Advent Calendar Window 15 - Festive Christmas Porter

"We specialised in causing pain,
Spreading fear and doubt.
And if you couldn't pay the rent,
We simply threw you out."

Burton Upon Trent has, as many of you will know, long been a reputed beer town. But with the four famous names in the town, Bass, Allied, Marston's and Everard's being sold to bigger businesses so they could remian household names, it became the small town of sellouts. Still, part of the tradition exists in Burton Bridge Brewery ensuring the Beer-Mecca town still has a micro. The terrific story continues here.

I am upset I have struggled to keep these posts up-to-date, but moving house and not having the internet in my new dwelling has made it near impossible. So, this post relates to the beer behind Window 15 that I drank on Monday. The weakest beer in the calendar I believe, but still an exciting one for me. Simple branding and a simple name will hopefully lead to a traditional, simple but solid little beer. Let us find out.

Burton Bridge - Festive Christmas Porter = 4.5%

A dark bistre with off colour, foamy head, the nose is utterly scentless minus a few hints of the most basic of roasting malts. There's almost nothing to describe here so let's hope for better with the taste. Yep, utterly tasteless. I've never known a beer to have so little to it. I actually can't find any discernible flavour to write about. There are no tasting notes to give you. There is no taste. I'm now searching the room for something to say. Erm... wouldn't it be interesting if they made a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas. I mean, there was quite a number of different "holiday" doors there which gives some scope. I'd love Jack to visit Thanksgiving Town. What the hell is that like? Is it a place where the pilgrims spend all year long murdering Indians whilst eating turkey? How does it work? Make the film, Tim!

I've allowed this beer time to settle, warm, develop and breed aliens in an attempt to find something else to write about, but it isn't offering anything. It's not awful. It's not a drain pour. It's a porter because it tastes like roasted malts and beer. I can't give you anything other than that. Does anybody have anything else to say? Wouldn't it be interesting if they made a sequel to the Muppet's Christ... oh forget it!

Christmas Spirit Rating: 2%. I wonder if that tinsel will taste of more than this beer.

Comments

THE STATE OF CASK part 2: The Cask Consumers

In what has become one of the most written about subjects amongst beer communicators for a long while I am going to follow on with my own thoughts about cask beer. Yet these ideas are formulated from potential posts I've been writing the odd paragraph about for around 18 months but never managed to construct into something relevant. I have much to say on the subject; so much so that rather than making this into one enormous read I've split it into three sections regarding the current trends and effects on cask beer as I see it. Today I look at the problem with consumer's and the immunity of one Timothy Taylor's Landlord. Part 1 can be read here . On the first Saturday morning of June 2016 I travelled to Stockport Beer Festival with my Aunt Marie and Uncle David; famously more traditional beer drinkers. They enjoy a day out in Stockport as, coming from Dewsbury way, they don’t actually see much beer from my side of the Pennines, incl...

National Winter Ales Festival 2013 - A Reasonable Farewell

Perhaps if this had been three years ago I would really have lamented the loss of the National Winter Ales Festival in Manchester . Not only has it long been held in my home city, but it was also my first ever beer festival, signifying a special place in my heart. That first visit was in 2006 and the event was then held in a co–operative building near Victoria station. At the time, my young ale loving mind was rather gobsmacked by the wondrous multi roomed, multi floored experience as barrels and casks of the good stuff stood waiting for me to try at no more than 90p for a generous half pint. Breweries and beer styles I had never heard of were present. It was also where I had my first taste of rauchbier, an encounter I have never regretted. I paid £3 to enter that day as a non CAMRA member. The organisations members that did travel with me on the occasion entered the festival for free (so they say, I’m inclined to believe they paid at least £1.) “They’re not a money making ...

Beer is Available in Supermarkets

Thanks to @Adam_G_Manning for the photo and everyone else who offered to help on Twitter This beer blog has become a near eternal snake of content but at least I’m distinctly aware of it. First comes the repeated speeches every time a brewery sells up to a large multinational. Then comes the turn of brouhaha because a supermarket has changed its range of beers. It must be that time of year and I still feel as impassioned to comment. It was, once again, the major retailer T esco who increased their range two and a half weeks ago - this time with additions including North Brew Co and Magic Rock - for the second time in 6 months. I felt the need to make comment about the bewildering excitement then, just as I did in 2016 with the arrival of Dale's Pale and Pinner . This time there has been further furore, both from people that see the positives and negatives, aided by successful marketing tactics that has led to an awful lot of commentary. Late to...

Beer Compurgation

Search This Blog