Tasting notes: Hobson's choices

A wee squint around Oddbins in Glasgow city centre unearthed two new-to-me funky-labelled offerings from Shropshire brewer Hobsons (though the address on the website is Worcestershire - go figure). Founded in the early 1990s, the story behind the brewery appeals to me. Locally sourced materials, sustainable production methods and a commitment to "brewing beyond their weight". Take a look through the online almanac [http://www.hobsons-brewery.co.uk/media/8684/hobsons_almanac%202009.pdf] to find out what that means.
First up is Old Henry, a premium bitter named after Master Brewer Henry Hobson's hat, the coke - pronounced 'cook' - originally used as a hard hat by gamekeepers to provide basic protection against assault from disgruntled poachers. The other beer is Postman's Knock, a ruby porter honouring novelist Simon Evans who settled in Cleobury Mortimer (home of the brewery) after WWI and became a postman, as you do. His 18 mile post round gave him plenty of time to contemplate his navel and write clever stuff, apparently.

TASTING NOTES, AFTER A FASHION:
Old Henry, 5.2% abv, £2.09, Oddbins
More of an opaque reddy brown than a true chestnut as claimed on the bottle, the beer pours nicely though the bottle I tried was fairly lifeless in the glass with virtually no head. Definite sweet, fruity berry notes on the nose with some nice malt and a fair helping of spice too. Medium bodied and smooth, it lacks a little life in the mouth but lots going on flavour-wise. Sweet and fruity with plenty more spice and roasted malt in the background, tapering off quite quickly through orange peel and more spice into a lovely bitter, hoppy glow that was just a wee touch sour. Lovely drop and horrendously easy to drink.
Score: 3/5

Postman's Knock, Hobsons Brewery, 4.8% abv, £2.09, Oddbins
A totally different kettle of fish, this bottle conditioned dark, dark ruby porter pours nice and thick with a big deep head - though it didn't hang around for long. Lovely colour in the glass and typical porter aroma: chocolate, roasted malt, liquorice and, oddly enough, milky coffee, though I did read this in someone else's tasting notes so this may simply be the power of suggestion. [It's hard not to find things once somone standing next to you at a tasting mentions them.] Viscous and full in the mouth, the flavour is just as big and bold as the nose with bags of treacle and smoky, toasty malt and more coffee (no milk this time). Really well balanced, the finish is cracking, quite an aggressive hoppiness sorting out the sweetness in double time - just the way I like it. Right up my street, this one.
Score: 4/5

http://www.hobsons-brewery.co.uk/