kind of sweet. Honey on toast. With a side of melon balls doused with Lemon juice. I think I should have started with this one. Isn't it a rule that you must NEVER drink a liquor lighter in colour than the preceding drink?!

Appearance: Giant bottle is once again, very welcome. Beer is pale in colour and slippery to the touch.

Would you buy 2? Yes. If I could afford it. Maybe it doesn't cost £6 in every shop?

Would you buy 4? It's a possibility.

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

Moor Beer Company - Revival 4%

Taste: This is totally lively. It just hucked up yeast ball on the counter. No worries. Hopes remain high for this. My oh my! This is the kind of easy drinking ale you could literally drink instead of water. Low on alcohol, but you're still hiking through big flavour country. It's mainly tangy with hops.

Appearance: Giant bottle is welcome. Even though it didn't fit in my secret ale cupboard, I welcome anyone smashing the conventions of the pint. Why not 660mls?!

Would you buy 2? Hmmm at £6+ a bottle, I might not be buying too many, although I'd like to. Very much.

Would you buy 4? See above.

Rating (out of 7): 6****** Very welcome. (As I'm missing out on the Bankes Arms Ale festival.)

Odell Brewing Co. - St. Lupulin Extra Pale Ale 6.5%

Taste: Oh.... It's not all I dreamed. Yeast-Crust top end. And nice alcoholic lows. The mids are hard to tune in. Dried yeast petals? Or pine cone sap. It's growing on me now that the alcohol has taken hold.

Appearance: Orange Autumn. Great hoppy legend on the bottle.

Would you buy 2? Yeah! Maybe.

Would you buy 4? I could. By mistake. Their labels are all quite similar.

Rating (out of 7): 5***** it's quite obviously delicious and interesting, I'm just spoilt.

Gower Brewery - Gower Gold 4.5%

Taste: This is good! Hoppy and summery. Hint of lemon zest and that pleasurable aftertaste that comes after chewing on a pencil. It tingles the tongue. This is a perfect beer garden ale -  there's nothing crazy going on, it's just really delicious.

Appearance:  A golden rust - similar to Xanthoria elegans.

Would you buy 2? I bought one from a gift shop in Laugharne. Now I wish I had bought two.

Would you buy 4? I would at the next possible opportunity.

Rating (out of 7): 6 * * * * * *    It's really lovely.

Brew Dog - Dead Pony Club 3.8%

Taste: Surprising! It's tasty. Delicious hops, loads of flavour. Perhaps a little over carbonated. Fizzy tongue. Great for a 3.8%er.

Appearance: Orange Organics. I was ready to hate this because of the Ridiculous marketing spiel on the bottle though.

Would you buy 2? I think so.

Would you buy 4? for a summer BBQ, maybe.

Rating (out of 7): 5***** Don't judge an ale before you've drunk it.

Farmers Arms Pub (Colson Moors Brewery??)- Farmers Arms Ale 3.6%

Taste: This is malty and reminds me of walnuts. It's refreshing yet escapes blandness... it fact it's full of taste. Definitely wet slate and bracken (in a good way). So easy to imbibe.

Appearance: Caramel dripping from the sun.

Would you buy 2? Easily!

Would you buy 4? That could happen. That will happen!

Rating (out of 7): 5. Perfect after a sunny walk along the coast of West Wales. So close to 6 stars....

Jennings - Westmorland Ale 4%

Taste: chewing on compost... You know, the good stuff you can buy. This isn't mind blowing. Or even very nice (as is often the case with supermarket branded brewery commissions).

Appearance: Disappointment.

Would you buy 2? No.

Would you buy 4? Never.

Rating (out of 7): 3*** average, but still disappointing.

Orkney Brewery - Northern Light Pale Ale 4%

Taste: Peppery lemon scent. Delicious taste! Very light though. It should go well with my pizza. Hoppy with citrus and dried fruit frenzy.

Appearance: Haytasia. Bottle has a lot of information.

Would you buy 2? I Think so!

Would you buy 4? Is there enough to hold my attention?

Rating (out of 7): 5***** much better than average. A delicious drop.

Freeminer - Jubilation 4%

Taste: Oh dear. Watery and a bit fetid. There's a poor homebrew vibe and ultimately it's bland not refreshing.  It has the punch of a soggy cardboard box. Then there's a carbon dioxide over-fizziness trying to compensate for it all. Sorry. This ale is a part of the Co-op range.

Appearance: Like liquid sun rays / golden urine.

Would you buy 2? It's cheap, but I would still avoid it.

Would you buy 4? Best to stay clear to be honest.

Rating (out of 7): * * 2. Avoids the one star because I will finish it, but I want no more.

Box Steam Brewery - Funnel Blower 4.5%

Taste: Nice! Creme Brulé! Now that's gone, and i'm left with the chalk rich hills of Wiltshire. This has a plump taste. Yes... Plump. Nice stuff.

Appearance: black. Summery looking label.

Would you buy 2? Defo!

Would you buy 4? it could be done.... Someone here smells like my old guitar teacher's house. I've gotta go...

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

Location:Bedfordbury,London,United Kingdom

Arbor Ales - Malagold 4.4%

Taste: Created by the barrel-wipe whilst the boss was on holiday. Naughty... He's done well. I can actually taste the river it's based on. Malty start to a blue green algae crescendo. It's pretty easy drinking, even though it has progressive tastes.

Appearance: Sunset strip.

Would you buy 2? It could be done.

Would you buy 4? I don't see why not?!

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