This beer started it's life as a seasonal, limited edition beer from Greene King. They used to bring it out when the nights got darker as a winter special - and if you've read my previous blog, then that's the time of year when people usually start to look for a beer with a bit of "oomph". It was first available in cask, and then bottle. It became so popular, that it's now available bottled all year round. I don't really agree with this, as this is going down the mainstream route. We should be able to look forward to different beers as the seasons change - not have them all year round. They lose their identity, their appeal - and in my opinion, their occasionality. Regular Abbot Ale coming in at 5% is fine for me. Why would I want to drink a 6.5% version in the middle of summer?
I'm probably going to get complaints, or should I word that, requests, that I stock Abbot Ale Reserve all year round. My answer will be a firm no. Drink bar is all about providing something different. People are coming into the bar this October and asking what Octoberfest specials we've got. These are the same people who came in for our summer beers, and these will be the same people who will be looking on the blackboard for our special winter warmers. If I make our feature beers available all year round, then I might as well just rip out the taps and offer only two beers - all year round.
Here's the review:
As you can see from the picture, this is a full bodied, dark amber beer. Great moutfeel owing to that huge creamy had. Aroma gather up your nose in the form of banana, malt, caramel, alcohol and roasted barley. A hint of orange peel too if you sniff hard enough.
It's quite bitter - this is due to it being late hopped with fuggles, and this bitterness lasts throughout the taste. It's also quite malty. I'm thinking fruitcake when I drink this - lots of raisin and caramel flavours.
The alcohol taste and aroma is also present throughout - you know you are drinking a strong bitter, but due to the hops also being there, it doesn't have that strong ethanol taste which can dominate and ulitmately ruin a beer.
This would be great with food. Probably a nice toffee pudding, or something equally sweet and unhealthy. Christmas cake too would be a winner - as would be a nice slice of strong English cheddar.
All in all a pretty good beer. Nothing outstanding...as it's a Greene King beer. They don't go in for massive flavour profiles, because they are a mainstream brewer. It makes a nice change though, and is certainly recommended.
