A Tasting with Young's brewery at The Spring Grove, Bloomfield Road, Kingston on July 1st, 2002
I was invited to this most convivial bash by landlord Dave when I popped into the pub to pick up a letter the Thursday before the tasting was due to take place. It sounded right up my street; free beer and a good plate full of grub for good measure. So, after hurtling home from work and doing all the other stuff that needed doing, I managed to turn up a little late. But, t'was no matter as I was already well acquainted by the couple of beers I'd missed. The ever jolly Scotsman Ken Don from Young's brewery was our guide through the maze of ales this evening, and did a sterling job even battling through the braying voices of some people who thought they had more important things to say.
The assembled punters were treated to Bitter (Cask) at 3.7%, Young's traditional cask ale brewed using Goldings and Fuggles hops and English malted barley. Closely followed by this was the bottled version at the same A.B.V., obviously a little crisper thanks to the added bubbles in the bottling process.
Next up came (Shocked gasp) from a can; this was Triple A. This beer gets its name from its contents, namely 'A' class hops, 'A' class yeast and 'A' class barley to gain its particular flavour.
Onwards to Special (Cask) at 4.6% and its bottled version at the same strength. This is Young's premium cask ale, brewed using again Fuggles and Goldings hops and Maris Otter malted barley.
Wahey, time for Waggledance. Both from Cask and bottle this lovely brew weighs in at 5%. Brewed with finest barley malt and pure honey, (I believe Ken said it was Mexican) this is a beer to be savoured. The wonderful taste of the honey percolates through the brew; it has to rank alongside other fine beers of this sort like Fuller's Honeydew.
Silent scream. A lager can seem a daunting prospect after the ale, but I must admit that Pilsner Lager (Keg) at 4% isn't quite so horrifying. I remember many years ago tasting their Saxon lager, which was at best execrable. This, thank Clapton, is an improvement. Quite sweet and necessarily chilled, to my taste the flavour seemed close to Budweiser (American) but without its unpalatable metallic twang.
Ken then introduced us to a new bottled beer specially produced for the Cricket ground at Lords. No prizes for guessing that it was called Lords and it hits the ground running at 4%. An interesting taste, but I was a little alarmed to find that it was in fact a blend of Triple A and Pilsner. I never thought that the idea of ale and lager mixed would take on in the London area, but apparently it's quite a popular drop.
Onwards to a real curiousity but nonetheless a pleasurable one. As you must know, it's the Queen's Golden Jubilee year (2002) and of course, Young's weren't going to let that little milestone slip by without a brew to its name. Henceforth, Jubilee (Egad, these imaginative titles). There's a wee something lurking in here that threw us off guard; it's Elderflower! The beer itself is in fact Lords, but infused with a good whack of the afore-mentioned item. It's well worth trying for all those out there who fancy a step further than the usual hops and barley etc. And as you'd imagine, it's 4%
Now for a freaky one. The dark and ruby coloured Double Chocolate Stout at 5.2%. Fuggles and Goldings hops go in here, along with a blend of sugars, dark Chocolate bars and Chocolate essence. Ken actually told us that someone had complained to him that they couldn't taste the Chocolate! All I can imagine is that they must have been chewing raw chillis for a day before tasting this because it's the first thing that strikes you as soon as you get the beer in your mouth. Another story about this brew is that the story leaked out that the Chocolate used was in fact Cadbury's. The good people of Bourneville took exception to this, as being a Quaker company they did not approve of drinking alcohol. Thankfully an amicable arrangement was met and all parties departed satisfied, and so I must add are we who now get the chance to pour it down our necks.
The penultimate drop was Special London Ale at 6.4%, a bottled beer with a welcoming golden brown colouring. Young's state this has a "Vinous hoppy nose" and who am I to disagree. Maris Otter pale ale malt goes into the brewing of this one, and according to Young's again, "phenomenal amounts of Fuggles and Goldings hops". This is a 'live' ale and yeast is added during the bottling process to continue its maturation. Suffice it to say this is one with a pleasurable kick to it.
Finally, look out below. Who's this cuddly little chap peering out from the label, surrounded by smoke and flames? Why, 'tis none other than he who walks backwards, namely Old Nick at a hearty 7.2%. Pretty much in the vein of barley wine, this merry little drop seemed to be a perfect rounding off of the proceedings. This is definitely one to be savoured and enjoyed rather than hurled down the throat with abandon. Just like those delectable Belgian beers like Duvel and Orval at similar strengths, one needs to take time over a beer like this. It was shortly before the dispensing of this final brew that Chris, my quiz night compadre barrelled in through the door having had the misfortune of having a train cut out from Sunny Shepperton. He missed most of the fun but arrived in time for another of the real pleasures of the night, which was Lisa's home made Beef Stew with a gravy fashioned from Young's Special Bitter, ladled up with lashings of crispy roast potatoes.
It was at this time that I mentioned to landlord Dave how another member of our Monday night quiz team would have enjoyed this. Spring Grove regular and all-round grand old chap George Bennett would have had a really fine evening with us, but sadly the guv'nor upstairs rang the time bell for him. Glasses were raised in memory and thankfulness for having known him. Cheers mate.
Well, we got through the beers at quite a pace, but it was a great evening and the stew was bloody marvellous. Thanks to Ken from the brewery and to Dave and Lisa at the Spring Grove. Thanks for the invite!