A rich, ruby-red coloured ale in a bottle. Not particularly hoppy (as per the name) or spiced (as per the implication of the name) but nice enough. It hides it’s 7% ABV well, but all that could happen is that you get a sore head pretty quickly for no real gain.
Archive for January 17, 2009
Winter Hop Ale
Edinburgh No. 3
The Sun Inn was re-opened recently after a major refurbishment and now offers itself as ‘Edinburgh’s newest gastro pub’, even though it is actually located between Eskbank and Newtongrange on the A7 a couple of miles outside the city boundary. Semantics aside, the Inn does have have great philosophy to local beer. One of the stalwarts on the handpumps is this fine brew from Stewart Brewing, Edinburgh No. 3.
Stories abound as to the actual origin of this particular brew, but the one I like the best is that it is a reincarnation of an old brew by Younger’s (unsuprisingly called No. 3 Ale). The older version was very dark, rich, hoppy and with a sweet treacle flavour (I’m told), and the Stewart version has “an intense colour, rich malty taste, and a clean finish” (so says the Stewart Brewing website). I say – tasty! =)