Brains Prince's Ale 1981

This is pleasantly malty with smooth toffee notes and a delicious soft sweetness. Mouthfeel is a little dry and watery - the malt holds there in the mouth feeling smooth and malty delicious, then it pops like a watery bubble. If the body were a little firmer, this would be a killer beer; even so, as it stands, it's very enjoyable. Finish is very dry and inclined to be somewhat tannic. Some people like that. Nice port and red wine wine notes deep in the malt.

The more I drink this the more I like it. Brewed in 1981 for Charles and Diana's wedding. There were a whole bunch of bottled beers brewed for the wedding. Some people like to collect the bottles. I like to drink the contents!

Anchor Smooth (2002)

Standard pale lager - 4.5%.  Brewed in Singapore. Not terribly old, but over ten years. Good fruit aroma and soft, pleasant carbonation. Easy drinking. Slightly dry, with some tea notes creeping in, but mostly fruit like, and very refreshing. OK.

Marston's Pridewood Bitter (1997)

A limited edition 1997 bottle conditioned bitter from Marston's. This has developed very nicely. Smooth and soft with no off flavours. Delicate and juicy with hints of pineapple, melon, vanilla, marzipan and jasmine tea. O, this is very lovely indeed!
May 2010

Marston's Christmas Beer 1996

Mmmmm. Another very successful bottle conditioned beer from Marston from the late 90s. This is liquid Christmas cake, complete with marizapn and icing. Yes, mixed peal, orange, almonds, beer soaked brown bread, all wrapped softly together in a warm blanket of alcohol. There is some awareness of age - a touch of damp brown paper, and a bit of dryness in the finish which has a memory of powdery hops.
May 2010

Watney / Norwich Light Ale (1989)

The Norwich Brewery was the old Morgan Brewery of Norwich which went into liquidation in 1961, the pubs passing to two local Norwich breweries, and the brewery itself going to Watney who shut it down in 1985, production moving to London. This was made in 1989, so would have been made in London. It's a nice enough Light Ale, quite dry and refreshing with some soft toffee, cheap red wine, and Lipton's Ice Tea.
May 2010

Camerons Strongarm Premium Beer (1989)

Strongarm from 1989 when Camerons was owned by Wolverhampton & Dudley. It was 4.3% at this time. It's a good nutty beer.
May 2010

Piestinger Lager (1998)

Piestinger Lager from Markt Piesting in Austria - 4.7% - 1998. It is a golden yellow lager with a decent dusting of flowery hops, and a clean malt base, but it has not aged well. The hops are now very smudgy, and the malt is slightly tinged with vinegar and cereal notes. Carbonation still remains firm, and the beer is quite drinkable, but it's not a great experience.
July 2010