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Home
brewing/winemaking book reviews
Equipment reviews
- Note that all reviews with (PL) added are completely unsolicited
& totally independent, submitted by me, Peter Laycock. I give MY PERSONAL
VIEWS ONLY, irrespective of the manufacturer. I have included the date of my
last review, a price guide, a “Final quality” rating that completely ignores the
price BUT my “Overall” rating does, as value for money is generally of great
importance to most home brewers/winemakers. Paradoxically, the more expensive
kits tend to be the easier to make as no additional sugar needs to be dissolved
in hot water before mixing in with the kit.
A beer or wines “Final quality”
is the hardest rating to appoint as this is very personal, as a rough guide ***
indicates a quality I would expect at the given price.
Underlined
text denotes new or amended items.
NOTE:- All
prices etc. have been re-assessed after the recent manufacturers price hike
(around 20% for beer) caused by last years wonderful Summer weather & the
myopic (UK & others) Government’s need to divert grain from food use to
bio-fuels.
Click to here to see Wine kit
reviews
Beer kit
reviews
After that
horrible thought let's get down to business.
I have been
as accurate as I can for my price rating, they include the cost of any added
(including priming) sugar etc. and are based on typical December 2007
prices:-
£= 40p or
less, ££ = 41-55p, £££ = 56-70p, ££££ = 71-95p & £££££ = 96p or more per
litre of beer.
Some Typical Beer Drinking
Temperatures
Barleydale
Bitter (PL 1998)
Price
£
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
****
Comments:-
Big initial head soon died down but lasted for the whole pint, very bitter,
slight "extract" tang, kept well after opening, good yeast, plus its good taste
& aftertaste make it one of the better beers. A very impressive beer,
despite being only 1.5Kg, it is possibly in the same league as the EDME
Superbrew Golds etc. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I bought this beer whilst on my travels
in York, unfortunately the shop closed down (an all too familiar story) before I
was able to purchase any more.
Brewferm Dark
Abbey (Donker Abdij) (PL 2004)
Price
££££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
*****
Overall
*****
Comments:-After drinking
500ml of this Abbey style beer I knew why most Belgian Monks belonged to silent
Orders! A dark Garnet coloured, full-flavoured brew, with a head that just would
not shift! Not a drink for the faint-hearted, brew it if you dare!
EXCELLENT.
Brewferm
Diablo (PL 2008)
Price
££££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
****
Overall
***
Comments:-
Much darker in colour than shewn on the label picture - mid teens rather than
<10EBC. Massive head, very modest condition, not much aroma but lots of taste
(herby). I have often seen this beer quoted as a Duvel clone but unfortunately
my findings do not support this.
Brewferm
Framboos (PL 2007)
Price
£££££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
*****
Overall
****
Comments:-A
very good condition with a nice reddy-brown colour, a strong raspberry aroma and
(dry) taste. This must be one of the most expensive kits made, very unusual,
very different & it helps if you like raspberries! VERY
INTERESTING.
Brewferm Pils
(20l Option, PL 2007)
Price
££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
****
Overall
*****
Comments:-This kit
allows the brewer 2 options, add sugar to make a 20l kit or make 12l using no
sugar (apart from priming ). The 20l option was made, resulting in a lager with
an excellent head and condition, looking very much like the label picture. This
is probably the best lager kit I've ever made. If I were to make any negative
comments then the beer is slightly hazy & the yeast deposit in my bottles
was a little un-stable, but it would be churlish of me to do so, if fact, the
loose sediment adds a little wheat beer flavour to the last pourings from the
bottle. EXCELLENT.
Brewferm Pils
(12l Option, PL 2005)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
****
Overall
****
Comments:-After making
the 20l option I really had to try the 12l alternative (purely for scientific
interest), As expected, darker, fuller & more complex than the 20l kit and
slightly easier to make owing to the smaller volume and no additional
fermentation sugar. On a personal basis I prefer the former (comment, not a
criticism). Yeast a bit loose. HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED.
Brewferm
Tarwebier (White Beer, PL 2005)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
****
Overall
*****
Comments:-Very good
looking, excellent head/condition, nice golden colour around 10EBC &
star-bright (when yeast not swirled in). Not all that impressed, but then my
favourite wheat beers are Franziskaner Weissbier Hefe-Weissbeir & Hoegaarden
Witbier! Still it is a very good kit to try & gave a feeling of
well-being!
Brewferm
Triple (PL 2005)
Price
££££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
*****
Overall
*****
Comments:- At
2 month it had a poor head & condition, around 15EBC with a malty taste with
some oakiness & herbs, I personally prefer hoppier beers but the wife loved
it. At 3 months it had noticeably improved and continued to do so for quite a
while (Brewferm recommend a minimum of 6-8 weeks maturation for all their kits
rather than the usual week or two quoted by some!). HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED.
Brewmaker Dry
Irish Stout (PL 1999)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
****
Overall
****
Comments:- An
excellent brew, although the head was not too good, yeast good and solid in the
bottle. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Brewmaker
Irish Velvet Dry Stout (PL 2003)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:-
The initial head did not last very long, condition not too bad, this beer tasted
a little too bland for me. Time improved my beer quite significantly and a not
unpleasant "Cola" taste developed.
NOTE That
Brewmaker kits supply yeast nutrient and finings, I do not use these as they are
superfluous (the kits clear beautifully in a few days), consequently I would
like them omitted and any savings re-invested to improve the quality/quantity of
the extract.
Brewmaker
Pilsner Lager (PL 2003)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:-
Colour about 10 EBC, darker than shewn on label. Good initial head did not last
long, condition O.K. Not unpleasant but more like a bland beer than a
Lager.
Brewmaker
Victorian Bitter (PL 2003)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:-
The supplied yeast nutrient & finings were not used (or needed - star-bright
after 8 days rest). After a month it had a poor head, decent condition but was
much darker than in the picture on the label. Tasted a bit malty but not too
good. Much improved after another month (apart from the head). This beer did not
seem nearly as good as in my previous brews but it was started the day before a
phenomenal heat wave, this may have had an adverse effect, but it did improve
vastly with time & is thus
Cooper’s Real
Ale (PL)
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
**
Overall
**
Comments:-
“Classic” top fermentation brewing for 2 days, then like bottom fermentation.
Star-bright after “resting”. Note that Cooper’s mention the effect of priming
sugar on a finished beer & shew how to calculate this effect, as far as I
know, no other kit manufacturer bothers to give such valuable information. A
nice coloured beer, twice as dark as the label shews &, unfortunately, as
flat as a proverbial, with little condition. Being a tight-fisted Yorkshire man
I had to drink the stuff and at 5.3%
Edme
Microbrewery Series Wheat Beer (PL 2005)
Price
££
Ease of
making ** (See below)
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:-
I've come across spelling errors before on Edme labels but the information on
the label and the included instructions were pure fiction! A 13.5l kit said the
label, add 1Kg sugar & make 23l suggested the leaflet, the information
printed in the Technical Data panel agreed with neither. The "Comprehensive
brewing instructions enclosed were risible. A quick response from Edme to my
e-mail enquiry answered some of my questions but a further e-mail remained
un-answered. In the end I decided to brew 23l whilst keeping my fingers
crossed.
The resulting
brew had a massive head, lots of condition and a colour similar to the picture
on the label. The taste was slightly disappointing as I expected a "cleaner"
taste and a little more wheat flavour although not too bad for the price it was
let down by exceedingly poor
instructions/information.
Edme
Superbrew Gold Bitter (PL 2002)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
****
Overall
****
Comments:-
Poor head, good condition, colour slightly darker than on the label. Not
unpleasant or anything special but has a tang to it, improved up to 2-3 months,
RECOMMENDED although I personally prefer the Yorkshire
Bitter.
NOTE That
EDME and MUNTON’S both give a typical analysis of their beers on the labels, a
practice which must be applauded.
Edme
Superbrew Gold Irish Stout (PL 2004)
Price £££
(see below)
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
****
Comments:-
Pleasant enough, style similar to Murphy's.
RECOMMENDED.
Edme
Superbrew Gold Irish Stout (PL 2005)
Price - no
ratings given, see below.
Ease of
making - no ratings given, see below.
Final quality
- no ratings given, see below.
Overall - no
ratings given, see below.
Comments:- As
this was not made to the manufacturer instructions it would be unfair to give it
my normal ratings. Edme include alternative instructions for a 13.8l version
using no sugar, I decided to make 18l, reducing the recommended 1Kg sugar
(23L)to 350g & adding 500g Spraymalt to get around 42 EBUs, similar to the
"old" Guinness, with the priming sugar an effective O.G. of about 1040.4 was
calculated. After the initial shock this was a very full-bodied &
full-flavoured (roasted malt & hops) beer, acrid bitterness with a perfumey
hint (like the "old" Guinness). V.G. long-lasting head & condition, quite
clingy & a very smooth texture & a long finish. VERY
ENJOYABLE
For a
comparison between an ordinary kit & one modified with Spraymalt see John
Bull Best Bitter.
Edme
Superbrew Gold Weizen Lager Wheat Beer (PL 2003)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:- A
big initial head quite well maintained by the very good condition, a golden corn
colour (Lucozadey - orangey) around 15EBC. Very pleasant but not a lot of wheat,
some bubblegum, slight clinging & a solid yeast (for a Weizen?). After 2+
months this beer developed that little bit extra quality that sometimes comes
with maturity. RECOMMENDED.
Edme
Superbrew Gold Yorkshire Bitter (PL 2005)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
****
Comments:- A
true "Quatermass" head during pleasant smelling fermentation! Good head &
condition, a nice lightish colour, similar to that on the label. A very
acceptable taste even after only a short maturation period (despite a slight
"tang" which disappeared with time). Yeast (very little) was quite stable.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Edme
Superbrew Gold Yorkshire Bitter (Modified, PL 2006)
Price - no
ratings given, see below.
Ease of
making - no ratings given, see below.
Final quality
- no ratings given, see below.
Overall - no
ratings given, see below.
Comments:- As
this was not made to the manufacturer instructions it would be unfair to give it
my normal ratings. After the modified Irish Stout I decided to repeat the
experiment by reducing this kit to 20l, giving the final beer 4.5% (with priming
sugar), around 24EBC & 26EBU (all calc.). Excellent long-lasting head with
lots of clinging, very good condition & colour as expected with plenty of
hop-bite & was very dry whilst young but developed in to an excellent beer
after some 2 months maturation. My only criticism was the slightly harshness of
the hops, but this is not a problem when previously made to the manufacturers
instructions & it could be exasperated by our hard water. A SUCCESSFUL
EXPERIMENT.
Geordie Mild
(PL 2002)
Price
£
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
****
Comments:-
Very clear, 100+ EBC, big initial head soon disappeared but good condition. Not
a great deal of taste but went down very well! Kept well after opening & a
good yeast. RECOMMENDED.
Geordie Lager
(PL 2002)
Price
£
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
****
Comments:-
Reasonable TOP fermentation, no problems, quite solid sediment left. Head O.K.,
lots of bubbles rising. Colour, a little darker than on the label, around 10EBC.
Yeast a bit loose, keeps O.K. after opening. Improved noticeably within a short
maturation period. Not really like a lager to me but still very drinkable. Not
the best or worst lager I've tried (kit or bought!), still
RECOMMENDED.
John Bull
Best Bitter (PL 2004)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
****
Comments:-
Quite clear, around 20EBC, poor head, good condition & good yeast
performance (especially for the price). This was quite thin & lacked taste,
otherwise NOT UNPLEASANT. Improved somewhat after 4
months.
John Bull
Best Bitter (Modified) (PL 2004)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
****
Comments:-
Made with 500g Spraymalt & 350g sugar rather than the quoted 1Kg sugar
resulted in a much smoother drink, otherwise very similar to the "normal" kit.
Note the F.G. was 4° higher for the same O.G.
John Bull
Best Bitter (Modified) (PL 2006)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
****
Comments:-
20l rather than the quoted 23l were made & only 500g sugar rather than the
quoted 1K. A massive, long lasting head with good condition & some clinging
to the side of the glass. The dry, harsh bitterness disappeared slightly with
time.
John Bull
Brown Ale (PL 2004)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
****
Comments:-Classic
fermentation. Big initial head was short lived but there were lots of bubbles
rising, around 100EBC or more. A touch of sourness, otherwise not a lot of
taste. NO PROBLEMS WITH DRINKING IT.
John Bull
Wheat Beer (PL 2002)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
****
Overall
****
Comments:- A
"classic" fermentation. MASSIVE head, very slow to reduce, very good condition.
Colour (similar to colour on label) estimated around 20EBC. Does not taste too
much like a wheat beer to me, but I have not tried too many. Some sourness &
astringency, very slight clinging to the glass, keeps very well in the bottle
after opening & yeast O.K. (note it is a wheat beer). A bit different &
NOT UNPLEASANT.
John Bull
MasterClass Bavarian Lager (PL 2007)
Price
£££
Ease of
making *** (See Export Pilsner comments)
Final quality
****
Overall
***
Comments:-
For
some reason this lager was reluctant to clear & consequently had quite a lot
of slightly unstable yeast in the bottles, otherwise there was nothing much
wrong with the result – massive, long lasting head, good condition, colour as
quoted etc., my only problem was that at 36-44 UBUs, this was slightly too
bitter for my personal taste.
John Bull
MasterClass Export Pilsner (PL 2004, 2008)
Price
£££
Ease of
making *** (See comments)
Final quality
****
Overall
****
Comments:-
Slightly cheaper than most 3Kg kits, the only problem I had making this kit was
with the size of the tin! Nice light colour around the 10EBC mark but some
haziness & slightly unstable yeast. It had a massive long-lasting "stiff"
head & excellent condition. Very pleasant to drink, deserves the name
"MASTERCLASS".
2008
Update:- I made a second batch at around the same time as the Irish Stout below
but with a final gravity of around 1008 it was about 6° below that of the stout.
As both kits use the same yeast (Stout & Pilsner!), the only way to explain
this is if the Pilsner kit contained about 2Kg of malt extract & 1Kg sugar.
Knowing that the kit is sold as “all malt”, I asked John Bull if they could
explain this phenomenon BUT THEY COULD NOT EVEN BOTHER TO REPLY to my e-mail. I
still enjoyed this drink very much but the “Overall” rating may have to be
reduced if we, the trusting consumers, are being ripped off. Perhaps this review
may prompt John Bull to
respond.
John Bull
MasterClass Irish Stout (PL 2008)
Price
£££
Ease of making *** (See
Export Pilsner comments)
Final quality
****
Overall
****
Comments:- Very dark
colour, decent, long-lasting head with some clinging to the glass. The taste was
of roasted malts with some liquorice with quite a long finish, but I would have
liked a bit more hop flavour.
Milestone Crusader (AS
2008)
Price
£££
Ease of making
*****
Final quality
*****
Overall
****
Comments:- I came across
these fairly new kits during a recent visit to my excellent local brew shop. I
am normally a Woodforde’s Kit brewer and didn't think I would come across a kit
that would equal these, until now. This brew is a typical Belgium style beer
with a generally different taste to normal kits that are available. My son is a
definite lager drinker and finds this brew to his taste especially when served
cold. The initial taste is rather citrus and flowery but then you get a definite
bitter hoppy after taste. I am not a Belgium style beer drinker normally but
found this brew to be very moreish. The start of fermentation is not typical of
today’s beer kits in that there was no froth during fermentation which makes me
think it’s lager yeast. This beer is easy to make, clears quickly and was great
after 4 weeks. There was plenty of life to the beer with a long lasting head.
Like Woodforde’s this is a no Sugar kit with 2 cans to
3Kg.
This kit is great value
and is a couple of quid less than Woodforde’s - Check it out, HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED.
Milestone Black Pearl
(AS 2008)
Price
£££
Ease of making
*****
Final quality
*****
Overall
*****
Comments:- If you like
Irish stout then this is for you. It says ' Authentic Irish Stout ' on the box
and it is exactly that. This stuff is like nectar, easy to brew, and tasted
wonderful even just after 3 weeks in the barrel. I put some of the brew into 4
bottles yet to be tried. Like the Crusader this is also a NO sugar Brew with 2
cans to 3Kg and I cannot fault it at all. The guy in the brew shop said one of
his other customers had said it was the best stout he had ever tasted and I
totally agree with him. This kit is not a watery tasteless brew like some I have
tried it is a full flavour real Irish stout. BRILLIANT, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - THE
BEST STOUT I HAVE EVER BREWED.
Munton's
Connoisseurs IPA Bitter (PL 2002)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:-
Very clear, 30 EBC, poor head but good condition. What taste there is slightly
malty, grainy dry & astringent. Kept well after opening & had a good
yeast. RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS - I consider it to be a little too pricey
for the quality.
NOTE That
MUNTON’S and EDME both give a typical analysis of their beers on the labels, a
practice which must be applauded.
Munton's
Connoisseurs Pilsner (PL 2002)
Price
££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:-
Good initial head, colour darker than on the label, a chill haze (for a
PILSNER?), some clinging to the glass, quite a weak but not unpleasant taste,
yeast a bit "swirley". Much improved all round after 2 months or so, head
retention not too bad, but did not really taste like a Pilsner. Despite the
rather negative comments this was rather nice to drink, RECOMMENDED although a
little pricey.
Munton's Gold
Old English Bitter (PL 1999)
Price
£££££
Ease of
making *
Final quality
*
Overall
*
Comments:-
Very slow yeast. It was about 36hrs before any noticeable (vile smelling) action
occurred. Virtually no head/condition, after 2 months it smelled & tasted
like burnt plastic. THROWN AWAY!
In all
fairness the problems may well have been caused by me but I do not fancy
re-trying this expensive kit.
Lager Tom
Caxton kit. (SB 2000)
This had a
"Hop enhancement system" which allows you to vary the bitterness of the
brew.
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments. We
left this over a month to mature and added 1/3 hop enhanced. Some found this a
cross between larger and beer but definitely a fine
brew.
Tom Caxton
Lager (PL 1998)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:-
Does not taste much like a Lager, more like a beer. Slightly hazy & the
yeast was a bit unstable. Not really to my taste, but otherwise
O.K.
UNICAN
Bitter, UNICAN Lager (SB 2000)
Very cost
effective (Approx 5% alcohol)
The end
result was a pleasant bitter which we drank after a month of
maturing.
Ease of
making ***
Final quality
****
WOODFORDE'S
NOTE (PL)
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
*****
Overall
****
Basically a
“normal” Woodforde’s kit with a sachet of (Challenger) hop powder. If you like
hoppy beers then this probably one for you! With a superb (tight-bubbled) head
& condition it stuck to the glass sides quite well. It was very drinkable,
albeit slightly harsh in the hop department, after only a month and improved
with age. EXCELLENT.
Woodforde's
Great Eastern Ale (PL 2005)
Price
££££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
*****
Overall
****
Comments:-
After my last, slightly disappointing kit, this beer was back on top form. After
just a month it had a modest head which did not disappear altogether, slight
clinging to the glass but this kit needs more time to reach its best. It had a
fair condition, colour less than 20 EBC and a smooth and gentle taste with some
butterscotch, barley sugar and marmalade. Yeast in the bottle is exceptionally
stable, especially when compared to my previous Woodforde's beers, on that
score, this is probably the best yeast I've ever used (note that I always "rack
& "rest" my beers for about a week before bottling). After 2 months it had a
good tight-bubbled head like the old (proper) Guinness. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -
Woodforde's
Nelson's Revenge (PL 2006)
Price
££££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:-
I'm sure my previous kit tasted much better than this, checking my records, I
found that the subtly of taste and aroma has been replaced with harsh
bitterness. Unfortunately I've occasionally noticed this before with Woodforde's
and some other kits; surely we should expect more consistency than
this.
Woodforde's
Norfolk Wherry (PL 2005)
Price
££££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
*****
Overall
****
Comments:-
Again, after my last, slightly disappointing kit, this beer was back on top
form. Although suffering from a chill haze it is completely clear when drunk at
slightly below room temperature (optimum). A new yeast seems to have been used
as the sediment in the bottle was a lot more stable than for previous brews.
EXCELLENT!
I produced
another batch soon after but used EDME SuperBrew Gold yeast (don't ask why!). I
have never seen a yeast like this before, the "usual" tendrils were only about
6mm across and there were literally hundreds of them, the beer in the fermenter
cleared exceptionally well, very quickly & the remaining sediment can be
best described as being like a solid lump of clay. As usual the beer was
EXCELLENT with a slightly different taste from the Woodforde yeast
version.
York Brewery
Yorkshire Terrier (PL 2006)
Price
££££
Ease of
making **
Final quality
*****
Overall
****
Comments:- An
unusual kit to me, as it contained 1.8K liquid malt & 1K Spraymalt plus 50g
hop pellets which looked like "Technicolor" mushy peas during the brewing
process. An uneventful fermentation which finished about 6° higher than the
quoted S.G. Decent condition & quite a long lasting head that tended to
cling to the sides of the glass. Quite hazy with a colour possibly twice the
quoted 7 EBCs. A full-flavoured beer with a long dry bitter aftertaste. This kit
was fairly difficult to make in comparison to the usual kits & better
instructions would have helped some. Despite my criticisms, which after all is
the reviewer's job, I've drunk many beers (including "real ales") much worse
than this in Pubs. I am now a member of York Brewery Club (I get 5% discount in
the bar & 10% off everything else including kits). HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED.
York Brewery
Stonewall (PL 2006)
Price
££££
Ease of
making **
Final quality
*****
Overall
****
Comments:- A
very similar kit to the Yorkshire Terrier, the only difference being that it
used fewer hop pellets. This is reflected in a slightly grainier, maltier taste,
the hops not as prominent. An ideal stable-mate (kennel-mate?) to the Terrier.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Wine kit
reviews
£= £6-8, ££ =
£8-10, £££ = £10-12, ££££ = £12-14 & £££££ = £14+ for 4.5l (6 bottles) wine
Kit.
Some typical wine drinking temperatures (°C).
Beaverdale
BAROLO Red (SB 2000 & 2001)
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
*****
The results
of this review meant it was a must for me to try. This I did and was very
pleased. I will try the Red Californian next.
This kit is a
genuine single variety grape juice and all you need is in the kit so no
measuring or weighing, just brew it!
Beaverdale
Barolo (PL 2006)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
*****
Overall
*****
Comments:-
After seeing Stephan's (Mr. Yobrew) review (see above) and his other comments on
the home page and in the winemaking section, I just could not resist his
recommendation. I found it to be a beautifully deep garnet coloured wine,
star-bright with a decent body. There was a good nose, taste and aftertaste, not
an easy-drinking wine owing to its complexity. I found it went exceptionally
well with Danish Blue cheese and good music (NO, not Robbie & Mad Donna!).
Despite all his enthusiasm, in my opinion, Stephan slightly under-rated this
wine, PROBABLY THE BEST RED
Beaverdale
Californian White (PL 1998)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
***
Overall
***
Comments:-
Not too bad but improved greatly with age.
Beaverdale
Chablis Blush (PL 2008)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
****
Overall
****
Comments:-
Give this wine about 3 months in the bottle for a vast improvement in
taste. Dry, some acid & strawberries. VERY
Beaverdale
Chamblaise (PL 2005)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
****
Overall
****
Comments:-
Well up to the Beaverdale standard but the yeast was unusually a little
unstable.
Beaverdale
Chardonnay (PL 2003)
Price
£££
Ease of
making ****
Final quality
****
Overall
****
Comments:-
EXCELLENT, even better after a year!
Beaverdale
Chardonnay (SB 2007)
Price
£££
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