Brewery: Hydes
Location: Manchester, England
ABV: 4.7%
Version: Bottled
Source: Tesco

Another ‘support the local producer’ write-up, this time a brew from South Manchester’s finest, Hydes, which is one of the few breweries in the UK still owned and managed as a family business. They’ve been in business since 1863 as well, and they’ve got a pretty a good range of beers to show for it. They tend to focus on bitters and pale ales: Hydes XXXX looks like the only strong ale in their regular range and at 6.8% is the only one they have over 5% ABV. And there’s nary a stout nor porter to be seen (according to the website at least).

Manchester’s Finest is a beer that’s only available in bottles (again, as far as I can make out from the website), which is a bit of a shame because on the strength of this tasting I’d certainly be interested in tracking down a draught pint.

Manchester’s Finest pours a rich, ruby-amber colour and flavour-wise has a definite hoppy tang courtesy of the single-varietal Fuggles on board, along with a herbal sweetness, all of which is carried along on a very pleasant mouth-feel indeed. A mellow, easy-drinking bitter that doesn’t suffer at all from being bottled but I’m sure would taste even better from a hand-pump. Come on, Hydes, you know it makes sense!

Brewery: Brakspear
Location: Witney, England
ABV: 4.2%
Version: 500ml bottle

Part of the Wychwood Brewery in Oxfordshire this is Brakspear’s revival of the popular English Pale Ale. Pouring a golden amber colour, it’s full of fizz but this quickly settles. The light citrusy aroma gives way to a light malty flavour but overall it’s too thin, with a rapidly fading aftertaste resulting in a disappointing finish.