This review SHOULD have been posted in the summer, which was when I originally asked Ciao to add this product! You will now have to remember those few days when the glorious sun shone and I was making a point of steering away from my usual darker beers and sampling some of the summer ales that were on offer.
These tend to be mostly seasonal ales and it is a shame to miss out on something that is only available for a limited time. This is why I was so pleased to see the pub around the corner from me putting on their first ever guest beer ~ Hook Norton Haymaker.
~~~THE BREWERY.
Hook Norton Brewing Company Ltd was set up back in 1849, by a Maltster called John Harris (who was also a farmer). This led to him opening up a brewery in the village of Hook Norton, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, in 1872. The brewery has continued to grow and build up a reputation for producing a good selection of quality Cask conditioned beers using traditional brewing methods. Wherever possible they use original equipment ~ for example they have shire horses and power is supplied by an old steam engine.
Hook Norton supply bottled and cask beer to around 40 tied pubs and around 250 other outlets around the country. You will usually see them represented at Beer Festivals too ~ so no excuse for missing their products! Some of the Hook Norton beers you may find include Old Hooky (a full-bodied beer at 4.6% ABV), Hooky Dark (a darker less potent choice at 3.2% ABV) and Generation (a hop and fruit flavoured beer at 4.0% ABV).
~~~THE BEER.
***Background***
Hook Norton Brewery produce a "Classic Seasons" range of beers ~ each one reminiscent of a particular time of year. Haymaker is the summer beer in this range and, as its name suggests, evokes summer days and haymaking in the sunshine. Haymaker is produced both as a bottled beer and as a Cask Conditioned ale ~ I have only come across the cask version so far! The brewers hope that it will appeal to Real Ale fans and also to lager drinkers.
***Vital Stats***
Haymaker weighs in at 5% ABV and is pretty strong for a summer beer. It is made using spring water and Goldings, Fuggles and Challenger hops, along with a blend of Cara Pils and Maris Otter Pale Ale Malts ~ to give it a light colour and a fresh sharp taste.
***Look, aroma & texture***
Looks wise, Haymaker is golden and light. It clears well after pouring and soon settles to give a clean, crisp looking beer with a small gradually dissipating head. The aroma is predominantly hoppy, with a pleasant floral note that really does remind me of summer! The texture is a little carbonated, but generally light, crisp and refreshing ~ it is a little more syrupy than some summer beers, perhaps due to its strength, but still a good thirst quencher.
***Taste***
Haymaker is fruity, malty and hoppy! There is a good amount of sweetness there that creates a good balance alongside the bitterness that comes through as you drink. Initially I was getting hoppiness as the dominant flavour, but the beer is more complex than that ~ a citrus flavour (I even tasted grapefruit) develops leading to a toffee/ caramel element. The finish is quite bitter with a dryness that is refreshing. The aftertaste is hoppy and bitter too. It stays on the palate for a good long time and causes a slight tingle on your tongue.
~~~TANGE'S FINAL THOUGHTS.
We paid £2.20 for a pint of Haymaker at The Industry Inn; the pub just around the corner from our house! It was a good and tasty beer that was well worth the money for a drink of this alcohol content. I was well pleased with it and have been back and had more while it is on as the pub's Guest Ale ~ so I must have liked it!
I consider Haymaker to be a well balanced beer that is full of flavour and has a lightness that will give it a wide appeal to drinkers. Seasoned lager drinkers will appreciate the citrusy freshness and light colour, and people (like myself) who generally favour a darker beer will still find enough body and taste to satisfy. It is just a shame that it is only produced for sale during July and August ~ I think that it has enough to offer to be enjoyed any time of the year.
I thoroughly recommend that you sample a pint or two of Haymaker while you can...and dream of sunshine and summer!
~~~BREWERY DEATAILS. Hook Norton Brewery Co.Ltd; The Brewery, Hook Norton, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX15 5NY. Tel 01608 737210
