Sharp's Single Brew Reserve 2007

"Sharp's Head Brewer Stuart Howe personally brewed just one batch of this very special beer in December 2007. The beer was conditioned in the Brewery for over a month and then bottled with live yeast. The live yeast gently conditions the beer over time giving it a very balanced and complex flavour profile. "

This is the description provided by Sharp's for their annual Single Brew Reserve (4.5% abv), which is a red, sweet and lightly bitttered bottle conditioned ale. I can see what the brewer was going for with this beer, but somewhere along the line something has gone wrong! The beer is plain at best, and tastes like Doom Bar does if you drink it too cold. The flavours seem to disappear and you end up with something that tastes plain, clean and along the lines of canned megaswill bitter like John Smiths. I seem to be very negative today! But then again I don't appreciate lacklustre beers, especially from a brewery that produces gems such as Doom Bar and Atlantic IPA. For something that is considered a specialty beer, which has been bottle conditioned to increase complexity - this beer just doesnt live up to its name. Website

Sharp's Atlantic IPA

Recently I was dragged along to Vinopolis by SWMBO as well, she wanted to go, and I felt obliged as I drag her to all manner of "old man pubs". For those who have never been, as you leave, you have to walk through a big majestic wine warehouse, which retails the wines you can sample in the exhibition. Anyhow, I got mine back when I picked up a bottle of Sharp's IPA (4.8% abv). The immediate concern regarding this beer is the clear glass bottle, surely a heavily hopped IPA is more susceptible to skunking than a regular bitter. Anyhow, with my bottle upon tasting this was not the case.

The beer is very flavorsome, with tropical and citrus like hop aroma with initial malt followed by a gentle, firm but in no way astringent bitterness. I even made SWMBO have a taste and expecting the usual "ahh, it tastes like beer", I got the pleasant reply of "I think I could actually drink that", a response that is usually reserved for tasteless beer such as Corona.

Overall, I am highly impressed with this beer. Its not for the faint as it is highly perfumed, however it is a flavorsome IPA, which is not too strong in alcohol (lower limit if the style), but is still a capable session beer. Top stuff, I just need to track it down in cask form now. Website here.

Sharps Doom Bar

Back in London and enjoying the weather my wife and I stopped at "The Black Lion" W6, whilst enjoying a walk along the river Themes. Here I enjoyed a pint of Sharp's Doom Bar (4% abv) a well balanced special bitter from the Cornish Sharp's brewery. You may recall that I recently blogged about Sharp's Cornish Coaster which I had mixed opinions about. Now Doom Bar is a beer that I have a very favourable opinion on. The beer itself is very similar to London Pride, except the bitterness does not seem as harsh, this could be due to differences in the chemistry of the brewing water. On the plus this beer has lovely fresh fruity hop aroma and flavour, but it achieves this without being offensive. Overall Doom bar is a really good beer! Website

Sharp's Cornish Coaster

Sharp's beers seem to be popping up a pubs throughout London. I'm not sure of the exact reasoning for this, but I assume they have a marketing and distribution agreement with one of the bigger players as Doom Bar seems to be available nearly everywhere now. Cornish Coaster (3.6% abv) is a golden coloured bitter which has been brewed as a session beer to celebrate for Cornwall's fishing heritage. The beer itself is not the most balanced of beers with the citrus armoa totally overpowering whatever malt profile and bitterness are supposed to be there. To this end the beer is a little dissapointing as the aroma give the impression that the beer is going to be a big beer. As a session beer, the beer is ok and will keep you sober'ish at 3.6% for more than a few pints. I probably wouldn't have this beer again, but if aroma is your thing, then check it out.

http://www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk/our-beers/other-beers/