RCH Ale Mary

Brewed by RCH
Style: English Strong Ale
Weston-super-Mare, England

Pours a clouded copper body with a huge frothy tan head. One of the tallest heads I’ve ever seen! Aroma is nicely spiced. You can smell the ginger and cloves. Some lighter floral hops present as well. For some reason, the aroma makes me think of Christmas. Taste is nicely malted and sweet with the spices adding a nice twist to it. Some lighter cocoa mixed with fruit, more ginger, while the cinnamon becomes evident. Bet this would go nicely with warm gingerbread cookies. Palate is full while being strongly carbonated and nicely spiced. Finish is more of the taste but allows some hop character to come through towards the end. What a nice surprise as I was expecting the worst from this. Damn good beer and very drinkable!

The beer came in a bottle with a panting of a dignified Mary, Quenn of Scots, on the label. The ale poured reddish-orange in color with a thin head that tenaciously hung on over it. The aroma was very Belgian in its spiciness. The floral spicy bouquet reminded me almost immediately of the dry potpourri leaves that are kept in little glass jars. The taste was quite sweet with a nice touch of spiciness. I could detect cherries, raisins, grapes, pineapples and other fruits in there. The spices I could detect were ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. This beer definitely will be at home during a Christmas dinner. There was almost no hop bitterness to speak of. The finish is a bit dry with some spiced alcohol burn in the throat and the belly. It has a medium mouthfeel that is quite sticky due to the inherent sweetness of the beer. This is not a beer that would be good to drink every day. But when winter rolls around this year, I’ll be in the mood for another one by the old Yule log.

Deep amber with a frothy white head. As promised, the nose had hints of spices and the flavor had notes of spice and raisens. It was a decent beer for having with food but not one to sip and enjoy on its own.

What’s in a name? More than what’s inside this is my impression. Strange tartness and all kinds of elements that I either can’t figure out or don’t want to know. Mary can have it.

Orange-amber, with watery foam head. Strong nutmeg presence in the aroma ... bountiful spices on the tongue ... interesting blend. Bit thin. Definitely not a beer for a warm sunny Las Vegas day, but a good dessert by the winter fire place, perhaps.

Huge beige head atop a hazy amber body. Aroma is medium sweet, ginger, nutmeg, tea. Taste is just what the aroma suggests, some tartness. Light-medium body. It is what it is, it’s just that it isn’t anything that I particularly enjoy.

Apple cider color with fluffy tan head with big bubbles. Fantastic malty sour aroma that makes me want to jump in a vat of this. Label says CAMRA Gold Medal Winner 2001. In what category I wonder? Tastes like an ale. Pimento? Tastes liek a bit of a sour Old Ale.

Cloudy Orange in color with a nice white head. Fruity spicey aroma. Very malty and hoppy. Pretty good.