Have you heard of Stragford Lough Brewing Company?  If not, don’t feel bad…neither had I until a rep contacted me and offered some beer, free for sampling.  (As an aside, why is it that so many beer fanatics feel ashamed if they aren’t on the leading edge of breaking craft beer news, new breweries, and releases?)  Anyhow, a box containing two ales arrived within a week:  St. Patrick’s Best Ale and Legbiter Ale.  There are few packages I would prefer to arrive at my home than those containing brew, especially from abroad (Ireland…though I cannot attest that the beer was brewed).

Having been on a bit of a “session beer kick” I was glad to see that St. Patrick’s best, a session bitter,  had an ABV of 4.2%.  It’s a bit risky for a brewery to send out a session beer for review for two reasons:  1) Flaws are more apparent than saw a morbidly hopped and malty Imperial IPA, and 2) the craft and beer blogging scene typically rates these brew lower than the monster ABV beers.  Legbiter is a 4.8% (also a session beer) that would be considered a golden ale.

Just because the beer is free for sampling does not mean it gets preferential treatment during the review, as that would be a severe disservice to the brewer.  So how about these brews?

St.Patrick’s Best Ale
St Patricks Best

As you can see from the picture, the brew looks like what it claims to be:  a bitter.  the color is a pretty orange red with brown tints.  It is crystal clear and sported a half inch head that dissipated pretty quickly with moderately pretty lacing.

The aromas are not intense, but pleasant.  It smells like a classic English bitter.  Sweet and malty, hints of grain, mild hop aromas that aren’t too piney but rather lemony, and a nice fruity yeast aromas that reminds you grapes, raisins, and plums.

The beer has a nice texture and light feel in the mouth.  I was expecting a bit more hop presence or for some resiny Golding qualities to be the initial flavor, but instead it was a very toasted and biscuit flavors along with some pretty forward diacetyl qualities.  The caramel qualities gave way to some pleasant floral and bitter flavors.

Overall this was a decent brew, a good session beer.  I’d prefer it to quite a few popular American renditions of the style, but it was a tad too sweet in my opinion and could have used a bit more bitter citrus qualities.  At the same time, I wouldn’t rush out to buy it again.

Nate’s Rating:

Overall Satisfaction: ★★¾☆☆ 

Among otherBitters: ★★½☆☆ 

Legbiter Ale

Legbiter Ale

First off, great name for a brew.  I wouldn’t say that Legbiter poured with a bit less head than St. Patrick’s best, and was a bit more vibrant and yellow/orange, looking like a copper penny in color.  Ample carbonation dotted the underside of the head.

The aroma was quite like it’s sister beer, just a bit more intense, and I’d say hoppier, which surprised me.  All the elements of an English ale were there:  Caramel and toffee, bready and biscuity, hay, grass, mild coffee aromas, sweet candy, and dark fruits.  At the same time there was a slight american vibe in the sense that there spruce and grapefruit qualities.

This beer is quite quaff-able.  In fact, I found myself drinking if pretty quickly.  It’s pretty well balanced.  The beer is very fruity…it tasted like a pear and plum.  The malt backing isn’t super sweet but again reveals the  caramel and diacetyl notes I look for in a beer of this style.  I wouldn’t call this beer bitter, but at the same time you can really taste the hops, which are sort of North American in flavor as they were in the aroma.

Overall I’d call this a job well done.  I enjoyed the beer and if I were in the mood would purchase it.

Nate’s Rating:

Overall Satisfaction: ★★★¼☆ 

Among other English/Irish Pale Ales: ★★★☆☆ 

Strangford Lough Cap