4BEERS: S

SADDLEWORTH

Ayrton's Ale (4.1%), Bert Corner (4%), Christmas Carol (7.5%), Harvest Moon (4.1%), Hop Smacker (4.1%), Indian Z Pale Ale (4.1%), More (3.8%), Robyn's Bitter (4.6%), St George's Bitter (4%), Shaftbender (5.4%)

ST AUSTELL

Admiral's Ale (5%): A bottled beer brew to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805. The bottle-conditioned ale has been brewed using St Austell's own Cornish Gold malt. Locally grown barley is traditionally malted using a special kilning process which develops a deeper intensity of colour and flavour than ordinary barley malt. Blended with both Styrian Golding and Cascade hops, the result is a deep bronze ale with a delicious rich biscuit flavour and a wonderful spicy aroma. Winner of bronze medal in the Brewing Industry International Awards. (brewery notes 15-04-07)
Black Prince (4%): Old 4X Mild as tweaked by head brewer Roger Ryman. Find it if you can — it's in very few St Austell pubs, although Cornwall CAMRA are campaigning to get this state of affairs rectified as it is a genuinely delicious mild. A delicious, rich mild. (DN)
Clouded Yellow (4.8%): An award-winning wheat beer, Clouded Yellow derives its name from a migrant butterfly found visiting the UK during the summer months. Pale yellow in colour and naturally (bottle) conditioned, the beer may be poured cloudy by gently swirling the last few inches to rouse the natural yeast sediment. Alternatively, clear beer can be decanted carefully leaving the yeast behind. Serve cool in a long glass to experience the true citrus overtones which have been delicately flavoured with whole spices and vanilla. The combination of flavours is brought alive by gently sweetening with pure organic maple syrup. Chef and beer with food writer Richard Fox said: "The natural citrus element of the beer contrasts favourably with fish dishes."
Cornish IPA (5%): A modern, high quality and distinctive beer with a lot of dry hop character, produced exclusively for sale in bottle conditioned form in Marks & Spencer stores. Cornish spring water and locally-grown barley combine to produce a refreshing, full flavour that makes an ideal summer drink. (brewery notes: 02-06-08)
Dartmoor Best Bitter (3.9%): A fine, easy drinking session ale with a touch
of bitterness, complemented by a smooth malty finish. An ideal pint to enjoy with a crusty ploughman’s lunch. (Brewery notes 15-04-07)
HSD (5%): In my view, a much improved beer recently, strong still but, to my recollection, not quite so dark in colour and with more fruitiness about it. Fuggles and Goldings hops balance the malt. The initials stand for Hicks Special Draught. (DN: 19-07-08)
IPA (3.4%): A creamy head sits atop of a very drinkable and tasty beer, ideal for a summer afternoon session. Plenty of good hop flavours in here. (DN:15-06-05)
Pioneer Best (4.4%): A special at the Cornwall Campaign for Real Ale St Ives festival in spring 2008. Toffee malt flavours combine with a hop combination including the titular Pioneer variety.
Proper Job IPA (4.5% — or 5.5% bottled): An authentic IPA brewed with
Cornish spring water and malt made from a blend of malts including Cornish grown Maris Otter barley. In my opinion the bottled 5.5% version is superior. (DN / brewery notes 15-04-07)
Smugglers Tipple (6%): A special brew — a mahogany, classic old ale. Matured in a whisky cask, this is a strong and fruity delight. (DN: 01-06-08)
Tinners (3.7%): A much better beer now than when I first came to Cornwall in 1989, this is a good lunchtime/session pint, reliable rather than exciting. Tinners has a light refreshing flavour with only a hint of bitterness, ideal for revitalising the palate when drunk with a curry, chilli or spicy Italian lasagne. (DN / brewery notes 15-04-07)
Tribute (4.2%): A creamy, smooth, easy-drinking bitter which, local opinion says, has been tweaked a bit lately by head brewer Roger Ryman (an arch tweaker if ever there was one!). It is brewed using Cornish Gold malt and is a perfect accompaniment to chicken, gammon or fish, as an alternative to a fine white wine. Roger Protz said: "Tribute is a magnificent example of a bronze coloured English bitter, with a rich aroma of biscuity malt and tart citrus fruit from the Willamette hops. Juicy malt, hop resins and tangy fruit coat the tongue, while the finish is long and lingering, with a fine balance between malt, hops and fruit, finally becoming dry and bitter" (DN / brewery notes 15-04-07)

SALTAIRE

Amarillo Gold (4.4%): A straw coloured clear wheat beer hopped with the American Amarillo variety. There's lovely citrus in the taste and aroma.
Challenger Special (5.2%), Cascade Pale Ale (4.9%), Fuggles Bitter (3.8%), Goldings Ale (4.2%), Northdown Ruby Bitter (4.3%), XB (4.3%)

SCATTOR ROCK

2002 AD Not Out (4.5%), Autumn Nights (4.8%), Bellever Tor (4.6%), Brent Tor Mild (3.8%), Clay Cutter (4.6%), Corndon Tor (4.3%), Cox Tor IPA (3.9%), Devonian (4.5%), Dinger Tor (4.8%), Gidley's Anniversary Ale (4.4%), Ginger Whinger (4.6%), Golden Gorse (5.1%), Golden Valley (4.6%), Hay Tor Porter (4.3%), Hound Tor (4.8%), The King Evil (6%), Kingfisher (5.2%), Lucky Tor (4.4%), Lynch Tor (4.7%), Night Porter (5.2%), Quarryman Stout (4.4%), Rippon Tor Extra (4.5%), Rockin' Rudolf (4.3%), Rough Tor (3.9%)
Same Again (4.1%): A mighty fine session ale for an early evening. Plenty of bitterness here. Slightly surreal when you ask for the first pint! (DN)
Scary Tor (4.6%), Scattor Brain (4.8%), Scattor Claus (4.7%), Scatty Bitter (3.8%), Sheeps Tor (3.8%), Shelstone Tor (4.3%), Spindle Berry (4.5%), Steeperton Tor (4.2%), Swell Tor (5%), Teign Valley Tipple (4%)
Tom Cobley (4.2%): A well-balanced bitter with good hop aroma and bitterness.
Totally Brain Dead (8%), Valley Stomper (5%), Yes Tor IPA (4.1%)

SEVERN VALE

Dance (4.5%), Dursley Steam Bitter (4.2%), Monumental (4.5%), Vale Ale (3.8%), Severn Bells (4.3%), Severn Sins (5.2%)

SHARP'S

Atlantic IPA (4.2%): The essence of an original well-hopped and high-ABV IPA modernised to create a crisp, refreshing, continental-style golden beer. (brewery notes)
Chalky's Bite (6.8%): An appealing fruity and estery aroma (pear drops, light pineapple, hint of banana and orange fruit) aroma with some citrus and pine notes from late hops. There is also a good measure of warming alcohol. This is allied with a good, toasty, Champagne-like nose from bottle conditioning. Fruity in the mouth with some hop bitterness and delicate fennel sweetness. The mouth-feel is initially sumptuous with a creamy mousse formed on the tongue from lively carbonation and wheat body. This gives way to a succulent yet light sweetness balanced by the tartness contributed by the wheat. The finish is long but delicate. Fennel notes come through towards the end. (Head brewer's own notes)
Cornish Coaster (3.6%): An excellent, light-coloured session beer, well-balanced but with good hop flavour, named after a type of traditionl Cornish boat.
Doom Bar (4%): An ever-popular Cornish brew with spicy hop flavour, from Northdown and Northern Brewer varieties, balanced with good roast malt flavours. (DN)
Eden Pure Ale (4.3%): Northdown and Northern Brewer hops are the focus of the beer with malty sweetness leading to a dry, hoppy finish.
Honey Ale (7%): A special brew seen at the Cornwall Campaign for Real Ale St Ives festival in spring 2008. A straw coloured, honey flavoured ale with a refreshingly dry, tart and tangy finish.
Sharp's Own (4.4%): Malt slightly gets the better of the balance in this robust brew, but there's a good dry hop finish. (DN)
Sharp's Special (5.2%): A malty big hitter with a sweet finish that gets drier. (DN)
Triple (10%): A special brew seen at the Cornwall Campaign for Real Ale St Ives festival in spring 2008. Deep bronze in colour, fruit and malt combine with spicy hops leading to a sweet, fruity finish.

SHEPHERD NEAME

1698 (6.5%), Best Bitter (4.1%)
Bishop's Finger (5%): A strong, traditional, ruby red Kentish ale with a fruity palate and bitter flavour. Hops are First Gold and Target.
Early Bird Spring Hop Ale (4.3%): A light, smooth beer with plenty of hope aroma and taste from Fuggles and perle varieties. There is a hint of apricot in the well-balanced taste.
Goldings Summer Hop Ale (4.7%)
Kent's Best (4.1%): Nice bitter finish in this well-balanced brew, with some sweetness in the mid-taste. (DN: 17-06-06)
Late Red Autumn Hop Ale (4.5%)
Master Brew (3.7%)
Spitfire (4.5%): Good quality best bitter when kept well, with a hint of honeycomb sweetness in the taste. Goldings and Target are hops. (DN: 03-11-05)
Original Porter (4.8%): Aptly-named proper old-style porter with fruitiness and bitterness balanced roasted malt notes. Very, very drinkable (believe me!). (DN)
Whitstable Bay Organic Ale (4.5%): Made from organic ingredients, including Target hops and Winter Pearl malting barley, this beer can be teamed with oysters, potted shrimps and a variety of fish dishes.

SHUGBOROUGH (In association with Titanic Brewery)

Lordship's Own (5%): Rich and smooth, with the complexities of a fine Christmas pudding; ruby red in colour, fierce spicy hops and mellow roast barley give a finish with a dry and comforting palate. (brewer's notes)
Mi Lady's Fancy (4.6%): A golden beer to reminiscent of sunshine, delicately hopped yet full bodied to celebrate the growth of another year. (brewer's notes)

1648

Armistice Ale (4.2%): A fundraiser for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal. Seasonal in October and November.
Bee Head (4.6%): A softer version of Original. Seasonal from May to August.
Ginger No 1 (4.7%): A dark, sweet Christmas beer.
Lammas Ale (4.2%): Malted wheat and barley, with hops from two local farms, brewed to celebrate the local Lammas festival in August.
Original (3.9%): light, hoppy and drinkable.
Pure Gold (5%): A strong, golden, hoppy ale.
Saint George (4.5%): A new regular beer for 2006 with Sussex hops and South Downs water.
Signature (4.4%): Light in colour with good bitterness. Silver award from SIBA at the 2004 Reading Beer Festival, and at the NHA Beauty of Hops competition, Parsons Green, also in 2004.
Three Threads (4.3%): A mild-style beer brewed with three types of barley.
Winter Warrant (4.8%)

SKINNER'S

Betty Stogs (4.0%): In my opinion, this is Skinner's finest regular production pint. It's on the fruity hoppy side, quite light, straw-coloured. Best served at the cooler end of the acceptable range. (DN)
Christmas Fairy (3.9%): Created as a lower ABV alternative to Skinner's perennial festiva favourite Jingle Knocker (one of my favourite Christmas specials), Christmas Fairy is light in colour and taste, a refreshing pint with tangerine notes and a hint of spiciness. (DN: 05-01-07)
Cornish Blonde (5%): A light coloured wheat beer, very drinkable, with a good citrus finish.
Cornish Knocker (4.5%): Skinner's most famous beer. A golden ale, floral and fruity throughout, with a lasting, bitter-sweet, malty finish.
Figgy's Brew (4.5%): Initial sweetness gives way to a good, hoppy bitterness that lasts well. (DN - 09-07-05)
Ginger Tosser (3.8%): A hoppy golden ale with honey notes and a hint of ginger. (DN: 02-06-07)
Heligan Honey (4%): The wonderful honey from the Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey, provides the perfect foil for Skinner's distictive Styrian hops. The taste of honey is most definitely there, but it is not over-powering and doesn’t make the beer exceedingly sweet. The initial sweetness gives away to hops, but then makes a re-appearance in a satisfying finish, and at 4% it’s a nice session strength. (DN)
Pennycomequick (4.5%): A seasonal stout brewed originally to tie in with the annual Falmouth Oyster Festival, but which has since gathered a devout following in pubs throughout Cornwall. Dark and delicious. (DN)
Starry Gazey Ale (4.2%): A good, solid, amber bitter with a smooth finish. Usually bottled and rarely seen in a cask, this brew was created to raise funds for the National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.

SLATER'S ALES

Bitter (3.6%), Original (4%), Premium (4.4%), Queen Bee (4.2%), Supreme (4.7%), Top Totty (4%)

SMILES (brewed by Highgate)

April Fuel (4.8%), Best Bitter (4.1%), Blond (3.7%), Bristol IPA (4.5%), Heritage (5.2%), Holly Hops (5%), Imperial Porter (4.7%), March Hare (4%), Maiden Leg Over (3.5%), May Fly (4.5%), Old Tosser (4.3%), Slap and Tipple (4.5%), Winter stout (4.7%), Wurzale (4.1%)
Zing Ale (4%): A nice refreshing summery beer, made with pale and wheat malts, with the distinctive refreshing flavour coming from Styrian Goldings hops. The zing comes from a citrus kick on the finish, courtesy of the addition of some orange liqueur to the brew.
Zummer VAT (4.1%)

SOUTH HAMS

Devon Porter (5%), Devon Pride (3.8%), Eddystone (4.8%), Knickadroppa Glory (5.2%), Pandamonium (4.8%), Wild Blonde (4.4%), XSB (4.2%)

SPINNING DOG

Top Dog (4.2%): Amber in colour, an initial hoppiness gives way to a balanced taste that's malty and fruity, leading to a long, malty aftertaste. There are Fuggles and Target hops.

SPITTING FEATHERS

Autumn Smoked Ale (4.5%), Basketcase (4.8%), Blood, Sweat and Cheers (4.1%), Christmas Crackers (5.8%), Crocky Trail Ale (4.1%)
Dark Velvet Mild (3.8%): A traditional dark mild with plenty of roasted malt flavour.
Devastation (5.2%), Farmhouse Ale (3.6%), Honey Trap (4.1%), Old Wavertonian (4.4%), Special Ale (4.2%), Thirstquencher (3.9%)

SPRINGHEAD

Charlie's Angel (4.5%), Cromwell's Hat (6%), The Leveller (4.8%)
Liberty (3.8%): A spring 2008 special using American Liberty hops and Maris Otter pale and wheat malt. The pale, straw-coloured bitter has hints of lemon and a quenching, dry finish.
Newark Castle Brown (5%), Goodrich Castle (4.4%), Oliver's Army (4.4%), Puritans' Porter (4%), Roaring Meg (5.5%), Roundheads' Gold (4.2%), Rupert's Ruin (4.2%), Springhead Bitter (4%), Surrender 1646 (3.6%), Sweetlips (4.6%)

STATION HOUSE

1st Lite (3.8%), 3 Score (4.5%), Buzzin' (4.3%), L5C (5%), Lady o' the Stream (3.9%), Ode 2 Joy (4.1%)

STONEHENGE ALES

Bodyline (4.3%)
Danish Dynamite (5%): A light golden, dry, strong ale, slightly fruity, an well-balanced. A multi-award winner.
Great Bustard (4.8%): Fruity, malty - made with rye as well as barley - giving a malt loaf kind of taste leading to a pleasant bitter finish; nice tight, off-white head. Not a session beer, but great for a cold, windy January evening in west Cornwall! (DN)
Great Dane (4.6%): A summer occasional cask-conditioned lager, brewed in a traditional lager style. Clean, crisp and refreshing with a lingering bitter aftertaste.
Heel Stone (4.3%): A crisp, clean, refreshing amber bitter, well balanced, with a blackcurrant aroma.
Lunch Time Special (2.5%)
Pigswill (4%): A full-bodied sessions beer, not so bitter, but rich on hop aroma which leads to a satisfying aftertaste.
Spire Ale (3.8%): A refreshing, clean, smooth, summer session beer, golden in colour. A super hop flavour from a mix of First Gold and a new variety called Pam. (DN)
Old Smokey (5%): An autumn seasonal, warming, with a roast malt taste and a hint of liquorice. A dark, porter-stype ale.
Rudolph (5%): The winter warmer: a good spicy tone to this fruity, mid-brown beer. (DN)
Second to None (4.6%): Wheat and Maris Otter pale ale malts combine with Challenger hops in this straw coloured, fresh and fruity summer seasonal.
Sign of Spring (4.6%): Light green in colour (thanks to food colouring), a well-balanced and perennially popular spring seasonal.

STRANDS

Angry Bee (4.5%): A very light honeyed beer. (19-06-07: brewer's notes)
Errmmm (3.8%): A light, not so bitter hoppy beer with a nice amber hue. (19-06-07: brewer's notes)
T'Errmmminator (5%): A porter style brew, dark and smooth with a slight liquorish and roast malt aftertaste. (19-06-07: brewer's notes)

SUMMERSKILLS

Best Bitter (4.3%), Cellar Vee (3.7%), Devon Pills Loutenberg (4.5), Dune Pale Ale (4.5%), Fat Free Beer (4.7%), Hopscotch (4.1%), Indiana's Bones (5.6%), Menacing Dennis (4.5%), Ninja Beer (5%), Norm's First Brew (4.2%), O'Summerskill's Shamrock Stout (4.4%), Tamar (4.3%), Whistle Belly Vengeance (4.7%), Winter Warmer (4.6%)

SUTHWYK

Liberation (4.2%): The malt hits you first then bright hop taste kicks in leading to a dry finish. There are overtones of blackcurrant, but very faint. (DN)