While at drinkstore a few weeks ago I picked up three beers from The Breconshire brewery in Wales. The first of the three I finally tried tonight. It is called Golden Valley and you absolutely have to say it in a Welsh accent as it must be the point of this beer. The first thing I have to emphasise here is that this is in fact an ale. I had a hard time believing that when I tasted it but it certainly is an ale. It pours a golden clear colour until the yeast at the bottom of the bottle gets in but I love a yeasty beer so in it went. The head was massive and frothy.
It smelled of, well not much really. It reminds me of the smell of a lager like Carlsberg or any of the others with a good malt base. It tasted pretty much like a flat lager. It was quite malty and had a nice bitter finish and was also quite metallic. I had this at room temperature which I think was a mistake because just like a lager, this should probably be served cold and preferably with some curry.
I do have two more beers to try and I am optimistic that they will be better. I am not saying Golden Valley is a bad beer, on the contrary it is a very good beer and quite tasty. It just seems to be trying to taste like a good lager and I don't see the point other than as a stepping stone for lager drinkers to become ale drinkers.
I am sure you aren't guilty of this, but it really pisses me off when people think lager=bad and ale=good. Lager, properly made is as good as ale, properly made.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Velky. when lager is done right (ie with the right ingreidients) it can be a thing of wonder. Try Taddinton's Moravka for a great british lager, and Cain's is good too. Much maligned, Lager is a valid style!! Although this one didnt impress you, I'm glad to see them having a bash at it.
ReplyDeleteI think that annoys me most is the bone idleness of the brewers who want to reach out to lager drinkers by offering palid golden ales that are only satisfying if ice cold, rather than invest the time, money and effort to brewing lager and brewing it well, to show the likes of Carling up for what it is, a second rate knock off. I keep hearing about Moravka and am very keen to try it, but that may have to wait a while.
ReplyDeleteNo Al you know I like a good lager from our tour of Prague bars. I would say though that finding a good lager is not so easy.
ReplyDeleteI think I might buy this beer again and have it at lager temperature and see if it becomes any better as at room temp it was just like a warm and flat carlsberg.