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WIN: A case of delicious real ale in time for Christmas
Have you ever indulged in real ale at Christmas time or do you leave it to your other half, Dad, Uncle or Grandad?
Well believe it or not, real ale can be a chic and sophisticated drink! And if you don’t believe us, then you haven’t met Beer Beauty. Aka journalist & TV Presenter, Marverine Cole, the Beer Beauty is on a nationwide mission to enlighten women about the delights of real ale. Marverine throws Beer Beauty bashes around the country telling women more about the fascinating facts about beer: how women invented beer, how it’s NOT fattening, how it’s less calories and alcoholic units than your favourite wine and spirits and how not all beer is gassy and bitter!
Wondering how she knows her stuff? She’s tasted over 500 different types of beers, has just finished a BBC documentary about how it’s us women that could save the ailing beer and pub industry (!) and she’s is about to appear on your TV screens on BBC2 this Christmas with Oz Clarke and Hugh Dennis in their new TV series about beer, wines & spirits in ‘Oz & Hugh Raise The Bar’
Here’s Beer Beauty’s Top Ten Beers to drink this festive season. A list which includes sweet, fruity, spicy tasting beers which can be sipped in champagne flutes or even brandy glasses to add a special ZING to your beer.
PURE UBU
UBU is the black Labrador on the farm where the brewery’s base – ABV 4.5%. Brewed by PURITY ALE, near Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire.
Taste: Spicy, gorgeous amber colour, fresh, fruity, refreshing! If you’ve got friends round for some cocktail sausges, pork pies pieces and mature cheese nibbles for a Sat night, then this is a perfect compliment!
You can buy it from Sainsbury at £1.74 a bottle or from Purity Brewing where 8× 500ml will cost you £13.50
ROSEY NOSEY
Rosey Nosey has an ABV of 4.9% and is brewed by BATEMANS, Lincolnshire, a traditional family brewer, established in 1874.
Taste: Fabulous Father Christmas label!! Inside the flavour is again rich, fruity and this time a bit peppery: that comes from the hops. Christmas pudding in a glass!
You can buy it from Aldi for £1.39 a bottle or get a case of 12 from Ale4Home alternatively RING Bateman’s direct: 01754 880317
O – HO HO!
With an ABV of 5.0% it’s brewed by OTLEY BREWERY, Pontypridd in South Wales
Taste: Fruity but not as deep in flavour as the others, more a refreshing beer to have with your turkey on Christmas Day.
You can’t find in any of the big supermarkets but you can buy from Amazon, Realbeerbox.com or direct from Otley Brewing from around £2.94 a bottle.
KASTEEL CRU ROSE
Brewed by MOLSON COORS (UK’s 2nd largest brewer), Burton-upon-Trent with an ABV of 5.2%
Taste: Crisp sparkling lager brewed in Alsace, in France. It has hints of elderflower & elderberry. Great as an aperitif in a champagne glass with your pre-dinner nibbles. Lush!
Buy it from Sainsbury at £1.73 a bottle, direct from Kasteelcru.co.uk or order a bottle when you’re next in an All Bar One.
BLUE MOON
ABV 5.4%. Brewed by BLUE MOON BREWING CO in Canada.
Taste: Brewed with oats for creaminess, it’s unusually spiced with coriander and hints of sweet Valencia orange peel and coriander. Trying is believing! This is a fabulous party beer, great with a curry!
Buy from Sainburys £1.72 a bottle or 24 × 355ml for £35.17 drinks2home.co.uk (£1.46 great party beer)
LONDON PORTER
ABV 6.5%. Brewed by MEANTIME, London – a young funky brewery in East London.
Taste: This porter is brewed recreating a recipe dating back to 1750. It’s black like Guinness, sweet and almost chocolatey in flavour. Mmm!
Price for a 750ml around £4.52. You can buy from all major brances of Waitrose, Tesco in London in Kent and online from places like Ales by Mail, Barrels & Bottles, Beer Merchants, Beer Club of Britain, Onlyfinebeer, Beers from Europe, Hi-Spirits, Living Beer, My Brewery Tap, Realale.com or Meantimebrewing.com
CHRISTMAS ALE
7% ABV brewed by SHEPHERD NEAME, Britain’s oldest brewer – since 1698 – Faversham in Kent Warming.
Taste: spicy touch, rich dark fruits like My Mum’s Jamaican Christmas Fruit cake. I’d serve this in a wine glass with Christmas dinner.
Buy it from Co-Op stores and independents at £2.00 a bottle or direct from the brewers www.shepherdneame.co.uk
RUM CASK BEER
ABV 7.4% and brewed by INNIS & GUNN, Edinburgh.
Taste: Matured in barrels that used to hold rum. This beer has hints fruit and takes on the spiciness of the rum. It’s a naughty beer, this one
You can buy Rum Cask in Waitrose, nationally independent shops & the RRP is £1.99.
BREWERS RESERVE NO 2
8.2% ABV and brewed by FULLERS, the old family brewery in Chiswick, West London
Taste: Brewers Reserve No 2 is matured in 29 Cognac barrels for a year so there’s a strong smell of that cognac but it comes across genty in the flavour. Serve this in a brandy glass.
RRP £7.50 from fullers.co.uk or on sale in any Fullers pub, you can find the list of their establishments on their website
SOLE BAY
ABV 10% and brewed by ADNAMS in Suffolk
Taste: This is a beer brewed to celebrate the 350th anniversary of Adnam’s brewing in Suffolk! . It’s almost chewy in texture with a lovely bittersweet taste. A drink made for sharing – take time over it!
Only available from www.adnams.co.uk with a RRP £9.99
WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN!
To be in with the chance of winning a case of one of Beer Beauty’s Top Ten Recommended festive beers: Shepherd Neame’s Christmas Ale, tell us the name of the Ancient Sumerian Chief Goddess of Beer.
You’ll be able to find the answer somewhere on Beer Beauty’s website: www.beerbeauty.co.uk
You need to get your entry into us by midnight Sunday 19th December. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
All correct answers will be put into a draw and a name randomly chosen. The name of the winner will be on the website on Monday morning and you’ll get your Ale in time for Christmas (weather dependent!).
T&C’s: There is no cash alternative. You must be over 18 years old to enter. One entry per Be Fabulous registered member.
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About the author
Name: Beer Beauty
Website: http://www.beerbeauty.co.uk
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