Herten Heer King of Hearts

Blond and bitter it says on the bottle and that describes the initial impression well. Something a bit like a British take on an American IPA in a funny kind of way. investigating the brewery proves to back this up as it is a new craft brewery rather than an old traditional family affair.

Hapkin

If Leffe had every last vestige of chemical plant removed, and it was all replaced by cream soda...

100% pleasant, but then so is Coke.

Chimay Biere Brune 6.5

Comes on all Belgian, with fierce fizz, "that" smell and then...

Well... it is entirely pleasant but it must be the lightest dubbel I've ever tasted. The malt is light but takes away much of the expected acidity, leaving not much in the glass as it progresses. It says Brown Ale on the bottle and it's better than any other brown ale I've had but not about to become a Belgian go to.

Uggiano Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2013 8.0

This starts out intensely blackcurranty before going dry and leafy on the tongue as the cherry that arrives at the end tends towards drying. For all the world it tastes like a new world amount of Oak, yet that can't be right. Controlled sugar, like Rhone with a distinctly different aftertaste.

I like it plenty, but it ain't like the usual Chianti at all.

Twisted Oak Dodger 8.0

I enjoyed a few halves of this local brew at the FOSL St George's Day/Shakespeare shindig. Somehow, even though it was playing the same mix up game as Epic Saison, it was a whole lot easier to love. The Mosaic hop flavour was more of a adornment than a theme and the base was a marvelously satisfying malty beast of a beer. One to repeat if the chance is there.

Looking through their list of specials I see I have enjoyed their IPA, Leveret, on a previous occasion. I must go and visit the brewery soonest.

Blason Du Rhone 2014 7.5

Linctus! So full of sweetness in the mouth at first, all those fruits that I don't know the names of because I don't like eating fruit that much. Acidity is there but not uncompromising, leaves a very slight bitter twist at the end which promotes another sip. There's a mild spiciness over the back of the tongue but not peppery. It's kind of muffler of the road in a likeable dependable way. Went well with Shepherds Pie...

Wild Beer Epic Saison 6.5

Wild Beer are local to me. They were the first UK craft brewer that enthused me for something that was not Real Ale. Their Whiskey Beast barrel aged stout was a thing of extraordinary beauty.

I really want to like Epic Saison more than I actually do. It tastes as though someone has topped up my glass of Saison Dupont with some Sierra Nevada pale ale. The early sips are bewildering, but by mid way through the glass I'm accustomed to the mix. As it is I think it's interesting, but not a keeper. I'm happier with each of the flavours on their own, rather than mixed, but it is in no way unpleasant.