Results tagged “Badger” from An English Epicure

This is a light bitter from the Badger Brewery. It is 4.5% ABV.

Although this beer is one of Badger’s ridiculous animal themed bitters, it is an excellent example of hoppiness done well. Hops are added to the brewing coppers three times: two lots of Super Styrian hops and one of Styrian Goldings. I believe the lovely, almost sweet aroma comes from the final batch, while the potent bitterness comes from the first two. The malt is very subdued in this beer, most of the flavour comes from the hops. And yet they are not astringent.

I’m not sure how they manage to create beers that are so hoppy and bitter without the bitterness being unpleasant. More to the point, why is it that some beers are astringent and make my tongue curl, while beers such as this one are just as bitter but taste lovely? Is it just the variety of hops used? My notes so far suggest that Goldings hops might be the cause of the flavour that I don’t much like. Perhaps they only work when blended with others, as in this beer or Tribute. On the other hand, there are many different types of Goldings hops - how similar are they all to each other? Clearly more research must be done.

Golden Champion is a light, golden ale brewed by the Badger Brewery. It is 5.0% ABV.

This beer has a light, fruity flavour (just like it says on the label on the bottle) but at the same time it tastes quite strong. I couldn’t quite place the slightly floral smell and flavour until I read the label on the back of the bottle and it said it had an “elderflower aroma”, which I think is about right. It is noticeably more bitter than some darker beers but not in a bad way, it rather accentuates the fruit flavours.

I’ve never understood why Badger (or rather their taskmasters, Hall & Woodhouse) sell their best beers in bottles only. Sometimes, around Christmas, they produce a few casks of Champion or Golden Glory, but never very many. Usually you can only get their Badger Best, Sussex, Tanglefoot or one of their stupid animal themed beers on tap. Tanglefoot is nice but why don’t they put their best beers on tap more often? Why did they cancel the King & Barnes IPA? It was pondering such deep questions as these that I spent my time working behind the bar in a Badger pub. That and drinking.

This is a spectacular beer by the Badger Brewery, which is owned by Hall & Woodhouse, and it is 4.5% ABV.

It contains extract of peach blossom, which gives the beer a wonderful fruity, floral taste and aroma. The hops are more aromatic than bitter, which makes the ale light and redolent while still being rich and relatively dark in colour.

It had been some time since I last tried this beer and I had forgotten how it tasted; I took a sip after pouring it, expecting a fairly standard bitter, and was happily surprised at how good it is. It is an excellent premium ale.