Not quite as mysterious as The Stig, and not quite as common as Cheryl Cole is Mrs Otto, the Bent and Bongs beer Svengali. With taste buds to rival Gordon Ramsey’s and a love for beer beyond even John Prescott’s passion for pies, Mrs Otto returns once again to share some personal recommendations.
Mrs Otto, the Bent and Bongs Beer Svengali, this year recommends …
Real Ales
Allgates – Mad Monk (7.5%)
A Blackish off-white head. High coffee, bitterness, nice hoppy, fruity, burned, berries, ok balance, nice smooth body.
Black Jack – Aces High (5.5%)
A chilly and hazy blonde coloured beer with a tight bright
white head and lacing. Nicely hoppy with good citrus but the malts are a bit sweet and toffee like. The hops dominate in the mouth.
Dark Star – Expresso Stout (4.2%)
Almost black colour, roast malt and chocolate aroma, shock horror this tasted a bit like a strong coffee with some hint of chocolate. Just a slight bit of hop bitterness towards the end. A Very good stout.
Elland – Beyond the Pale (4.2%)
Orange-gold with a skim of white head. Tea, tangerines and biscuits aromas. Well balanced, oozing tangerine cheesecake hops and malts. Soft, floral and a touch malty. Lovely!
Exmoor – Beast (6.6%)
Ruby brown with a thick off white head. A touch of treacle, sweet but fruity warming malts and a gentle bitterness in the swallow, partially
hops and a little caramel. An excellent English style winter warmer that has stood the test of time.
Redwillow – Feckless (4.1%)
A Clear medium to dark orange amber colour with a average, frothy, good lacing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty,
caramel, nutty, moderate to heavy hoppy, orange – citrus, spicy, light
grapefruit. This is probably the kind of beer that I’m supposed to hate. I don’t. It’s awesome!
Draught Beers
Brew Dog – 5AM Saint (5%)
Red amber color, small beige head. Strong fruity aroma of citrus and lychee, some pine. Bitter and dry taste with malty caramel and grapefruit.
Delirium – Noël (10%)
A top notch bier. The nose is spicy with sweet malt notes with a touch of bread. Medium to dark brown in colour with a small fading head. Quite sweet on the palet but balanced by the spice and a touch of bitterness. Overall full bodied and warming, with a sweet finish.
Duvel – Duvel Green (6.8%)
Pours pale yellow with a small head, aroma of black pepper and peach, flavor of pepper, peach and some herbs, lightly carbonated, medium bodied.
Flying Dog – Doggie Style (5.5%)
Amber color with a little white head. Hoppy cascade aroma. More hops in mouth, citric, lemon, grass and some cara malt. Medium body and carbonation. Bitter finish.
Paulaner – Hefeweissbier (5.5%)
Pretty typical hefeweizen nose of bananas – although more subdued than most. Taste is also a bit more muted than most hefeweizens. Slight bitterness to the finish.
Westmalle – Double (7%)
What else can be said? Complex, spicy chocolatey aroma, looks
good in the glass and has the flavor to match. Nice depth, mix of spice, cherry and chocolate. Good medium finish.
Bottled Beers
Anchor – Porter (5.6%)
Strong aroma of chocolate, coffee, and dough. Deep brown liquid with a thick tan head. Chocolate flavor, medium sweetness/light
bitterness. Creamy texture with a long finish. Very excellent!
Delirium – La Guillotine (8.5%)
Spicy and dry with a nice sweet, candied aftertaste. A crisp, carbonated beer, light appearance with a thick head.
Florisgaarden – Ninkeberry (3.6%)
Cloudy yellow with a dense white head. Aroma is mild citric peachy, guava and hints of passion fruit. Light sweet berry fruity flavour. Citric notes. Mouthfeel is quite sweet and sour.
Goose Island – 312 Urban Wheat Ale (4.2%)
Pours a slightly cloudy golden with moderate white head. Nice unfiltered US wheat beer. Lightly hopped with hints of lemon
& orange. Nice, refreshing.
Heather Ales – Kelpie Seaweed Ale (4.4%)
Hazy dark amber colour. Aroma of liquorice, hops and butter. Flavours are syrup and chocolate. Nutty finish.