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Breweries — it’s beer and it’s brewed here
Fuller’s hand out the Prizes…
Gale’s Prize Old Ale was one of the four sole bottle-conditioned beers still being made at the start of the 1970s, a rich and vinous barley wine that was made annually at the Horndean brewery. With the acquisition of Gale’s by Fuller’s in 2005, there were concerns that this iconic ale would be consigned to the history books. Several years on, a vintage has finally been released — and what a great beer. Tasting notes and a few words on the beer from Fuller’s head brewer follow…
Gale’s Prize Old Ale, Fuller’s, London, 9%, vintage 2007
This is Fuller‘s first attempt at recreating Gale’s classic barley wine — I was once told by head brewer John Keeling that he wasn’t a great fan of the beer, because the method of production could lead to various elements of Brettanomyces making their presence felt. And why not as lambic producers might say!
The colour is dark reddish-brown, almost like dark chestnut with crimson tints. The nose is redolent of cherry brandy with subtle traces of a gueuze like softness in the background; plus hints of marzipan and fruit-cake. On the palate it announces itself with a sherry-like richness before a sharp and sweet grapefruit-like character comes to the fore, it is tart and quenching. The finish has more sharp and sweet grapefruit with a light malt sweetness making another pass. I think of lambic, gueuze and aged barley wine all in one glass. The condition is still and limpid. Given that I had to throw away four bottles of the last vintage of Gale’s Prize Old Ale because of yeast infection, this is an exciting and thrilling return of an old favourite.
John Keeling, Fuller’s head brewer:
‘It is an unusual beer, a beer that grows on you. I wasn’t a great fan of the original Gale’s beer, I felt it was too flat — I said to former head brewer Derek that he shouldn’t be putting it in a corked bottle as it loses its fizz through the cork — it is never going to be true to its potential if it doesn’t have fizz. We condition it under pressure and we crowned it as that will hold the fizz — this was brewed at Gale’s in 2005 and has been matured in Fullers ever since; I’ve learnt a lot about it.
It’s full of infection but you have got to allow it to reach an equilibrium; when it reaches that you can bottle it — it won’t change greatly over the next few years. We have 40 barrels of this sitting in tanks and when we brew one and mix it in with the barrels, every bottling will have some of the original Gale’s Prize Old Ale in it.’
Gale’s Prize Old Ale is available in Fuller’s and Gale’s pubs, and also sold through the brewery shop — see www.fullers.co.uk for more details. |