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– Review – Lovibonds Dark Reserve No 3 – By DJ Adams
Lovibonds. Why does that name ring a bell? Apart from representing a long tradition of brewing, which we’ll dive into in a moment, it is also a name well known throughout the brewing and food science industries, as the surname of the inventor of the Tintometer. Used in brewing and many other industries, the Tintometer is a device for measuring and classifying liquids by colour, and was invented in the 19th century by Joseph William Lovibond. The Tintometer classification and colour scale system is still used today by brewers to buy their malt. (You’ll no doubt be pleased to know that, according to the Tintometer Group website, their modern digital water test equipment and liquid colour test instruments are, ahem, waterproof.)
But before we go any further, let’s get to the bottom of the Lovibonds name as it applies to the brewing company. Jeff Rosenmeier is the current proprietor and owner of Lovibonds Brewery. Originally from the States, and a software engineer (there’s hope for me yet!), Jeff came to Henley-on-Thames, already bitten by the brewing bug and looking for a site for his expanding brewing ventures, came across the site that had originally belonged to John Lovibond & Sons Brewers and Merchants, and took over the name. Yes, that Lovibond. John Locke Lovibond was the father of Joseph William and three other sons who set up a brewing partnership in 1872. So the name Lovibond is almost literally steeped in brewing history and science.
Transitioning into its second incarnation, the Lovibonds brewing respect has only grown. With a handful of year-round brews, limited releases, specials and prototypes, the quality of their beers is becoming well known. I’m here at Port Street Beer House with a Dark Reserve Nr 3 in my glass. The person next to me has already picked up the aroma of bourbon. Jack Daniels, to be precise. This is a porter aged in Tennessee whiskey barrels. Dark brown with a brief tan head, you can almost sense the wet wooden barrel innards, imparting vanilla, nuts and raisins. The body is not as heavy as one might expect, and along with the malty mouthful there’s a dark chocolate and bitter, almost sour finish, with some brown sugar sweetness towards the bottom of the glass. It’s a strong one – at 7.4%, but the sample disappeared fairly quickly and it didn’t feel like I was drinking something that potent. The sourness and relative lightness definitely added to the appeal, and the drinkability.
Port Street Beer House is currently running a Festival Of Britain(s Beers) and have brought together a great collection of British brewing talent. Lovibonds is a worthy member of this collection, and have earned their place at the taps with this excellent brew. The Festival is on until this Sunday 7th April, so get yourself down there before this Dark Reserve is gone. Quick!
Brewer: Lovibonds
Brew: Dark Reserve Nr 3
Style: Porter
ABV: 7.4%
Words by DJ Adams – http://www.pipetree.com/qmacro/
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– Meet The Brewer with The Liverpool Craft Beer Co. / Monday 29th April 2013
5.30pm – 8pm (event starts at 6.15pm prompt)
SOLD OUT / available from the bar or 0161 237 9949
Founded in 2010, The Liverpool Craft Beer Co. brews on a ten barrel plant producing forward-thinking cask, bottled and soon-to-be keg beers. Regular collaborations with arts and music events have seen Liverpool Craft’s beer appear in the most unique and interesting venues in the city. No mission to achieve, no message to convey. An independent brewery keeping busy brewing good beer.
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– Port Street Pop Ups present Fish& / Thursday 4th April 2013 – 5pm
Fish& are bringing their unique sustainable seafood streetfood kitchen to Port Street Beer House on Thursday April 4th for the first in a series of regular pop ups, this particular one is part of our Festival of Britain(s Beers).
Forging a reputation for their twisted Fish& chips, flavours like lemon, lime& chilli, sea salt & cracked black pepper and massala spiced batters, Fish& have taken this classic part of British food and cultural heritage and given it the kick up the arse it needs to bring it into the 21st century.
There is also talk of a special PSBH Festival batter using one of the festival beers, if thats not enough there’s also talk of some very new ‘beach burgers’ appearing on the menu . . . . .
Described by on reviewer as “like a bizarre dream, restaurant quality food from a beach hut set up on a pedestrian precinct in the middle of this northern city!”
Follow fish& on twitter for more news @NoFishyBusiness
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– Toccalmatto’s ‘One Shot series’
If you think Italian beer is all mainstream tasteless lager we already have the means to prove you wrong, but if there are still any waverers we’ve decided to make it 100% clear that the Italian craft beer scene is shit hot. In order to aid us in really getting this message to hit home the fantastic brewery Birra Toccalmatto, creator of the divine Zona Cesarini, which faithful regulars will already be aware of and revere, is bringing joy to the lives of many with a wonderful year of brilliant beer.
For the next twelve months we will be getting two different Toccalmatto beers a month, one of which will be from the standard range and as Zona fans will tell you this in itself is pretty exciting stuff, the first from this range will be the ‘B Space Invader’ a black IPA made with galaxy hops-needless to say the staff here are all pretty darn excited. As if that wasn’t enough the second beer will be an unknown entity of excellence from Toccalmatto’s One Shot series, these aren’t beers that will be made twice people, these are the beers that bloody brilliant brewers fancy making because they can! Just to clarify: these guys are not afraid to make big flavours, try new stuff or hop the hell out of something.
We assume you will enjoy, no worries, you’re welcome.