Matt's Blog

03 August 2006

So what do I write here?  Having read many blogs I’m always amused by the amount of trivial musings repetitively chronicled, detailing tedious television viewed or less than interesting evenings spent doing very little.  Well I’m a Wine Merchant and it is my passion as well as my choice of career.  Over the years I have tasted some fascinating wines, as well as similarly extraordinary beers and spirits.

Indeed, it is a strongly kept policy at Vinology that we will never buy blind and we are proud of the fact that, without exception, every wine, beer or spirit stocked at Vinology has been tasted and approved by either my business partner Mark or I (I know, it’s a tough job…)

I would like to keep this page updated with details of what has blown my mind most recently and why.

Although not the most obvious of products to be held at a Wine Merchant, we do keep an extensive range of local real ales and are now stocking the wares of Hook Norton Brewery, North Cotswold Brewery, Shakespeare’s Brewery and Purity Brewing, all of which we’ve sampled and all of which have impressed us.  Most recently I have tried a couple of beers from Shakespeare’s Brewery and the latest experiment from North Cotswold Brewery.

Jon Piling, owner and brewer at North Cotswold Brewery delivered his latest brew to us last week, an impressive bottle-conditioned IPA of the highest order and as I discovered after falling asleep on the sofa and waking up several hours later, highest strength also, brewed as Jon chooses, at 10% ABV.

IPA was not a subject I knew an immense amount of information about, but one that I chose to educate myself on, as I, obviously wrongly, believed an IPA to be a light, hoppy beer around 5% ABV.

IPA (India Pale Ale) was created in the early 1700’s by efforts from British brewers to get beer to India without becoming flat and sour due to the vast temperate fluctuations over the 6 month sea voyage.  The birth of IPA is credited to George Hodgson of the Bow Brewery in East London, who solved the problem by dramatically increasing the levels of hops and alcohol – the brewers defence against spoilage before the invention of refrigeration or pasteurization.  This style was copied worldwide, but modern tastes have generally calmed the style down to more modest alcohol levels and a lower, not so bitter aftertaste, many now being not that far in style from a normal session beer.

Jon’s IPA, named ‘Monarch’ is a flashback to days long past and although in appearance is pale and non-threatening, a ‘Handle with care’ warning should be administered, mainly due to the fact that this is actually a very (maybe too much so) drinkable beer.  Full-flavoured and hoppy it is, but the alcohol is by no means overbearing as is often the case with strong beers and the finish is long and pleasing.

Last week we were ecstatic to welcome the arrival of two beers from Shakespeare’s Brewery.  This is a small Brewery based in Bidford under the efficient control of Derek Hawyes, a man who continues in his dedication to the art of brewing despite more than a slightly hectic life (congrats on the birth of your child last week Derek).

Derek’s first beer I tried last Tuesday and is delightfully named ‘The Tempest’.  This is a bottle-conditioned Porter (a dark and bitter style of beer developed in the 18th Century which became known as Porter due to its popularity with the thousands of street and river porters of London) and is beautifully dark and full-bodied with notes of dark chocolate on the palate and a long liquorice finish.

The second beer to be bottled by Shakespeare’s Brewery is the superbly named ‘Taming of the Brew’ and is perhaps the beer I’ve enjoyed the most in the last few months.  A dark copper appearance is a good start and is followed by a delicate smoky maltiness on the nose.  On the palate this is a full-bodied beer, with flavours of malt, hops and a tantalising nuttiness.  Superb.

Until next time, Slainte,

Matt.