NERAX Goodie Bag

So this past weekend I volunteered at NERAX's November festival  (New England Real Ale eXhibition) in Somerville.  It's a smaller fest and organization focused on 'real ale' - cask beer - unfiltered, unpasteurized.. conditioned and served from a cask, not carbonated or nitrogenated at all and typically served much warmer than any other beer.

At the end of the fest they, much to my horror, dump all the beer!  So they let all volunteers take as much as they can carry in any sort of bottle form!  Waahoooo!!

In keeping true to form, I kept these at room temp and drank 'em that way, too.  

First up - Barney's - Good Ordinary Pale Ale from Barney's Beer in Edinburgh, Scotland!  A 3.8% ABV Pale Ale that "isn't afraid of flavour!"  Lovely golden color..nutty, malty aroma.  Toffee, crackers and hints of floral hops.  Wicked smooth and malty - this is everything a Pale should be!
- - 8 Hops!

Next up - Burley Street - Stout from Burley Street Brewery (formerly Leeds Fox Brewery apparently) from Leeds, UK.  A 4.6% ABV proper English Stout.  Great rich brown/black pour.. faint stout aromas..  roasted malts, hints of coffee and dark cacao.  Unbelievably smooth and flavorful for a Stout under 5% - the chocolate and roasty malts seriously shine here.  When I had it direct from the cask last Thursday night it seemed a little bit brighter, hints of citrus hops as an afternote..  now, absolutely none.  Dark fruits play a decent role balancing out the bitter black coffee..  drying, yet sweet finish.  Amazing!
- - 9 Hops!!

 Finally for now...  Brecon - Red Beacons - Brecon Brewing Company from Wales.  A 5.0% "Red-hued" premium ale.  Ruby/brown pour with the characteristic caramel aroma you'd expect with a generous dose of floral hops.  Light and big on the floral hops in taste.. lacking the right amount of malts to balance this out..end up slightly watery.  Slight medicinal/candy tastes to this...  wasn't half bad from the cask, it just seems to not age that well..
- - 5 Hops