Beer Advent Calendar Window One

Beer Advent Calendar Window One - Humbug

The beginning of this blog's Beer Advent Calendar begins with a beer from The Hop Studio; a brewery that made a previous calendar appearance in 2013 with There is NoEL in Christmas.

The Hop Studio are based in York and were founded in 2012. Their minimalistic branding, simple styles and thirst-quenching strengths seems to have appealed well to a cask market, without ever dominating the "craftier" circles. I can't see them invited to the next Rainbow Project, nor can I imagine they would want to be.

(I e-mailed Hop Studio asking for more information regarding the thought process behind the beer. They have politely replied explaining how they're busy away at the minute but will reply with details ASAP. I'll update this post with new information then.)

"You know I think this Christmas thing is not as tricky as it seems. And why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone. Not anyone in fact but me, for I can build a Christmas tree,"

The Hop Studio - Humbug (A Smoked Milk Porter) 5%

Pouring a very dark mocha shade with little head, there are huge dominating roasted coffee notes on the nose, with a little milk chocolate, bourbon and woody bushes. The taste is surprisingly boozy for the ABV; the liquid from cooked, sugared berries, sherry soaked raisins, bramble bushes and then powdered chocolate milk. A continual long sweetness seems to block any coffee notes you're expecting after the nose. There's a warming toasty smokiness in the finish from the rauch malt. It gives a nice full oily mouthfeel even if the body is a little thin. This would be really good amplified to a higher percentage at this time of the year. It's a very drinkable, full flavoured beer, a brilliant start to this calendar and something I can highly recommend for Christmas.

Besides the flavour of the beer, there are other aspects of this beer I'm impressed with that should be noted. Firstly, I've been saying for a long time that I'd like to see more British brewers experimenting with smoked beers. Certainly this isn't as smoky as I like, though the lactose in the beer will play a part in that, but a Smoked Milk Porter is certainly a style I've not seen before, so it wins points for originality.

Secondly, this is a beer that's label (pictured above) features everything I wish all British Brewers included on their labels. It has a clear description of this beer, without unnecessary hyperbole, a list of types of hops and malt used, the small obligatory brewery information and the bonus food match, that I don't consider a requirement but is a nice touch. Even the "Contains Lactose" sticker is clear too. I could peel this label off and send it to all British microbreweries.

Best Paired With: That First Mince Pie you allow yourself after weeks of saying "it's too early"

Comments

The Pubs of Stalybridge Part One: The Stalybridge Seven.

And a touch more ... Rififi Nightclub - once the town's cinema - has stood empty and unused for four and a half years This is the continuation of my posts of regular pub crawls to try and get myself in more pubs and discover more. Whilst I grew up in an old hamlet that most were quick to distance themselves from, my address clearly stated that we belonged to Stalybridge. However distant the town centre felt I was a Stalybridger, a Stalybridgian, a Stalyian: you know I don’t think I’ve ever heard us given a name before. I’m going with Stalyian. After a few moves around the country and through various relationships, I didn’t expect to find myself still local to the town in 2017. Whilst my address hasn’t stated Stalybridge for 3 years, I still spend plenty of time in the town – not least as it houses my “local.” To many in the north-west, it is famous for its nickname of Staly Vegas , that came about (as far as I’m aware) through its late Nighties-through-to-N...

WHEN CELEBRITIES DIE - THE INFINITY OF PUBS

Recently I was stood outside Huddersfield Railway Station waiting for my Replacement Bus Service. I was eating much needed food from a nearby fast food outlet and contemplating my next move. Other match-goers had gone home but I had over 50 minutes to wait for my bus. We’d already been to a few of our post-match regular spots and so I was contemplating somewhere new or different to pass the time now. I stood in St George’s Square, behind the statue of Harold Wilson, and pondered where I should waste my next hour. And pondered and pondered. After deliberation that ate into much of my allotted time, I walked down to the familiar setting of The Sportsman, realising that there wasn’t anywhere different to go at all. But whilst I deliberated, I cast my eye over the currently scaffold-covered George hotel opposite the station; a place I had been in once with my Dad. It’s downstairs public bar had stood as a firm and available option to match-goers fo...

Ten Reasons Why I Hate Brewdog

There was a time when I thought beer was subjective, when I believed it was there to be interpreted and commented on from a personal perspective. I used to form my own opinions about beer, pubs and breweries and sometimes I’d even write them in this little blog. Brewdog were no exception; I was happy to praise them when they did right and criticise when I felt they were wrong. Of course I now have seen that I was wrong to do this. You see, it’s not about opinions or personal preferences; it’s about following the crowd, doing what’s cool and avoiding controversy. At present it’s not cool to like Brewdog. Despite the fact that I still really enjoy their beers and bars, people keep telling me why I should hate them. You probably already do, as you are well “in” on what’s hot and what’s not. I wasn’t aware of this, the e-mail never landed in my inbox, but not wanting to fall out of the loop I’ve presented a list of reasons why we should all hate Brewdog so I can fit in with this g...

Beer Compurgation

Search This Blog