Beers I like

As I am going to start reviewing beers on here, I thought I would set out my general taste in beer, so you can see where I am coming from.

Presently (September 2018) I generally find that I prefer English and Scottish traditional styles, normally in cask but not always. There are exceptions, but as a general rule, the present craft beer scene leaves me a little cold (literally!) and unimpressed. Really, really hop forward beers don't tend to suite my palette, for example. Adjuncts likewise, but I try and stay open mouthed minded and will sample just about anything.

So my current 'best beer in the world' on tap is, for a number of reasons, Batemans XXXB. My favorite bottled strong ale is a toss up between Batemans Victory and McEwans Champion. My current favorite golden ale is Batemans Summer Swallow ~ if you'd asked a year ago it would have been Batemans Yella Belly Gold, which shows how your palette can change. Beers that would give them a close run in a race of my favorites would be Timmy Taylors Landlord, Boltmaker, and Fullers 1845, to name a few. You may notice a lot of Batemans beers in these ~ that's because they are local to my area, I guess.

Sometimes, i get into a phase of having hankerings for milds. Light or dark. Cask or, occasionally, keg. The best I have had recently is Hook Norton Hooky Mild, with Bateman's Dark Mild a close second. Honorable mentions would go to Rudgate Ruby Mild and Timothy Taylors Ram Tam.