A Very Tired Pussy! (Anglo Dutch Tabatha the Knackered)

Member Name: tange

Product:	Anglo Dutch Tabatha the Knackered
Date:	22/01/08 (138 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty with layers of flavour.

Disadvantages: Not as classy as a true Belgian Tripel.

We have just finished the beer order for the beer festival we are holding in February this year. It takes quite a lot of work and research to pick and order a selection of beers of different strengths and styles, from a mix of breweries. Some we just picked from a list to fit in with what we wanted, but we did make a point of trying some of the beers from breweries that fitted with our theme (Beers from within 30 miles of Chesterfield) when we saw them in pubs or at beer festivals. So, when we saw Anglo Dutch brewery's Tabatha the Knackered at our local Wetherspoons, we HAD to try it - purely for selfless interests of course!

~~~THE BREWERY.

The Anglo Dutch Brewery began life in the October of 2000 and are based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. The official launch of took place in November and the brewery has gone from strength to strength ever since. Due to the fact that one of the partners in the business is Dutch and one is British they decided to name their brewery Anglo Dutch. The building is located in an industrial unit, on the site of a former dye factory and uses equipment purchased from the Rat & Ratchet Brewery.

Anglo Dutch brew a variety of different beers, some brewed all year round, some seasonal and some one off specials. They also do a range of organic beers. Regular beers include Anglo Dutch Best Bitter (a malty session bitter at 3.8% ABV), Kletswater (a light bitter at 4.0% ABV) and Imperial Pint (a dark, traditional bitter also at 4.0% ABV). The other ranges feature No Doubt it's t'Stout (a roasty stout at 5.2% ABV), Jasper's Ale (a pale hoppy beer at 4.4% ABV) and Supreme Spikus (a pale organic beer at 4.5% ABV). These beers are available to drink at home - details via their website. Anglo Dutch cask beers can be found in pubs nationwide (especially in the Yorkshire and Derbyshire areas) and are regular fixtures at beer festivals too.

~~~THE BEER.

***A Bit of Background***

Brewer Paul Klos had named two of the brewery's beers after his children. Not to be outdone, the other partner in the business, Mike Field decided that he wanted to dedicate a beer to his cat. So Tabatha the Knackered was born! The pump clip and bottle label shows a rather sleepy looking cat on a fence to illustrate the point! Tabatha is an unusual beer, but a popular one - not long after its conception it was named Best Beer of Huddersfield Beer Festival in 2001.

***Vital Stats***

Tabatha weighs in at 6.0% ABV and is brewed in the style of a Belgian Tripel (also spelt Trippel or Triple). A Tripel is usually a pale (blonde) colour - strong in alcohol content, full bodied, often with a sweet aromatic flavour. Tabatha also contains some coriander to give it spiciness.

***Look, Aroma & Texture***

Looks wise, Tabatha is a pale yellow, clear beer with a very small, very short lasting head. Aroma is quite diverse; combining biscuity malt with a slight spiciness, herbs, apple, a faint floral tinge and a honey sweetness. It has a medium body, with a slightly syrupy texture. There is a small amount of carbonation, causing some initial bubbles, but the texture goes flatter quite quickly. It is remarkably easy to drink for a beer of this strength too.

***Tange's Taste Test***

The taste of Tabatha is quite complex too. It is quite a dry beer in terms of flavour and has a definite hint of how strong it is. There is some evidence of hops (this time a more grassy hop rather than a citrus one), combined with spices and a slight pepperiness. An initial fruity sweetness leads to soft malt and ends in a finish and aftertaste that is nutty and has a caramel toffee taste. You will probably experience a slight dryness on the palate that goes quite well with the initial sweetness.

~~~WHAT I THOUGHT.

Tabatha the Knackered is undoubtedly a strong beer and it does bear resemblances to a Belgian Tripel style beer. The jury is still out for me as to whether or not it is a true representation of this type of beer though. It is a good and tasty beer with a good blend of flavour layers, but it doesn't seem to compare with the Tripels I've tried when in Belgium (that could be to do with the whole experience of being on holiday I suppose) - Westmalle Tripel for example is much more classy, with a long aftertaste and a lovely soft fruity taste. It is however a decent beer in its own right. Maybe it would better resemble a Belgian beer if the pint glass was replaced by a Belgian-style goblet shaped glass!

At 6.0% ABV drinkers need to remember that it is high in alcohol - the warming alcohol taste reminds you of this, but it still easy to forget because of the pleasant flavour. I particularly like the combination of the spiciness and the sweetness. I am also impressed by the way the flavour seems to develop in layers, bringing depth and variety that add to the whole drinking experience. I also like the fact that they have tried to do something a little different than most standard British brews.

My pint of Tabatha cost me £1.69 at the Portland Hotel in Chesterfield Town Centre. I have also tried it at various different beer festivals - usually in halves and a variety of different prices. I am looking forward to giving it another go at our beer festival in a couple of week's time.

Maybe poor Tabatha is so knackered because she has drunk far too many of her namesake beers....


~~~BREWERY DETAILS.

Anglo Dutch Brewery
Unit 12 Savile Bridge Mill
Savile Road
Dewsbury
WF12 9AF
01924 457772

www.anglo-dutch-brewery.co.uk

***THIS REVIEW WILL APPEAR ON OTHER WEBSITES****

Summary: A strong, flavoursome blonde beer.