Final Countdown
Fernandes Brewery Tap

Presentation: I thoroughly enjoyed my Sunday lunchtime drinking Sessions at the Red Shed when I lived in England. During my one and only full Sunday in England during my 2005 Easter Trip, the Red Shed seemed uncannily quiet. I soon found out why, the incumbents at the nearby Fernandes Brewery Tap had sold the Brewery, Brewery Tap and Home Brew Shop; Maureen & David James were finally going to reap the rewards of their hard earned work. A sad day indeed for the ‘regulars’ of the Fernandes Brewery Tap, including myself at least as it was my local since the day it opened and was the location of my leaving party before I left the UK for the US in September 2001. It holds many, many happy memories for me. So I felt extremely lucky that their “leaving party” was held on the one Sunday I was back in Wakefield – Divine Providence for sure.

“Final Countdown” was full brew length Special Beer created for the all day party, and listed as a 3.7% ABV trademark light hoppy brew.

Appearance: Pale golden body, light straw highlights, watery urine appearance that somehow (incorrectly) projects a low strength persona; I’ve been in the US too long I think. Soft bleached white head, foamy yet compact, thick and creamy, it leaves a white moustache on the initial sample. Immense conditioning, solid, yet refined with a fine bubbled carbonation.

Nose: Sharp hop flower bitterness mixed with a low level grapefruit fruity feel. The aromas are of a low end American IPA, unusual for an English Bitter but damn attractive nonetheless.

Taste: Floral bitterness entrances a sharp grapefruit tang, followed by some light lemon citric acidity. The center portion is a highlight, subsequent mouthfuls beg to be savored yet pass quickly, adding to the Drinkability. Rounded finish, fruity floral bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Brash carbonation was high in feel yet always with a dissolved talcum power softness that coated the tongue. Solid hoppy character from the (ironically) low levels of American Hops was absolutely perfect. Toasted malts were in the background at all times. Perfectly balanced.

Drinkability: Oh my!!! This one just disappeared, the 3.7% ABV and the balance was seriously impressive. This brew was more than a Session Beer, it was an **ALL DAY** Session Beer. So drinkable! To put this into perspective, the small Brewery Tap had 6 Cask beers on at all times, yet it still managed to sell NINE Firkins of this beer throughout the day before it ran out around 9pm, that’s around 650 Pints in 10 hours!!!! Mighty impressive statistics given that 5 other Cask beers were on sale!!

Overall: What a day!! I met so many old friends and even my ex- and her Dad during the ‘Fernandes Leaving Party’. I spent the whole Sunday at Fernandes, and I drank this beer most of the day, a superb accompaniment to a very sad yet happy occasion. I wish Maureen & David James all the best with their new found freedom; they worked extremely hard over the years to build Fernandes Brewery into a highly respected establishment and deserved all of their awards. They most certainly made my life a better one and offered me a respite of solitude and a great place to go after a hard day at work when I lived in England. I hope they can enjoy the same themselves. Somehow I feel Fernandes Brewery Tap and my trips back to England will never be the same. Life goes on I guess, but “Fernandes Final Countdown” was a mighty brew, worthy of an occasion of such magnitude. Very Impressive!!!