Cross Buttock Ale

...Today I am reviewing Jennings Cross Buttock Ale.

~~~THE BREWERY.

By now, you probably know more about Jennings Brothers Brewery Plc than the Jennings family themselves! But, for anyone who hasn’t read my previous reviews…here is a brief history (feel free to skip if you’ve heard it all before)!

Way back in 1828, John Jennings founded a brewery in Lorton; a village in the Lake District. In 1874 they moved ...
...a wrestling move. A Cross Buttock is apparently a throw which has been used for many years in the Westmorland and Cumberland wrestling circle. According to the wrestling website (at http://home.clara.net/pb/calendar/ru_bac_e.htm) the definition of this type of throw is as follows:

“Buttocking is any fall where one man moves ahead of the other and pulls him forward and down to the ground with a wrenching movement. Sometimes only the ... more

I like a nice beer and I love a nice beer with a funny name! So, when we were on a beer tour and we saw this beer I just HAD to try it! Not only was it brewed by Jennings Brewery (which seems to be my brewery of the month), it also has a VERY silly name! Today I am reviewing Jennings Cross Buttock Ale.

~~~THE BREWERY.

By now, you probably know more about Jennings Brothers Brewery Plc than the Jennings family themselves! But, for anyone who hasn’t read my previous reviews…here is a brief history (feel free to skip if you’ve heard it all before)!

Way back in 1828, John Jennings founded a brewery in Lorton; a village in the Lake District. In 1874 they moved to their present location in Cockermouth at the confluence of the Derwent and Cocker rivers, in the shadow of Cockermouth Castle. It is a lovely location for a really good brewery! The brewery is still in the hands of the founding family and still continues to produce ales using natural ingredients (grown in the UK), traditional methods and water from their own well.

Jennings brew a range of bottled and cask ales, which can be found in pubs, off licenses nationwide. I love to look out for their beers because they often have such amazing and often funny names ~ usually with an interesting story behind them. Some examples (all of which I have cunningly reviewed) include Cocker Hoop (4.6% ABV), Sneck Lifter (5.1% ABV) and Cumberland Ale (4% ABV). All of their beers that I have tried are of excellent quality and always well produced.

~~~THE BEER.

***Little Bit of Background***

Contrary to what you are thinking this beer is named after a wrestling move. A Cross Buttock is apparently a throw which has been used for many years in the Westmorland and Cumberland wrestling circle. According to the wrestling website (at http://home.clara.net/pb/calendar/ru_bac_e.htm) the definition of this type of throw is as follows:

“Buttocking is any fall where one man moves ahead of the other and pulls him forward and down to the ground with a wrenching movement. Sometimes only the shoulders are used; sometimes the wrestler slips right under his man and brings him, high and handsome, over his back before crashing him to the ground - a full buttock. A cross-buttock knocks the legs back when the chip is played, and a leg-up buttock is where a leg is pushed up between the opponent's legs to act as a fulcrum.”

Clear as mud to me…but at least it shows they didn’t name the beer after someone’s bottom! It was brewed first in September 1998 and is one of Jenning’s range of seasonal beers. It is officially available during the autumn, but we have tried it at other times of year too.

***The Vital Statistics***

Cross Buttock weighs in at 4.5% ABV and is brewed using Goldings of Fuggles hops and Maris Otter barley.

***Look, Aroma & Texture***

Cross Buttock is a rich dark golden colour with a loose, but reasonably long lasting head. It settled quickly and was clear and crisp. The aroma is malty, with a hint of citrus. Texture wise, there is quite a lot of carbonization present ~ the beer is quite lively and is a little fizzy on the tongue. Mouthfeel is good ~ there is a little chewiness from the malt, but it is the citrus twang that makes it feel refreshing and pleasant.

***Taste***

Predominantly Cross Buttock is malty and bitter, but there are more flavours lurking than that! The citrus from the hop flowers gives it a fresh lemony taste that lifts the beer and makes it lighter and more refreshing. As your pint progresses the flavours balance out well ~ there is a hint of fruitiness and a softening maltiness. This leads to a finish that is zesty and bitter at the same time. The after taste is hoppy, with the same contrast of the citrus and bitterness carrying through. Altogether it is a refreshing pint that is pretty moreish.

~~~WHAT TANGE THINKS!

I could tell this was a beer brewed by Jennings. It has characteristics that I have tasted in their other beers ~ it has their distinct combination of hops and malt, a freshness and tastiness that all their beers seem to have. It doesn’t have the extreme flavour of Sneck Lifter, but it IS tasty and the lemony/citrus elements and the carbonization make it very refreshing and a good choice of drink for a warm autumn night. The flavour is there, it is just more delicate than that of Sneck Lifter.

At 4.5% Cross Buttock is just on the edge of being a Session Beer. It is pleasant, fruity and refreshing. In fact it has all the elements that I like in a bitter! There is a good balance of flavours and a good texture too. I would recommend Cross Buttock Ale to anyone who appreciates a good refreshing beer. It is easy to drink and it is very possible to drink rather more of it than you should!

We have paid between £2.00 and £2.20 a pint in two different pubs ~ the first being the George Hotel at Youlgreave (a Derbyshire village not far from Bakewell) and the second at the Market Hotel (in Chesterfield town centre). The Market Hotel provided us with the cheaper of the two, but both pubs kept the beer well and it was of good quality on both occasions.

If you see Cross Buttock in a pub near you please give it a try. But don’t do what my friend did ~ he got a little confused and ordered two pints of CLENCHED BUTTOCKS. When the barmaid nearly wet herself laughing he said “I knew it had something to do with a*ses!”

….Cross Buttock Ale ~ a beer to embarrass yourself ordering BUT to enjoy yourself drinking!

~~~BREWERY DETAILS.

Jennings Bros PLC,
Castle Brewery,
Cockermouth,
Cumbria
CA13 9NE
Tel. 01900 823214

http://www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk/

 

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