Glorious '45 - Raising the Standard (Fullers 1845)

Member Name: The Operator

Product:	Fullers 1845
Date:	09/03/02 (95 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Strong

Disadvantages: See above

George died last week. He wasn't a mate, just a good friend of the family and one of life's really honest and genuine good guys. One of those people who always made you smile. Everyone around and about knew him because he did everything; cubs, church and all that. All the good things that are meant to earn you brownie points for the final reckoning.
What endeared George to the gentlemen in his circle of friends was the fact that in his cellar he had built a pub. No pumps or anything but a bar and tables and collections of bottles and beer mats and hops hanging from the ceiling and all sorts of things to make it pleasant, you know the score. George did rather like a pint as well. Well, actually he adored his beer. More than anything he loved a nice bottle conditioned beer. Those are the ones with the bits floating about in the bottom of the bottle and also the ones which, if you are not careful will erupt all over your keyboard when you open them. When entertaining he would with a gentle pride, produce his latest find and then with equal magnanimity, tip it down the sink if it tasted the least bit "off". I just know he would have like this one.

Fuller's of Chiswick. I think they're the better of the two major independent London brewers, the other being Youngs of Wandsworth. It's all a matter of taste of course but I've always had a soft spot for London Pride which is their main seller. This beer, 1845 Celebration Strong Ale was brought out to celebrate 150 years of the Fuller, Smith and Turner brewing enterprise in 1995 and is a mighty fine way to celebrate. The fact that I'm now celebrating 157 years with the same beer should be testament to its popularity. In fact it has, according to the Fuller's website (www.fullers.co.uk) been the market leader in the take home market in bottled ales. It strikes as a very imposing ale even inside the bottle. The bottle is a chunky cylinder, no waist and with a large white
label proclaiming its pedigree in black and red with a large "1845" across the centre. I do believe it's actually won "Best Dressed Bottle" titles at CAMRA fests but quite what kudos this brings, I'm unsure.

It's brewed using amber malt which is very evident in the taste - which is er...quite malty and I like that. I find it nice and comforting for some reason. A bit like Horlicks used to be before bedtime. The hops used are Goldings and you'll probably be enthralled to know that the hops were added to the original brew by none other than HRH the Prince of Wales. Indeed. What a claim to fame and in fact I can hear the footnote writers to history sharpening their pencils and thinking of something apt to say as I write. You may have gathered by now that I'm actually drinking the stuff. It's 6.3% ABV which is a strong beer in anyone's books and as I didn't get much sleep last night it's managed to find a pretty well uninterrupted route straight to my head. One of the more endearing features of this beer is that it doesn't actually taste strong. Endearing of course, if you actually like suddenly realising you've drunk far more than you thought you had because it tasted "nice". As this one does. Well, I've done it. I can't tell you about the taste though - it's just nice. I can't do that thing with all the fruit overtones and stuff. All I can say about this is that it isn't thin and watery. It has what I presume to be "a full body".

I mentioned before about bottle conditioned ales having sediment - well my bottle doesn't but it did react in the way a live ale should when opened - fizz a bit and create a bit of a head when poured out before settling; all gently bubbling and a beautiful rust red. It's still fermenting see - the canny brewers pop a little yeast in the bottle before capping and that's what creates the sediment. Of which as I m
entioned, I have none and as such am quite disappointed because that's not the game. George would have left 1/2 inch in the bottom of the bottle when he slowly poured it out (you must pour these slowly otherwise they can make a mess, especially if a little too far gone), instead I've poured the whole lot out. Which means all the more for me then. Cheers and G'night.

And if you're reading this, George - Wotcha!

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