Random Reviews is a simple collection of equipment, software and consumer reviews for creative people and artists, with really good pictures (click on photos to see hi-res versions where available). All the products are ones that I’ve purchased and used. Reviews are completely independent and are one of the many arms of CreativeMedia.org.uk..
Beer biographies
We tested five different beers
AHW
I can’t be bothered drinking beer - wine’s nicer and stronger. I’m also a cappuccino-lover, so I may be more interested in the foam than the beer!
BG
I sometimes like drinking beer, and sometimes I don’t.
KH
I learnt to appreciate beer on a school truip to Munich. I claimed a lot of beer on expenses whilst upgrading a Quaker kitchen. I’m an expert in both the reinheitsgebot (German code of what ingredients are permissable in beer) and real ale.
PU
I’m an ex-cider maker and now a micro-vintner, but all beer tastes the same to me - of beer. Unfortunately I don’t really like beer either. It’ll be interesting to see if I have an opinion on any of these, or maybe even like some.
SG
I have been drinking beer since a very early age and has experience if many beers including his own home-brew. His particular specialism is from the monks of Belgium. (Trappist monks brew rare beers)
The beers
Glastonbury Ales - Lady of the Lake 4.2%
AHW
Good dense foam. Bitter foretaste then tastes very sweet.
✸✸✸
BG
Initially pleasant. As I drink it gets too bitter.
✸✸✸
KH
It’s a pretty good ale, but drinking it cooler is a lot more pleasant. A touch of chillyness works to its advantage.
✸✸✸
PU
I don’t taste any of the fruits and vanilla that were promised on the back label. I don’t like the bitter aftertaste.
✸✸
SG
It’s a nice beer, but the description is over-stated. It doesn’t deliver on the promises on the label.
✸✸✸
Glastonbury Ales - Golden Gudgeon 4.3%
Golden Gudgeon in action!
AHW
A short, bitter taste. But not bad. I wouldn’t like to drink very much of it.
✸✸
BG
I could detect some malty tones, but the overall effect was too bitter for my taste.
✸✸
KH
I think it’s a classic hoppy ale.
✸✸✸✸
PU
I don’t like it - really bitter.
✸
SG
A pleasant sharpness initially, but it doesn’t deliver any backup body and sharpness.
✸✸
Brauerei Zum Klosterhof Heidelberg - Klosterhof
AHW
A slightly chocolatey taste at the back of the mouth. Quite pleasant.
✸✸✸✸
BG
Interesting flavour; out of all of them, this is the one I’d most want to drink a whole glass of.
✸✸✸✸½
KH
A good strong well-balanced malty flavour.
✸✸✸✸✸
PU
Out of all the beers, this is the one I’d least like to drink. It makes me feel thirsty, in a bad way.
(No stars)
We started with a proper academic attitude at least …
SG
Fruity smell and a vibrancy on the tongue reminiscent of root beer.
✸✸✸✸
Willy Good Ale - Willy Brown
AHW
Treacley; smells like tropical fruit juice. It gave me a craving for chocolate!
✸✸✸✸
BG
Dark and tasty.
✸✸✸✸
KH
A chocolatey bocquet - a very pleasant dark ale, and a good partner to my chocolate santa and dominosteine.
✸✸✸✸½
PU
First taste I thought it was a bit too strong tasting with a monster tang, then it wasn’t so bad. But then I got a really bitter taste after that.
✸
SG
This would be a good bonfire night ale; reminiscent of parkin and treacle toffee.
✸✸✸✸
Shepherd Neame - Bishop’s Finger, 5.4%
AHW
Smells cheap. Slightly sharp tasting.
✸
BG
Drinkable but unexciting. It has an unplesant bitter aftertaste emerging sometime after finishing drinking.
✸✸
KH
A somewhat unbalanced taste.
✸✸
PU
Yet more bitterness - the Bishop should put his finger elsewhere!
✸
SG
Pleasant, but with a certain oddness; something of the night…
✸✸✸
One of our testers couldn’t wait to get back to a “proper” drink, but some people are a bit precious about what goes in their special beer glasses!