The 10 Best Autumn beers

From a brew that is re-fermented with champagne yeast to one of the oldest surviving examples of an India Pale Ale...

Kate Hilpern
Thursday 31 October 2013 18:15 EDT
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1. Chapel Down Curious Brew

£17.99 for 12, majestic.co.uk

This vineyard uses East Anglian malt, Saaz and cascade hops and then re-ferments the lager using the same champagne yeast that goes into its sparkling wines.

2. Hogs Back TEA

£1.97, waitrose.com

A top-selling, award-winning Traditional English Ale that's deep golden in colour and hoppy, refreshing and well balanced in taste. A great autumnal session ale.

3. Thwaites Nutty Black

£1.99, beersofeurope.co.uk

One of just four beers to win Champion Beer of Britain twice; voted World's Best Mild last year. Dark, a hint of nuttiness, with roasted and bittersweet flavours.

4. Thornbridge Wild Raven

£30.25 for 12 bottles, thornbridgebrewery.co.uk

There's plenty going on in this dark stout, with stacks of aromatic notes and bitterness, and it's full-bodied, but not heavy.

5. Bodgers Barley Wine

£2.50, chilternbrewery.co.uk

Brewed in the style of a strong IPA, this is a golden-chestnut ale with citrus fruits, juicy malt and spicy hops. It is well tuned, perfectly balanced, with a lingering aftertaste.

6. Titanic Stout

£1.97, ocado.com

Dark but not cloying, this stout boasts malt and roast flavours with some hops. It is rich, delicious, with a creamy head. No wonder so many call it the perfect English stout.

7. Wye Valley Brewery Butty Bach

£25.44 for a case of 12, wyevalleybrewery.co.uk

This ale is brewed using Maris Otter and Crystal malts, flaked barley, malted wheat, and Fuggles, Goldings and Bramling Cross hops.

8. Young's Special London Ale

£1.95, ocado.com

Oz Clarke described this beer's flavour as "like making love in a hop garden". It's had many accolades, not least because it's so smooth, rich and malty on the palate.

9. Cheddar Ales Gorge Best

£24 for 12, therealalecompany.co.uk

The play on words isn't the only thing going for this beer, which provides a clean, bitter taste that complements the warm malt flavours.

10. Worthington's White Shield IPA

£2.13, ocado.com

Feisty and full-flavoured, with a powerful hoppiness and a long, bittersweet finish. Dating back to the 1820s, it is one of the oldest surviving examples of an India Pale Ale.

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