Merlyn, Ebulum and Lammas

I've tried three more ales, one good, two a little disappointing.

Great Orme Merlyn, 4.9%

The Great Orme Brewery hails from North Wales and was established in 2005 it has a small range of ales and if they are all as nice as the Merlyn then they’ll do very well indeed. A lovely caramel and chestnut aroma, on the palate there is immediate sweet caramel malt with a building bitterness which never overpowers and an aftertaste which is slightly herbal. Very easy to drink, 7.5/10.

Emma Says: 'chestnuts and almonds smell, sweetchestnut with a bitter finish'

Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale, 6.5%

Brewed by the Williams Brothers Brewery Company from Scotland, elderberry black ale was introduced to Scotland in the 9^th century by Welsh druids, the recipe was apparently taken from a 16^th century record from the Scottish highlands. This pours a dark black, elderflower sweetness offset with malt on the nose, the taste is roasted malts followed by dark fruit notes with a dry herbal finish. For me fruit enthused ales need to have a stronger taste than this, it almost felt a bit like an alcoholic herbal tea, which for some will be a good thing but I’d prefer a stronger flavour, it’s also a little over carbonated, but it’s certainly drinkable and just needs some tweaking, 6.5/10.

1648 Lammas Ale, 4.2%

The 1648 Brewing Company have a huge range of ales listed on their website, Lammas means “Loaf Mass” and celebrates the first wheat harvest of the year, and is a custom brew for the Eastbourne Lammas festival. Lots of orange and general citrus aromas, a generous head which lasts, the taste is a bit of an explosion of grassy bitter and sour notes which then mellows, leaves a lasting floral bitter taste. A little unbalanced for me, and took a long time for me to drink due to its sourness, 5/10.