Hardy & Hansons Olde Trip
Hardys & Hansons PLC

This was a pleasant find. While driving through Darbyshire to visit the duke of Devonshire's, the kindly Dr. Murdoch of Manchester, my wife and I agreed that we were parched. We had been in the car for all of maybe 60 minutes when we happened upon the bridge inn and decided to hoist a whorson.

This beer had a nice ruby color that had a slightly aromatic head that lent itself to raisins, maybe even a faint hint of dried cherries. The mouthfeel was wonderful leading the smooth taste of the beer. Again, another one that I look forward to having on my next trip.

I don't like giving full marks for any beer because what do you do when you find a better one? But the pint at the Red Lion in Bottesford was simply superb .
This was the second pint out of the cask (the first was drawn off just before and poured away , what a tragic waste!) and it was every man's image of a perfect pint , coppery with a tight lace and the carbonation was spot on.Gently shake the glass and tiny bubbles come out of the beer and join the head.
Tha aroma was just right - H&H beers except Classic are not particularly aromatic but there was a promise of delights to come.As they did because it was a glorious taste reminding me a little of Bass at its best in its heyday.Lovely soft malt and hops - almost a soapy effect and very very drinkable.
I'm delighted to write this because I was invited to its launch at the Trip to Jerusalem and I wasn't particularly impressed ; I thought it was very "commercial" ie good beer but a little dull. Obviously they've tweaked it a bit and when you add the superb cellarmanship (pardon,cellarwomanship) at the Red Lion it's become a gem of a beer.

Tasted on a cool, cloudy Sunday afternoon while watching the North Sea at the Red Lion Hotel in Cromer, UK, in September 2005.

Pours a copper-red (amber) with no head. Flat. Did I say no carbonation? That's right, no head. The aroma and flavor are dominated by malts, with only a slight hop profile that hits the back of the throat during the swallow. The malts are mellow, semi-sweet slightly roasted bready with hints of chocolate and caramel. The mouthfeel is thin but slightly creamy. This is a decent brew, very drinkable, but I like the hops to be a little more pronounced.

Sweet malty, raisiny start, drying out a touch towards the end with some dry-ish citrusy hops, the mouthfeel is perhaps a bit thin aswell, but nothing is too offensive about it, quite easy to enjoy, just a touch average, with no outstanding flavours or aromas, but not bad at all.