The fourth Geordie beer of Christmas

Cullercoat's Watch House Winter Warmer

 

 

 

Cullercoat's Brewery, like others, emerged among the 2011/2012 'new wave' of Geordie breweries. A very simple yet efficient looking kit run by the former solicitor Bill Scantlebury. Bill is a splendid chap, with a liking for the RNLI. In fact his brewery is a source of charity for the RNLI and his beer names all on that theme. He has developed a small, quaint set of distinctively labelled ales that (unique to the region) are only brewed using British hops and malts.

Here Bramling Cross is the UK hop of choice known for its woody, berry fruit flavours in this 5.5% premium dark ale. Some of my old local favourites such as Silver Ghost (Wylam) and Matfen Magic (High House Farm) use Bramling cross. Here it's evident in a spicy blackberry like finish after a weighty caramel and burnt toffee malt front. The bottle conditioning gives a gentle carbonation almost is if it were from the hand pull. A winter warmer through and through.