Tasting Notes: Bath Ales Barnstormer

Brewery: Bath Ales
Location: Warmley, Bristol
ABV: 4.5%
Version: Bottled
Source: Sainsbury’s

My burgeoning love affair with Bath Ales continues with this cracking dark ale.  I picked it up on a run through Sainsbury’s late one Saturday afternoon, along with a couple of bottles of Meantime (ready for an evening watching Vic Mackey kick butt on The Shield).  After enjoying their Dark Hare so much, I was really looking forward to this.

It poured with a smooth head, releasing a hint of chocolate scent. Interesting, I thought. Hope it’s not too cloying. I needn’t have worried. The chocolate is there, a soft background hint, but it’s also fruity and rich, not heavy but very complex: the chocolate remains, fading to a sweet fruity hint late on (though not too fruity). A lovely ale, whose tastes settled towards the end of the pint making it a pleasure to drink.

Vic Mackey did indeed kick butt, and so do Bath Ales. And they’re only an hour from home …

  • http://www.darrenturpin.me.uk Darren Turpin

    I enjoyed a bottle of this one last year (mentioned it in a round-up piece), although it’s another one that would probably be even better on draught. And only an hour from home? It’s practically an obligation on your part, mate. How’s the public transport in your neck of the woods? Or can you get one of the nippers to drive you?

  • http://www.edash.wordpress.com Ed Ashby

    I like this one too. Usually pick up a few bottles when I see them. I find it quite a subtle ale, full of flavour but all nicely balanced so not one gets to dominate too much. It’s the only one of the Bath Ales I’ve tried but I’d certainly sample the rest.

    Is that an hour driving or staggering?

  • Matthew Loynes

    I am fortunate enough to live in Bristol and can confirm that draught the beer is indeed even better.

    If you like the dark (meal in a bottle) beers then stick with Barnstormer and the Dark Hare, I’m not man enough to drink those myself, however I can’t get enough of their Wild Hare.

    This Golden Organic beer is one of my absolute favourites, up their with Hopback’s ‘Summer Lightning’. Both better draught but pretty close in the bottle.

    Summer is on the way so next time you’re in the shops pick up a couple of bottles of the Wild Hare to enjoy in the sunshine.

  • http://www.darrenturpin.me.uk Darren Turpin

    Wild Hare, y’say? Haven’t seen that one in my neck of the woods. Although I do have bottle of Gem in the cupboard… that one any good?

  • Matthew Loynes

    Yup, Gem is a nice drop too.
    Not quite as dark and heavy as the Barnstormer, but more meaty than the Wild Hare. If you’ve got one in the cupboard Easter weekend would seem a good opportunity to try it out.
    Enjoy!

  • http://ttocb.blogspot.com/ Chairman Bill

    You can get Bath Ales delivered from the brewery. Not expensive.

Latest Comments

Recent Comments

Powered by Disqus

Subscribe for Updates

Facebook


Twitter Lists

I follow over 2,500 beer-themed Twitter accounts via @FolkAle and have organised many of them into lists:

If you run a beer-relevant Twitter account and would like to be listed, please follow me at @FolkAle and I’ll take a look.