Wine & Beer

Cask Ales

Is BEER the new wine?

The different styles of beer are categorised mainly by their production methods, ingredients, colour and strength as well as their taste. With over 2000 different beers available in the UK it is possible to find a beer to complement any dish. In fact, with so many varieties to choose from such a task can seem overwhelming! The following notes will hopefully aid your decision; remember that many beers will taste very different when drunk with food than they do when drunk on their own: experimentation is the key!

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India Pale Ale or I.P.A

IPA gets it name from its distinct style, produced to withstand the long sea journeys to India in the 18^th Century. The combination of a relatively high alcohol content together with the preservative qualities provided by the intense hopping resulted in the robustness required of the first ever Export quality beer.

Choose an India Pale Ale to partner oily or battered fish dishes, moderately spicy courses or milder British cheeses.

 Best Bitters.

 Usually weighing in with an ABV of just above the 4% mark, Best Bitters are usually bronze in colour due to the use of darker malts used in the brewing process. Often rich and fruity, sometimes with a nutty, hoppy aroma this style of beer will have varied degrees of bitterness determined by the amount and type of hops employed. In order to intensify the aroma some beers have hops added at the end of the brewing process, a procedure known as dry hopping. Best Bitters are well suited to hearty red meat casseroles, pies, slow cooked lamb, offal dishes and sausages. 

Old Ales.

Produced by blending dark and pale malts Old Ales have a rich full body, are sweeter, with little bitterness, and are usually high in alcoholic strength. On the palate you will experience a range of fruit flavours, notes of caramel or toffee, often with hints of coffee or liquorice. Great with desserts such as rich fruit puddings or strong blue cheese and sweet Game sauces such as those often served with duck. Sometimes you will see bottled versions displaying a vintage on their labels, this is because such beers are well suited to laying down for a few years, aging well due to their high ABV.

Ciders.

Traditional ciders have a long history of being served as a food accompaniment. Of course there are many different styles but as a guide try pairing medium dry, amber varieties with rustic British Classics such as sausage and mash. Sweeter, full bodied versions can work well with spicy dishes, as well as desserts, while dry, sparkling varieties are an excellent match for a wide variety of chicken and fish dishes.

Wheat Beers.

This style has an array of different attributes and so presents many different possibilities for food matching. The bitterness of the hops, fruity acidity and high carbonation of wheat beers work well with dressed salads, egg dishes, mushrooms and creamy sauces. Filtered varieties display a pronounced “refreshing” finish and are more suited to complex food matches such as the black pudding potato cake, with soft poached egg and tarragon sauce recipe made famous by Robert Owen Brown. 

 Fruit Beers.

Perhaps surprisingly, fruit beers (Lambics) aren’t always a great match with fruit based desserts; often the flavours can become too intense. Chilled fruit beers can make a good aperitif or try a glass with your main course; remember that fruit based sauces served with game dishes often pair well with less sweet examples of fruit beer. If you are determined to experiment with Lambics and desserts then try matching sweet varieties with lighter puddings such as a fruit soufflé or a moist fruit loaf.

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We always have Timothy Taylors Landlord  and three Guest Ales.  Please find some examples below:

Timothy Taylor Landlord 4.3%
Timothy Taylor Best Bitter 4.0%
Timothy Taylor Golden Best 3.5%
Boggart Ray of Sunshine 3.9%
Boggart ESP 4.8%
Boggart Sundial 4.7%
Boggart Cascade 4.0%
Boggart Rum Porter 4.6%
Boggart Blackberry Blonde 4.2%
Marstons EPA 3.6%
Jennings Cumberland 4.0%
Bazens Juno’s Pearl 4.2%
Bazens Zebra Best Bitter 4.3%
Bazens Mark Addy Ale 4.3%
Bazens Spring Tide 4.3%
Bazens Orient Ahhh 4.2%
Bazens St George Best 4.0%
Bazens Ides Bitter 4.2%
Bazens Flatbac 4.2%
Bazens Blue Bullet 4.5%
Bank Top Old Slapper 4.2%
Bank Top Gold Digger 4.0%
Bank Top Pavilion Pale Ale 4.5%
Bank Top Flat Cap 4.0%
Bank Top Barley to Beer 3.6%
Bank Top Bad to the Bone 4.0%
Bank Top Blonde 5.0%
Bank Top Sweenys 3.8%
Grays LS Lowry 4.0%
Grays Celtic Gold 4.0%
Grays Champion Ale 5.1%
Marble Summer 4.5%
Marble Lagonda IPA 5.0%
Marble Pint 3.9%
Marble Manchester Bitter 4.2%
Marble Ginger 4.5%
Wychwood Hobgoblin 4.5%
Brewdog Paradox 10.00%

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Wines

	Champagne & Sparkling Wine	glass (125ml)	glass (175ml)	bottle
1	Lunetta Prosecco Brut, Italy NV	£3.50		£18.95
	Ideal aperitif to sip by the Irwell
2	Mas Macia Cava Rosado, Spain, NV			£22.00
	Cassanovas rose Cava, Jordi Cavanova that’s it!
3	Champagne Gremillet Brut, France NV			£29.95
	IWSC Champagne of the Year
4	Champagne Lallier Premier Cru Rosé NV			£34.95
	Sommelier Wine Awards Gold
	White Wines		glass (175ml)	bottle
5	Ca’ di Ponti Catarratto, Sicily, Italy 2008		£3.25	£12.95
	Easy drinking aromatic Sicilian native
6	Champs du Moulin Colombard, France 2008		£3.75	£13.95
	We can’t believe it’s not Sauvignon!
7	Emiliana Chardonnay, Chile 2008/9			£14.95
	Rich yet fresh style
8	Bellefontaine Sauvignon Blanc, VdP d’Oc, France 2008			£15.95
	Surprisingly good southern French Sauvignon
9	Paarl Heights Chenin Blanc, South Africa 2009/10		£4.10	£16.50
	Off Dry with honeyed peach and apple flavours
10	Ancora Pinot Grigio, Pavia, Italy 2008		£4.25	£16.95
	Proper Pinot
11	Domaine de Vedilhan Viognier, VdP d’Oc, France 2008			£17.95
	Great value Viognier with textbook apricot and tinned peach fruit
12	Moko Black Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ 2009/10		£5.15	£19.95
	Named after the Maori body arts this is overflowing with passion fruit and grapefruit flavours
13	La Val Orballo Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain 2008			£21.00
	Spain’s most fashionable white wine. Spine tinglingly good especially with seafood
14	Three Monks Fume Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc), Pyrennes, Australia 2008			£21.95
	An Aussie take on Pouilly Fume
15	Gavi del Commune di Gavi ‘Nuovo Quadro’, Piemonte, Italy 2008			£22.95
	Italy’s answer to Chablis
16	Sancerre, Domaine Michel Girard, Loire Valley, France 2008			£27.00
	French Sauvignon at its best
17	Chablis La Colombe, Burgundy, France 2008/9		£7.25	£29.00
	Textbook Chablis with plump citrus, melon & apple fruit flavours underpinned with good minerality
18	Pouilly Fuisse Grande Reserve, Domaine des Maillettes, Burgundy France 2007			£35.00
	This is one of the best if not the best Pouily Fuisses we’ve tried.
19	Meursault, Vallet Freres, France 2007			£49.95
	The tiny village of Meursault makes some of the best white wine in the world
	Rosé		glass (175ml)	bottle
20	Borsao Garnacha Rosado, Campo de Borja, Spain 2008		£3.50	£13.50
	Light bodied but crammed full of Spanish sunshine
21	San Vigilio Pinot Grigio Blush, Italy 2008		£4.10	£15.95
	The original style of Pinot
22	False Bay Rose, South Africa 2009			£16.95
	Elegant yet full of red berry fruits
23	Adobe Organic Syrah Rose, Chile 2008			£17.95
	Lovely rich style with pureed strawberry fruit flavours
24	Chateau La Moutete Grande Reserve Rosé, Cotes de Provence, France 2008		£5.75	£21.95
	Stylish
	Dessert Wines		glass (75ml)	bottle
41	Moscato Passito ‘Palazzini’, Piemonte, Italy 2005		£2.95	£12.00
	Possibly the best value dessert wine in the world with lovely honey & lemon flavours
			glass (50ml)	bottle
42	Antique PX, Jerez, Spain NV		£3.95	£35.50
	One of the best dessert wines in the world. Made for Choc puds or just drizzle over ice cream
43	Krohn Colheita Port, Portugal 1978		£4.95	£69.95
	30 year Old vintage tawny port that great with crème brulee or crumbly Cheshire cheese
	Red Wines		glass (175ml)	bottle
25	Il Meridione Nero d’Avola, Italy 2008		£3.25	£12.95
	Smooth Sicilian with plum, a twist of cherry and a dusting of cocoa
26	Borsao Garnacha Tinto, Campo de Borja, Spain 2008		£3.75	£13.95
	Velvety blend of mostly Garnacha with a touch of Cabernet and Tempranillo
27	Sierra Grande Cabernet Sauvignon, Rapel Valley, Chile 2008			£14.95
	Great Cab for the money with classic cassis fruit
28	Emiliana Carmenere, Chile 2008		£4.10	£15.95
	Soft and plumy like Merlot but with a hint of spice
29	Honoro Vera Organic Monastrell, Juan Gill, Jumilla, Spain 2008/9			£16.95
	Jumilla has some of the oldest vines in Spain which produces low yield stonking reds
30	False Bay Pinotage, South Africa 2009			£17.50
	Pinotage is a crossing that combines the red fruit of Pinot Noir with the spiciness of Cinsault
31	Rioja Crianza, Bodegas Artesa, Spain 2006		£4.95	£18.95
	Smooth modern Rioja with integrated oak and a spicy smokiness
32	Soldiers Block Shiraz, Mclaren Vale, Australia 2007/8		£5.15	£19.95
	Textbook Shiraz with blackcurrant jam fruit laced with chocolate, pepper & eucalyptus
33	Fleurie, La Reine de L’Arenite, France 2007			£21.95
	Beaujolais’s most popular village Cru and a Gold medal winner at the Sommelier Wine Awards
34	Don Nicanor Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina 2007			£22.95
	Rich, with juicy blueberry & spicy oak that’s great with steak
35	Senorio de Sarria Reserva, Navarra, Spain 2002			£24.95
	Fully mature Reserva from Riojas neighbouring district of Navarra
36	Valpolicella Classico ‘Ripasso’, Capitel della Crosara, Veneto, Italy 2007		£6.95	£26.95
	Tastes like a mini Amarone
37	Clos du Val Zinfandel, Napa Valley, California, USA 2007			£32.00
	Rich, full bodied with  Blueberry pie fruit
38	Clos de la Cure Grand Cru St Emilion, Bordeaux, France 2005/6			£33.95
	Sommelier Wine Awards Gold medal winner
39	Gevrey Chambertin, Pierre Bouree, Burgundy, France 2001			£42.00
	Traditional Burgundy with the ‘gout de Pinot’
40	Monte Real Gran Reserva Rioja, Spain 1978			£49.95
	Beautifully mature 30 year old Rioja
	Wines By the Glass	glass (125ml)	glass (175ml)	glass (250ml)
1	Lunetta Prosecco Brut, Italy NV	£3.50
	Ideal aperitif to sip by the Irwell
5	Ca’ di Ponti Catarratto, Sicily, Italy 2008		£3.25	£4.50
	Easy drinking aromatic Sicilian native
6	Champs du Moulin Colombard, France 2008		£3.75	£4.95
	We can’t believe it’s not Sauvignon!
9	Paarl Heights Chenin Blanc, South Africa 2009/10		£4.10	£5.50
	Off Dry with honeyed peach and apple flavours
10	Ancora Pinot Grigio, Pavia, Italy 2008		£4.25	£5.75
	Proper Pinot
17	Chablis La Colombe, Burgundy, France 2008/9		£7.25	£9.95
	Textbook Chablis with plump citrus, melon & apple fruit flavours underpinned with good minerality
20	Borsao Garnacha Rosado, Campo de Borja, Spain 2008		£3.50	£4.75
	Light bodied but crammed full of Spanish sunshine
21	San Vigilio Pinot Grigio Blush, Italy 2008		£4.10	£5.50
	The original style of Pinot
24	Chateau La Moutete Grande Reserve Rosé, Cotes de Provence, France 2008		£5.75	£7.95
	Stylish
25	Il Meridione Nero d’Avola, Italy 2008		£3.25	£4.50
	Smooth Sicilian with plum, a twist of cherry and a dusting of cocoa
26	Borsao Garnacha Tinto, Campo de Borja, Spain 2008		£3.75	£4.95
	Velvety blend of mostly Garnacha with a touch of Cabernet and Tempranillo
28	Emiliana Carmenere, Chile 2008		£4.10	£5.50
	Soft and plumy like Merlot but with a hint of spice
31	Rioja Crianza, Bodegas Artesa, Spain 2006		£4.95	£6.50
	Smooth modern Rioja with integrated oak and a spicy smokiness
32	Soldiers Block Shiraz, Mclaren Vale, Australia 2007/8		£5.15	£6.85
	Textbook Shiraz with blackcurrant jam fruit laced with chocolate, pepper & eucalyptus
36	Valpolicella Classico ‘Ripasso’, Capitel della Crosara, Veneto, Italy 2007		£6.95	£9.25
	Tastes like a mini Amarone