Bathams Special Strong Ale
Daniel Batham & Son Ltd

Brown 500ml bottle, best before the end of June 2011, drank and reviewed on a snowy afternoon, 30th Nov 2010.

Poured into a 'Batemans' badged UK pint sleeve.

Good amber body with a creamy, light tan coloured head of foam. The head left some good lacing as the beer level dropped.

Aroma reminded me of sultanas and raisins, so a Rum hint within the smell, along with a heavy wiff of yeasts and alcohol.

The taste is sharp and crisp, with the currents already mentioned coming through in the aftertaste. The alcohol is just about held in check, but not quite. A tinge of cinnamon also appears as the initial flavours fade in the mouth. In other words a Winter Warmer sort of beer.

Very drinkable and a good warming brew, it fortified me for the walk into town through the cold and falling snow.

Sold in small 275ml bottles, this dark strong beer usually available in Bathams pubs, and occasionally at specialist bottled beer sellers. Pours dark and rich with powerful fruity aroma, and dark dense head, sweet and spicy, and this is reflected in the taste. I would not have guessed it as a Bathams beer had I not known, as there is little similarity to their other cask beers. Rich and sweet fruity taste, lots of malt, but not cloyingly sweet. Hints of sultanas and raisins as if a Christmas style beer, and good body to go with it. Hints of burnt caramel too. Probably too sweet (for my taste) to want to drink more than a couple of bottles at any one time, but an excellent warming rich beer to finish with on a cold evening!

John W
Bham UK Dec 2005