Bransgore Rotary Beer Fest ’24 Tasting Notes

FB1 Beer of the Festival Bransgore Gold – 5.8% Drop the Anchor Brewary – Wai-Iti Hops from New Zealand, Mandarin flavours, very easy drinking. Unfined (hazy). 

1. AY UP – 3.9% Dancing Duck  An eminently pale session ale. Subtle malt and floral notes are matched splendidly with citrus hops rounded off with a slight dryness.
2. BARNSLEY BITTER – 3.8% Stancil Our first ever brew bitter is still made true to the much Oakwell Brewery loved recipe using the original yeast strain.      
3. BATTLEAXE – 4.2% Rudgate   Our deep chestnut traditional best bitter. Bitter sweet with complex fruity flavours.
4. BEAM ME UP – 4.2% Bristol Beer Factory An extraordinarily pale ale combining three hops: Ella and Galaxy giving subtle tropical flavours and hints of spice and brand-new hop Melba adding passionfruit, grapefruit and summery citrus characteristics.
5. BELLRINGER – 4.2% Abbey Ales Our award winning Bellringer is a clean tasting golden bitter with a refreshingly hoppy finish.
6. BELTA BLONDE – 3.4% Thirsty Moose Belta Blonde is a session ale with a harmonious and subtle blend  of sweet citrus, tantalising passion fruit, hints of honey, and a light malt character.
7. BETTY STOGS – 4.0% Skinners Brewery A Cornish twist on a classic smooth drinking bitter. A light malty aroma leads to a floral cedar nose.
8. BITTER – 3.8% Black Sheep Bold, refreshing bitterness at the fore, leading to complex malt and grassy hop flavours. Eminently suppable.
9. BLACK GOLD MILD – 3.8% Castle Rock Balanced Mild – Slight Sweetness – Full Bodied
10. BOLTMAKER – 4.0% Timothy Taylor Well Balanced Yorkshire Bitter – Maltiness – Hoppy Aroma.
11. BOULDER BEACH – 4.4% Orkney Boulder Beach is a bright golden, single hopped American Pale Ale.
12. BROADSIDE – 4.7% Adnams  A dark ruby red beer with bold flavours and aromas of fruitcake, almonds, and that warming, mouth-coating richness of conserved fruit you would expect to find in a strong ale.
13. BUMBLEHOLE – 5.2% Olde Swan Honey sweet amber ale. Sharp dryness in the finish.
14. CAPABILITY BROWN – 4.0% Roosters  A classic bitter, deep amber in colour and displaying classic English hedgerow characteristics harnessed from a blend of Challenger, Fuggles and Whitbread Goldings Variety hops.
15. CHOPPER ALE – 4.7% Bays Brewery This gorgeous golden ale is distinctly British in character thanks to its unique blend of hops We’re donating 5% of proceeds to Devon Air Ambulance to support its vital work.
16. CLEETHORPES PALE – 4.2% Docks A refreshing pale ale with crisp citrus hops & a sweet finish from Sea Buckthorn Berries.
17. CRAFTY ONE – 3.9% Crafty Brewery This is a refreshing, thirst quenching Pale Ale and will have you coming back for more. 
18. DARWIN’S ORIGINAL – 4.3% Salopian Copper rich, spicy evolved malt finish
19. DEVON DAWN – 4.2% Theakston (LWC) A light, golden IPA
20. No Show
21. DEVON PRIDE – 4.1% South Hams Brewery A dark, ambered coloured beer with fruity aroma. Smooth to drying with a malty fruity finish.
22. DORSET DUSK – 3.8% Theakston (LWC) A traditional best bitter, need I say anymore.
23. ELSIE MO – 4.7% Castlerock A single malt ale with a lovely golden hue. A blend of First Gold, Challenger, Aurora and Bobek hops give Elsie Mo its delicate citrus aroma and floral taste.
24. ENVILLE ALE – 4.5% Enville Fruity Notes – Hint of Sweetness – Honey.
25. FILM STAR – 5.1% Silhill West Coast IPA- Hoppy – Citrus – Crisp.
26. MOONDANCE – 4.2% Triple FFF Brewery A Pale Ale with copious amounts of American Cascade hops. Wonderfully aromatic floral nose balanced by a gentle bitterness with a hint of sweetness.
27. GINGER BEER – 4.6% Enville Refreshing – Pale – Ginger
28. LANDLORD – 4.3% Timothy Taylor Caramel – Malt – Flowery – Slightly Sweet – Summer Fruits.
29. ALTON’S PRIDE – 3.8% Triple FFF Brewery A traditional English bitter brewed using water from the Hampshire chalk hills. Full and clean tasting; initially malty, then tangerine fruit & resinous hop build to a quenching bitter finish. 
30. MADOG’S ALE – 3.7% Purple Moose Cwrw Madog/Madog’s Ale is a classic session bitter. Copper bronze, malty nutty, hoppy. 
31. MALLARD – 4.5% Squawk  Our first gluten free offering is a proper hoppy pale ale – no compromises here! Mallard is soft, juicy and hopped with Mosaic and Citra for delicious stone fruit goodness.
32. MANGO SYPIAN – 4.3% Beowulf Brewing Co. It has bursts of juicy mango, combined with a tropical hoppy aroma. This is a pale ale which is refreshing and moderately dry on the palate, with a smooth and delicately bitter finish.
33. MERICAN SHINE – 5.0% Beowulf Brewing Co. Mercian Shine is a pale bitter ale with a fresh, hoppy and fruity aroma and a dry finish. Its bitterness dances on the palate.
34. MOONSHINE 3% Abbeydale  This is a beautifully well-balanced pale ale. A distinctive floral aroma, a smooth body and a mellow, predominantly citrus taste, with grapefruit and lemons to the fore.
35. MOOSE RIVER – 5.0% Hop Union Brewery  Marris Otter and caramel in the mash to give a light pale colour and a fuller, softer mouthfeel. A balance of hops create citrus and fruity flavours.
36. OATMEAL STOUT – 4.6% Castle Rock Notes of dried fruit, roasted coffee and caramel are balanced by  creamy oats, giving this stout it’s characteristic smooth and luxurious mouthfeel.  Vegan friendly
37. ORGANIC PALE ALE – 4.0%  Stroud Brewery Clean, golden session pale ale with hints of red apple from organic Wakatu and Taneka NZ hops. Cara and crystal malts creating a balanced finish.
38. PHEASANT PLUCKER – 3.7%  Bowland Brewery A CAMRA gold medal winner. Copper coloured with rounded berry flavours.
39. PIFFLE SNONKER – 3.8% Frothblowers A pale ale with a floral nose. Slightly sweet with a bitter finish.
40. REVEREND JAMES – 4.5% Brains The Rev. James Original is rich and well-balanced with a mellow malty flavour that unexpectedly gives way to a refreshing finish.
41. RIGGWELTER – 5.9% Black Sheep Deliciously sweet with notes of coffee and dark fruits.
42. RUBY MILD – 4.4% Rudgate Our Ruby is multi award winning, nutty, deeply rich and very satisfying to drink
43. SCALLY WAG – 4.9% Hop Union Brewery Dark amber colour with hints of berries and chocolate.
44. SHROPSHIRE GOLD – 3.8% Salopian Light Copper – Full Flavoured Satisfying Bitter.
45. SNOWDONIA – 3.6% Purple Moose Thirst Quenching Golden Bitter – Aromatic Hops
46. SOMERSET SUNSET – 4.5% Theakston (LWC) An easy drinking ruby ale.
47. SPORTING TIMES – 4.1% Froth Blowers  Verging on sun bleached in colour. A lager style beer using Pilsner and Munich malts.
48. STUMBEL BEE – 4.2% South Hams Brewery A light golden coloured beer with a flowery and fruity aroma.
49. SUMMER LIGHTNING – 5.0% Hopback  An extremely pleasant bitter, straw coloured beer with a terrific fresh, hoppy aroma. This, coupled with an intense bitterness, leads to an excellent long, dry finish.
50. NO SHOW
51. TOTALLY UNDERAPPRECIATED IN MY TIME – 4.5% Staggeringly Good A throwback to an era of hoppy US Golden that got us in to hoppier jooose, to remind us that you don’t need ‘Hop Soup’ to be absolutely refreshed and have a ‘Big Wave’ of flavour.
52. TROOPER – 4.7% Robinsons Brewery  Malt flavours and citric notes from a unique blend of hops. A deep golden ale with a hint of lemon.
53. TRUE GRIT – 5.0% Millstone A very pale and hoppy strong ale. Well hopped using Chinook hops. A mellow bitter making way for citrus and grapefruit aromas.  
54. WHERRY – 3.8% Woodfordes A supreme champion beer of Britain. Mighty fresh and zesty, a rich amber ale enjoying floods of flavours.
55. WILD BLONDE – 4.4% South Hams Brewery Winner of SIBA gold, a beer which is seriously refreshing with a distinctive fruity aroma.

Dorset Brewing Company:

60. CHESIL – 4.1% Refreshing straw gold, crisp and biscuity Pilsner with a herbal grassy aroma
61. DORSET KNOB – 3.9% Zesty light amber ale with a malty character and a hoppy, floral bouquet.
62. DURDLE DOOR – 5.0%        Rusty gold full bodied ale with a warm caramel flavour and hints of marmalade on the nose.
63. JURASSIC – 4.2% Crisp amber ale with hints of apricot, and a clean herbal aroma.

Drop the Anchor Brewery:

64. AZACC OF THE CLONES – 5.8% Using Hops from New Zealand giving off aromas of fruity, tropical notes of lychee and mango to fresh crushed gooseberries.  IPA.
65. TUCKTONIA – 4.7% This fruity pale ale has an amazing aroma and flavour, bags of personality with melon, grapefruit and pineapple. Refreshing on a Summer’s day.

Hattie Brown

66. CROWBLACK – 5.1% Black Porter style, full tasting with added molasses. Velvety finish.

67. FULL MOON – 5.0% Dark gold.  Full flavoured with added rye spicy finish. 

68. HERKULES – 5.0% 100% German herkules hop, peppery, spicy, crisp.

69. MUSTANG SALLY – 4.3% Pale.  softer citrus hopped with a floral finish.

Monkey House Brewery:

70. KNIGHTWOOD – 4.4% Cask golden ale. Gentle Honeyed Malts with hop notes of apricots, nectarine, citrus and spice.

71. SEAWALL – 4.2% Cask Session IPA – mellow and juicy, hazy Session IPA (unfined).

72. TOLLHOUSE – 3.8% A modern full flavoured English Bitter brewed with a heritage UK yeast strain.

Remedy Oak Brewery:

73. 1552 – 4.2% Traditional Amber Ale with a rich malty base giving a gentle toffee flavour with a floral aroma and fruity notes.

74. BEST BITTER – 4.0% An all English Best Bitter boasting a deep Chestnut colour with a blend of nutty & chocolate malts.  Floral aroma.

75. ROOSTERS GOLD – 4.2%     A delicious crafted Golden Ale using only English hops creating a smooth full flavoured golden ale.

Twisted Brewing Company:

76. GAUCHO – 4.6% A premium ruby bitter with a balanced hop loading. SIBA Silver award 2024.

77. THREE & SIXPENCE – 3.6%  A light coloured well hopped classic bitter.

78. WILTSHIRE’S TIPSY FARMERS – 3.8% This pale ale with zesty hops offers a vibrant, crisp flavour that’s sure to refresh your customers.

DRY & MEDIUM CIDERS:

C1       ASTON MANOR MALVERN GOLD – 4%

Bittersweet apples grown in the shadow of the Hereford & Worcestershire hills create this golden amber, medium dry fruity cider.

C2       CELTIC MARCHES SLACK ALICE – 4.6%

A medium-dry balanced blend of home-grown cider apples creates a moreish sharpness. She sits

at the drier end of our core range yet is still smooth and mellow with a very slight tart finish.

C3       CHEEKY PIG – 7.5%

A medium dry blend of perry and cider that is golden amber in colour. Made using our crisp Somerset apple cider and our fresh tasting perry, resulting in a refreshing drink which is packed full of flavour with a fairly dry texture.

C4       COTSWOLD CIDER VOODOO PULP – 4.7%

In honour of nature’s voodoo wizardry, converting pulped-up bittersweet apple sugars to dry, golden nectar – the alchemy if fermentation beguiles our senses, perfectly represented by this dry, cloudy, tannic real cider. Dry, cloudy, magic.

C5       DICKIES DRIBBLE – 6.5%

An artisan cider made in the New Forest. Medium sparkling golden straw colour made using Kingston Black cider apples.

C6       FESTIVAL SUNSHINE – 6.5%

A CAMRA award winning medium dry cider. Made with a single variety Dabinet apples, sourced exclusively from orchards in Dorset.  An easy drinking Westcountry craft cider with a signature tannin finish. This cider won 3rd place in the South of England Cider and Perry Championships.

C7       GLADIATOR – 8.4%

This strong rustic cider with its Roman flair has everything. A well rounded cider packed full of flavour and intoxicatingly easy to drink. Medium.

C8       GWYNT DOG DANCER – 6.5%

This smooth crisp cider is a light straw- coloured cider with a medium dry, slightly sharp characteristic.

C9     RED RABBIT – 6%

A rich and fruity rustic cider bursting with apple flavour. Cloudy and Medium Dry.

C10     SELECT – 4.8%

This is a crisp refreshing cider with a glorious appley taste. It is a medium cider with it’s own unique character.

C11     SOMERSET SCRUMPY – 6%

Made with a blend of bittersweet cider apples this is a very traditional unfiltered cider. Perfect for those that like a dry Somerset cider. Full-bodied and full of character.

FRUITY CIDERS:

C12     APPLES & PEARS – 4%

Made from 88% pear and 12% apple. Sweet in flavour with a mouth-watering almost exotic taste.

C13     CELTIC MARCHES RUBY TUESDAY – 4%

Infused with real British Raspberry Juice this cider is gorgeously rich in colour. Ruby bursts with the wonderful taste and aroma of fresh pressed raspberries gently combined with notes of apples. More medium than sweet, this one has a little bite to it!

C14     CHERRIES & BERRIES – 4%

Somerset cider bursting with berry scrumptiousness. Crafted with sublime cherries and berries, this mouth-watering cider is sweet with a soft underlying berry flavour and bold cherry notes.

C15     DIRTY HARRY’S – RASPBERRY & BLACKCURRANT – 4%

A very refreshing combination of flavours, making this a popular choice whatever the weather.

C16    DORSET NECTAR SWEET MAIDEN – 4%

A smooth farmhouse sweet cider blend, ripe with natural sweetness & intriguing velvety finish.

C17     GWYNT TWO TREES – 4.5%

A pale, fruity perry with an aroma of fruit and a hint of honey on the palate. This medium perry was crowned 2015 Champion Perry of Britain.

C18     MANGO – 4%

An aromatic sweet cider expertly blended with exotic mango to create a mouth watering tropical flavour.

C19     PASSION FRUIT MARTINI – 3.5%

A modern classic. A crowd-pleasing combination of vanilla & passionfruit with a hint of lime mixed with crisp Somerset cider. The hint of lime cuts through the delightful sweetness of the passionfruit leaving you with subtle aromas & the taste of vanilla.

C20     PEACH – 4%

Like biting into a juicy ripe peach, sweet and full of flavour. We have blended out Somerset cider with peach juice to create this incredibly scrumptious peach cider.

C21     RASPBERRY MOJITO – 3.4%

Cuba meets Somerset. Refreshing raspberry, fresh mint & crisp Somerset cider make this an invigorating summer refresher. Sweet yet tangy, aromatic, and flavourful.

C22    SNAILS BANK TUMBLEDOWN

Dabinett and Michelin apples are blended here to present a very interesting medium cider. A strong appley character is pepped up with a touch of sweetness. 

C23 STRAWBERRY – 4%

A sweet berry burst which sublimely compliments the refreshing bite of apple in this moreish, juicy cider.

C24   SUNSET – 6%

A rich and fruity rustic cider bursting with apple flavour. Cloudy and Medium Sweet.

C25     WINTER FRUITS – 3.4%

Indulge in the delightful flavours of Winter Fruits Cider, with the perfect combination of apple and blackberry, this smooth and fruity drink is a pure delight.

C26     MANGO ZERO – 0% 

An aromatic non-alcoholic sweet cider expertly blended with exotic mango to create a mouth-watering tropical flavour. All the flavour of Lilley’s Cider but ZERO Alcohol.