A few holiday Beers and Wine
Just come to the end of a very wet week away in Devon, and when I say wet I mean wet.
Staying with family in Westward Ho! renting a house about 5 minutes walk from the beach. It didn’t stop raining all the time we were there, apart from an odd day, not only rain but galeforce winds.
Never mind that’s the chance you take holidaying in the UK, luckily we had supplies in the form of beer and wine.
So what did we drink?
First up I must mention the beers we came across, in a pizza restaurant, in Westward Ho. As good as the Pizza’s were the beers were outstanding, what a find!!
Utopian Premium British Lager 4.7% abv
This was a real surprise, never heard of this Utopian Brewery in Crediton Devon, but I definitely will be checking them out again.
The beer itself was fantastic, I’d go as far as saying probably one of the best, if not the best, English lager I’ve tasted.
I know crisp and clean is used a lot when describing some lagers but this is exactly what it was, made in a Bavarian Helles style.
It has some grainy, malty aromas which follow through in the taste. slightly bready, hoppy, with some sweetness and a pleasing bitterness on the finish.
Really good stuff even on a miserable day.
Good Times Blonde Ambition Pale Ale 4.5%abv
This Pizza Restaurant had fantastic food, but their selection of beers was on another scale, this GT Blonde Pale Ale, from Chivenor, North Devon was no different.
Very easy drinking but with bags of flavour from the Cara malt and the citrussy Mosaic hops.
There was some biscuity taste to go along with the bright fresh citrus bitterness, but all seemed very balanced
The lager shaded it, but both were really good.
I shall be checking them out again, for sure!
More Beers !
One traditional cask-conditioned ale up next
Dartmoor Legend Cask Ale
Sampled this at Hartland Quay, South West Devon.
It was a really wet blustery day when we arrived for a walk (for about an hour) around the clifftops.
I actually declined (don’t like getting wet) and set off to the warmth of the Hartland Quay Hotel and waited for the rest of the family to finish their walk while I had a lovely pint of Dartmoor Legend Cask ale.
A lovely warming dark ale, fruity, malty, nutty, some sweet caramel and slightly earthy.
It was a little on the sweet side (toffee) and had loads of flavour, but with only moderate bitterness on the finish.
This really hit the spot and at 4.4% abv, easy to drink, perhaps a little too easy!
Still sipping this when the others came back slightly damp and wind-swept.
Think I made the right decision!
Beers brewed in Ireland
These were really good as well, part of a case of beers from Beer 52 a selection from around Ireland, including a single hopped Lager from Tilt and Pour, a Pale ale from Hilden and the excellent ‘Hold the Pause’ a session IPA from Heaney.
Simcoe Hoppenlager single hopped Lager 4.2% abv
The Single hopped Lager from Tilt and Pour made with Simcoe hops. Some malty sweetness but the overriding taste is that of citrus fruits and a refreshing bitterness on the finish.
Not quite up to the British Utopian but still very good
Hilden Pale Ale 4% abv
Nice session Pale ale from the guys at Hilden, easy drinking, slightly hazy, moderate bitterness, and subtly sweet.
Hold the Pause — Heaney 5% abv
Another Hazy IPA but my pick of the case, medium-bodied, full of ripe tropical fruits with a hint of creamy vanilla, balanced bitterness, very nice indeed!
The Irish Craft beer scene is alive and kicking !
Next up is the pick of the best wines we opened over the week
So on to the wines and I picked these three out for special mention from Wales, Spain and Australia.
White Castle Brut Sparkling Wine 2018 12%abv
Visited this Vineyard in Monmouthshire Wales a little while ago see my review here.
Didn’t get to taste their Sparkling wine at the time, but I’ve now rectified that, and what a pleasant bottle of fizz it turned out to be.
Grapes used here were Phoenix and Seyval Blanc , bottle-aged for around 38 months.
Light straw colour, fine bubbles and mousse, lots of orchard fruits on show here, really was packed with bright fruit flavours. Flowery (Elderflower) and a hint of biscuit, allowing the fruit to really shine.
Lovely, lovely, fizz, bright and fresh packed with apple, pear, lemon, gooseberry.
If you are in Wales and like a drop of wine then this vineyard is a must visit.
Delightful.
Hacienda Lopez De Haro Rioja Gran Reserva 2014
Next up my favourite subject Spanish wine and a Rioja from this well known producer.
Ah, Rioja still my favourite red wine and this has that unmistakable Rioja flavour.
A Gran Reserva, so aged in oak barrels for 30 months and then left to stand in the bottle for a further 3 years.
I remember drinking LdH many times over the years and although the price has shot up in recent times, it’s still remains a fabulously authentic Spanish wine.
Strawberry, blackberries, herbs, coffee, vanilla, are all there along with a slight dustiness, but still lots of fruit. Tannins are noticeable but that’s to be expected.
This was kind of elegant and silky for a 10 year old wine.
Yalumba Virgilius Viognier 2018
Finishing up with this Aussie Beauty, a top quality Viognier from Australia’s Eden Valley.
Been keeping this back to share with family, and they all loved it.
It’s fragrant, very floral, Ripe tropical fruits, peach, apricot, a little honeysuckle, fennel and herby spice, lots going on here.
We ordered a Thai takeaway and this paired beautifully neither overpowering each other.
Yalumba’s Flagship white and you can see why.
Final thoughts….
Despite the wetness it was a lovely week away with family, good food, good company, good beer, good wine, lousy weather, still 4 out of 5 isn’t bad.
