Nicholson's Pubs have the answer to the perils of autumn

It's one of my favourite times of the year.

The time where the cold snap is just starting, and I have to think of ways to keep warm. Which leads me for my annual jaunt to sample the delights of the Nicholson's Autumn Ale Festival.

What better way to warm the cockles than sampling some fine and varied ales.

You are sure to be welcomed at the Nicholson's Autumn Ale Festival

Showcasing some of the best British ales available from October 21 until November 17, as well as exclusive brews available to Nicholson’s across its 77 venues nationwide, it's time to discover why our national drink is becoming more and more popular.

Our love of ale pre-dates all other alcoholic drinks produced in England and ten brewing giants with over a 100 years’ experience including Thwaites, Liberation and Camerons breweries will join a selection of 50 cask ales supplied on rotation. 

You can sample a variety of flavours through a carefully selected range of IPAs, Pales, Traditional, Dark and Speciality brews, in addition to the seasonal ales currently being sold and a choice range of ciders.

The Nicholson’s brothers opened their first pub in 1873. Today the Cask Marque accredited pubs offer iconic and historic settings, providing a real ale pub experience with its unrivalled range of cask conditioned ales. 

As well as pulling pints, Nicholson’s Pubs drive innovation by working with equally impassioned breweries to create new flavours and great tasting exclusive, seasonal ales.

New for the festival will be guest ales from Northern Ireland, plus Portobello Brewery will be creating a brand new and exclusive 7% IPA, just for the festival. 

We met cask master Ben Lockwood in The White Horse on Carnaby Street London to sample some of the delights on offer.And here are our observations:

Broughton, Hopopotamus

ABV: 3.8%

Style: Pale

Colour: Blonde

Taste: Golden, tropical fruits, Grapefruit

Hops: Amarillo, Cascade, Chinook Willamette (US)

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Scottish Borders

Thoughts: A very light and very tasty ale. Could comfortably be a drink for the night, as well as suited for a complement to a meal.

Whale, Pale Whale

ABV: 3.6%

Style: Pale

Colour: Blonde

Taste: Lemon grass, honey, hoppy

Hops: Challenger (UK), Goldings (UK), Cascade (UK)

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Warwickshire

Thoughts: A new addition for Nicholson's, the lemon taste is both refreshing, yet subtle. Again, would complement a meal as an alternative to wine. However, perhaps lack the kick to be one to remember.

There is sure to be plenty to tempt customers

Thwaites, 13 Guns

ABV: 5.5%

Style: IPA

Colour: Pale

Taste: Hoppy, drinkable, distinctive IPA

Hops: Amarillo, Centennial, Citra, Chinook, Kohatu

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Blackburn

Thoughts: Those from Blackburn have got it spot on with this delight. Full bodied and bursting with flavour, this Autumn the 13 Guns is one not to miss out on.

Cameron's Gold Bullion

ABV: 4.3%

Style: Pale

Colour: Golden

Taste: Citrus, Hoppy

Hops: Fuggles, Cascade, Chinook

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Hartlepool

Thoughts: A pure gold coloured, full bodied ale with good hop flavour from a late copper addition of the outstanding North American Chinook hop to give a powerful citrus character. The ale underpins a more robust flavour and mouth feel for greater satisfaction.

Orchard Pig, Explorer BIB

ABV: 4.5%

Thoughts: A hint of farmyard always appeals to me when drinking a cider, that you are drinking the 'real deal.' Then comes the sweet smell of apple bloosom, and the flavours result in a balanced effort that will make you want number two, three, four.....

Want to know more about ale? Feel free to ask the fully-trained Nicholson’s Cask Masters, the company’s specially chosen, enthusiastic experts who can talk through the range in more detail and offer recommendations.

Nicholson’s Pubs will keep its Cask Ale club members up to date with initiatives and exclusive promotions available to them throughout the festival. The club provides news on the new ales available in the market and the initiatives taking place across pubs nationwide. To join visit www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/caskaleclub

The staff will be well trained to match your liking to a perfect pint

To find your nearest pub visit www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk or follow @Nicholsonspubs on Twitter and on Facebook for news updates, events and offers during the festival.

Christmas time, mistletoe and..... ALE!

As a follow-up to the fantastic afternoon sampling Nicholson's ale festival specialities, I was cordially invited to sample the company's Christmas ales one evening at the De Hems Dutch Cafe Bar in Soho London.

Accompanying me on this festive delight was long-time school friend Daniel.

Nicholson’s Pubs celebrates the festive season by producing a selection of seven exclusive Christmas Ales in collaboration with some of the UK’s key top brewers.

The speakers line up to present their Christmas ales

The company’s experienced Cask Masters have specially crafted their own ales, brewed in collaboration with Moorhouse, Oxfordshire, Andwells, Broughton, Sambrooks, Vale and Brentwood breweries and available across over 80 pubs nationwide throughout December 2012. 

So our evening involved tasting the seven specialities on offer, and here they are, with a brief description, our thoughts and ratings!

Ding Dong - but did it make the bells ring?

Ding Dong

ABV: 4.5%
Taste: A warm chestnut beer with a rich marmalade aroma
Brewery: Andwell

This was our first Christmas ale of the evening, and was some start. It had a sweet, dessert flavour, and as oppose to some other ales that promises a flavour it can't really provide, the sweet aftertaste of marmelade was delightful.

Scores

Daniel - 7

John - 8

Meads Must

ABV: 4.7%
Taste: A superb dark ruby red ale with a hint of honey and quince.
Brewery: Oxfordshire

Although higher in ABV content than the first, this ale lacked any kind of bite, and had a rather weak aftertaste. We both deduced that unfortunately it's smell, which was rich and sweet, was better than its taste.

Scores

Daniel -6

John - 5

The representatives from those involved with The Only Way Is Santa  put on an enthusiastic presentation

Five Gold Rings

ABV: 4.8%
Taste: A dark mahogany coloured brew with an aroma of roasted malt, the taste of fruit and subtle spice flavours are followed by a long , warm and slightly bitter finish.
Brewery: Vale

A lovely, warm and spicy ale, a real winter special. This had a good, all-round solid taste which could be felt in between drinks. Although early in the evening, we knew this was going to be up there with the best.

Scores

Daniel -7

John -8

 
London Winter Ale

ABV: 4.6%
Taste: A deep red ale which takes its spicy aroma from a blend of English hops.  With a rich sweet and tangy taste this beer is an ideal accompaniment to steak, venison, game and Christmas Pudding.
Brewery: Sambrookes

Both of us had heard of the Sambrookes brewery, so were pleasantly surprised to hear that it had only been brewing from Battersea since 2008. And with this concoction, they are on to a winner. It had a real chocolatey taste, and we felt was one of the more powerful on the palate of the evening.

Scores

Daniel -8

John -7

Elves Bells

ABV: 4%
Taste: A deep chestnut brown coloured ale, brewed with Maris Otter malted barley and crystal malt to give hints of sweet malt, biscuit and caramel tones.  Balanced by the use of cascade hops to give floral and spice notes on the nose, there is a pleasant full bitterness in the aftertaste.
Brewery: Moorhouse

This was the 'most drinkable' ale of the evening - that is to say it was the one most suited to staying on all night. This may be to do with the alcohol content, but it was also to do with its succinct, dessert taaste, where each of the ingredients were discernable. Also, the fact that is was devoid of sugar added to its popularity!

Scores

Daniel -8

John -8

The Only Way Is Santa

ABV: 5.2%
Taste: A rich ruby beer with a smooth malt character, Willamette hops give this beer spicy, blackcurrant aromas and flavours. Plums and cinnamon have been added to compliment the beers character with a delectably rich flavour and a gentle spice. 
Brewery: Brentwood

The highest ABV of the evening, and also, the joint-highest overall score from our ratings! While Joey Essex and Chloe Simms from TOWIE may not choose this tipple on their night out in the Sugar Hut, Essex should be very proud of this particular concoction (could these characters also be labelled 'concoctions' though??). We were told this ale gives you 'one of your five-a-day' and if five glasses of this sorted that out, then we'll raise our glass to that!

Scores

Daniel -9

John -8

Santa's Oatmeal Stout SOS

ABV: 4.8%
Taste: Bursting with oatmeal and chocolate aromas, this dark brown ale uses a blend of five malts and oats, delivering a mouthful of smooth roasted flavours and a lingering rich taste.
Brewery: Broughton

Certainly one of the liveliest ales on the palate of the evening, and with a lingering taste in the mouth and throat, this finished joint-top in the ratings with The Only Way Is Santa. Again, the flavours mingled exceptionally well, and the aftertaste left us wanting more. It felt as strong as the previous ale, and felt, as we did here, it would be the perfect pint to round off an evening with (and probably start off with too!).

Scores

Daniel -9

John -8

The presentations all came across as genuine and knowledgable

After the presentations from representatives from the various breweries were finished, expertly hosted by British Craft Guild of Beer Writers member and author Melissa Cole, those present were invited to help themselves to the casks of Christmas ales. There was no desire to take advantage of the volume of alcohol on offer - it was the kind of night to enjoy the varied tastes of all the respective ales, chat to others present, and then be on our sober way home.

Well, most of that is true!

For more information on Nicholson's Christmas Ales, visit the website at www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Nicholson’s offers an historic and distinctive collection of pubs across the UK, with warm and inviting hospitality through its authentic British pub atmosphere.  Delivering quality hearty British classics served with a modern twist, take a break from Christmas shopping and enjoy lunch or dinner at many of the hidden upstairs dining rooms.  Alternatively the festive menus provide a great solution for office get-togethers or groups of friends and family.

Guest ales are expertly matched with dishes from the food menu, or alternatively, experience Nicholson’s equalled passion for fine wine with its impressive cellars containing classics and vintages from the old and new world.  

 

 

 

Warm the cockles with Nicholson's Autumn Ale Festival!

An afternoon sampling ale sounded right up my street. Added to that was the fact that I was scheduled to be meeting up with a couple of old University friends, and the seed was sown, and we were cordially invited to sample the delights of Nicholson's Ale Festival. (Click here for history of the Nicholson's branding on the 'reviews' page).

The Nicholson's London Ale trail runs through Soho and Oxford Street, Theatreland, Piccadilly to Westminster, the Financial District, historical Blackfriars and London Bridge to Tower Bridge, in the city centre.

Add another three sites just outside the centre of London, and there's 43 pubs to sample the delight of Great British ales.

Left to right; Cask ale expert Ben Lockwood, The Clachan manager Greg Yates,
and yours truly

We settled for an afternoon in one of the venues (not lazy, just comfortable), and this was The Clachan, near to Oxford Circus tube station on Kingly Street.

On notifying the bar manager that we weren't just dossers taking an afternoon off to tank up on the super selection of ales on offer, but that I was there to review the festival, we were offered our first sample - a pint of the 24 Carat Gold, a Liverpool-brewed ale.

And a great start that was! The ale was lively and refreshing, the orange notes very clear in the pint, a superb selection from manager Greg Yates.

After finishing a meeting, assistant brand manager and cask ale expert Ben Lockwood joined us at the table - and after being briefed of his experience and enthusiasm for his line of work, I expected a 40-years-old + gent to be joining us.

I was wrong, as shuffling down next to us was a youthful smartly-dressed chap, who, similar to me as I am a youthful, smartly-dressed chap, was 28-years-old.

His knowledge and history in the trade was fascinating, his pride and dedication very evident, and it helped that he asked us questions as well as us quizzing him, and it made it a nicely-settled atmosphere.

After some interesting conversation, Ben decided that we would crack on with sampling some of the ales on offer. And here's how they went down, with scoring courtesy of myself, my home-brewing ale expert Andy, and some geezer we met on the way (joke) Greg.

Proper Job

ABV: 4.5%
Style: IPA
Taste: A powerfully hopped golden bitter that explodes with citrus grapefruit flavours
Location: Cornwall

It is always difficult to score an ale when it is first (discounting our pre-drink) on the menu. Yet all three of us were confident this would be right up there. The ale was crisp, the flavours of the hops spicy, yet not overwhelming, and it left a really strong mouthfeel.

Scores

Andy - 9
Greg - 7
John - 8

There were certainly a few ales to get through...

Lamplighter

ABV: 4.8%
Style: Amber
Taste: Roasted malts, fruity and hoppy
Location: Essex

This beer is brewed in memory of founder William Nicholson, whose original homemade gin, before trying his expert hand to ale, was called Lamplighter. The citric aromas, mixed with an earthy aftertaste made it seem all ends up a sure-fire house ale. The taste however, seemed like it could be of a seasonal nature, perhaps more an autumn/winter warmer, which affected the scoring.

Scores

Andy - 8
Greg - 6
John - 9


Real Blonde

ABV: 4%
Style: Blonde
Taste: Refreshing, balanced, light and fruity
Location: Batley

Admittedly, I went into this taste-test with a bias insofar that Batley is close to where I was brought up. However, this ale turned out to be my least favourite. Nothing to do with its qualities as a blonde ale, but simply that I prefer a heavy, dark ale. We all felt it tasted very 'light' and hit little effect on the palate - but perhaps it is an acquired taste!

I had a go at pulling my own - apparently it was the 'perfect pint'

Scores

Andy - 5
Greg - 5
John - 6


Black Gold

ABV: 3.7%
Style: Mild
Taste: Roasted malts giving a unique rich and luscious flavour
Location: Skipton

Again I wanted to be biased - Skipton is a lovely place not far from my home in Leeds. So I naturally scored it high - but for good reason. I found the ale very flavoursome, like a well-nurtured desert, very grainy and caramel-like. Sadly, I think my colleagues were getting full up as shown in their scoring.

Scores

Andy - 6
Greg - 6
John - 8

Think the lads were happy with the afternoon's entertainment!

Titanic Iceberg

ABV: 4.1%
Style: Pale
Taste: A fantastic wheat beer that holes any passing thirst
Location: Stoke-on-Trent

A really refreshing beer that had a very special zest that makes you forget that it contains any alcohol. This is certainly an ale you could spend a night on and be happy with your choice. However, it might lack that special edge that others might bring.

Scores

Andy - 6
Greg - 7
John - 7


Three Swords

ABV: 4.5%
Style: Pale
Taste: The three hops give a delightful citrus nose
Location: Leeds

Now here it was, the final ale, from my home town, Leeds. And I was not disappointed, and neither were my colleagues, who had no bias whatsoever! This was the clear winner! It is a real thirst-quencher, containing a different sensation on each taste. It was a complex taste with many different flavours on the palate, but each one discernible. A sure fire winner!

Scores

Andy - 9
Greg - 8
John - 9


And so we were shortly on our way. Well oiled for the evening, but with a realisation that we didn't want to ruin it with sub-standard alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, as we didn't frequent any more Nicholson's pubs on our tour of London, we knew there was no point trying the ales of other establishments as they wouldn't match up. So we decided to stay on water for the evening to as to not spoil the palate.

Well, that might not be wholly true, but our ale-tasting session at The Clachan was certainly the highlight of our meeting. Bravo!

The Autumn Ale Festival runs until November 18 in all Nicholson's pubs in London and beyond. For more information contact visit the website at www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk