Strong Bitter Showdown- Southern Round

Beer enthusiasts in Wellington have a wide range of bottled and draught beer available to them from off licenses; the on license situation is less rosy. While the lions share of the credit goes to Regional Wines and Spirits, Rumbles and Island Bay New World both source and stock beers sometimes not seen anywhere else in the country. Every now and then I make a point of visiting Island Bay New World to see what’s on offer; invariably there is something I have never had before. New World is a major chain of supermarkets which allow a certain level of freedom to owner operators in regards to ranging. The Island Bay store is owned by Maurice Bennett, beer enthusiast and more notably toast artist (as seen in Billy Connolly’s ‘World Tour of NZ’).

I was in Island Bay World the other day and amongst other things I picked up a bottle of Shepherd Neame 1698 the strong bottle conditioned bitter from a brewer who I have criticised in the past. I decided to taste it off against Royal Oak the fruity malty strong bitter formerly from Eldridge Pope now brewed by Ohanlons.

Shepherd Neame 1698

6.5%abv

Dark Copper with a disappearing white head. The aroma features fruity citrus and berry fruit notes, a touch of caramel malt and minerally note. On the palate there is toffee malt, fruity and earthy hop, a peachy note, firm mouth feel, leading to a lasting bitter finish. Best Sheps beer I have ever had.

Ohanlons Royal Oak

5%abv

Dark Crimson with a pillowy enthusiastic white head. Aroma features rich toffee malt, complex fruit, strawberry, ripe plum, an over all effect like that of sniffing a roses chocolate box. On the palate there is chewy sweet malt, a profound fruit medley of strawberry, peaches and apricot leading to a firm bitter finish.

A Simple Pint from a much Maligned Brewery.

It’s a contradictory time of year for me at the moment. I seem to be writing and reading winter and experiencing high summer. I’m not big on summer, my ferments become difficult to control, I can only tap one corny at a time as there is only room for one in the cellar fridge and my stout build seems far more adept at keeping southerly gales at bay than handling heat waves. And hot it is at the moment, with official temperatures in the high 20’s my house has been venturing way into the 30’s.

So it was yesterday when I came upon a bottle of Shepherd Neame Master Brew. Shepherd Neame get a fair bit of flack for producing less than interesting beers, bar the much celebrated seasonal porter. Their bottled beers are hindered by the inexplicable decision to use clear bottles. All in all I’m not a huge fan of the brewery but when I saw a bottle of Master Brew sitting at Rumbles I couldn’t resist, partially because it would constitute a tick in Protz 300 and partially because the heat was making me want a simple pint to slack my thirst.

Shepherd Neame Master Brew 4%abv

Pours a light copper with a tight dense head. Aroma features citrus, lemon and lime fruit essence, a touch of nutty malt and a touch of light strike. On the palate the lemon lime character is continued, a slight caramalt character, and a decent bitter finish. A light quenching pint, would be better from the cask

Over all Master Brew was what I expected, a simple quenching pint, or as I said to Adam when he got home, not as bad as it could have been.