The Three Little Trings

No this is not a homage to the fairytale “The Three Little Pigs”, this is just a play on the title in reference to the small batch brews that Tring Brewery releases every year. In the past several years now, the Brewery has pushed the boat out and has engaged in producing innovative beers far removed from their main range. It began with the likes of Death or Glory (7.2%) a dark and sweet Barley Wine first brewed in 1994; and has continued from strength to strength with brews likes Shonks (4.5%) a pale ale with smoked German malt that emulates a Rauchbier, Lunardi’s (4.2%) a fruity pale ale that is flavoured with oatmeal which helps give it a smooth edge, and Alchemist (4.5%) a traditional keg conditioned lager. All of these beers are sold in 330ml bottles which reflects their small batch status, and are generally recommended for connoisseurs, rather than merely for sessional use. Eager to try some of their small batch brews, I took home a trio of beers following a tour of their brewery. These included Ashwell’s (4.5%), Dagmal (5%) and Raven King (5.5%). I was intrigued to find out how each of the three beers favoured in taste, aroma and appearance, so I subsequently set about to try all three, to assess their performance. 

ASHWELL’S (4.5%)

Style: Pale Ale

Colour: Hazy pale yellow, with one finger off-white head

Aromas: Earl Grey Tea, Hops and a touch of Citrus

Flavour: The taste is distinctly lemony and bitter. A touch of sour notes coming from the hops. The underlying background of Earl Grey Tea comes through, albeit in a subdued manner that lets the balance down somewhat. 

Rating: 6/10

DAGMAL (5%)

Style: Stout

Colour: Jet black, with one finger tan coloured head 

Aromas: Expresso coffee, chocolate and a snifter of roasted malt

Flavour: Profound coffee notes come through immediately, and linger long after the first sip. Equally sweet and bitter, the use of lactose sugar makes the drink too sickly sweet, and overshadows the roasted coffee elements. Oatmeal helps give the drink a thick and cloying mouthfeel, some lacing is present from the head. 

Rating: 5/10

RAVEN KING (5.5%)

Style: IPA

Colour: Hazy yellow-orange, a sunset like hue, with a one finger off-white head

Aromas: Hops, Citrus, Tropical fruit like Papaya, Pineapple, Guava and Lychee

Flavour: Distinctly boozy, cloying and heavy. Tropical fruits are quite distinctive yet do not add unnecessary sweetness. Dry, bitter and rather hoppy, the taste notes from the Mosaic and Citra Hops are quite evident. A quaffable example of an IPA.

Rating: 8/10

Overall to sum up the three beers, Ashwell’s showed signs of promise with its lemony and hoppy flavours, although it needs a touch more strength from the Earl Grey Tea to bring out more of a flavour profile; whilst the use of lactose sugars in Dagmal’s let the drink down and outshone the roasted coffee notes that were supposed to characterise the drink, it is a needless addition to the brew and would have worked just fine if it was less sweet. Out of the three beers, Raven King won hands down with its boozy and tropical carnival of flavours stealing the thunder from the other two, the use of hops really brings the drink out to the fore and helps propel its flavour profile, it is a quaffable and distinctive example of an IPA, and one to recommend.