Wye Valley

Wye Valley - best known for its Dorothy Goodbody brand image of a voluptuous blonde - is one of Britain�s leading small craft breweries. It has moved three times since its launch in 1986 in Herefordshire and now has modern equipment capable of producing 400 barrels a week. The brewery was founded by Peter Amor, who previously worked for Guinness as a brewer. Several of Wye Valley's cask ales are also available in bottle-conditioned form.

the beers

Wye Valley, Butty Bach (England) (RP) The name means �Little Friend� in Welsh and the beer is aimed primarily at the market across the Herefordshire border but it should find favour with English drinkers, too. It was first brewed for the Cardiff beer festival in 1998 and has subsequently been voted Beer of the Festival three years in a row in its cask form. Butty Bach is brewed with Maris Otter pale and crystal malts, with wheat malt and flaked barley while the hops varieties are Bramling Cross, Fuggles and Goldings. The hops give a typically fruity orange, damson and blackcurrant note on the aroma with a rich wholemeal biscuity maltiness. Tangy fruit, creamy malt and hop resins fill the mouth, followed by a long and quenching finish that is a superb balance between rich malt, zesty fruit and bitter hops. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.79, Beersofeurope, Onlyfinebeer, Sainsbury's.

Wye Valley, Dorothy Goodbody's Golden Ale (England) (RP) The beer is brewed with Maris Otter pale malt with a touch of crystal and wheat malts. The hops are Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. It has a burnished pale bronze colour with a delightful and tempting aroma of citrus fruits, peppery hops and biscuity malt. The palate is packed with tart and tangy orange and lemon fruits, balanced by spicy hops and juicy malt. The finish lingers, starts bittersweet but become dry and refreshing with tart fruit and hop resins. 4.2% ABV, 50cl, �1.75, Onlyfinebeer, Realbeerbox, Sainsbury's.

Wye Valley, Dorothy Goodbody�s Country Ale (England) (RP) This is the same beer in two formats, sold seasonally as 'Christmas Ale' - and Ms Goodbody looks especially appealing is her peek-a-boo Santa outfit. The strong ale is brewed with Maris Otter pale, crystal and amber malts with wheat malt and flaked barley. The hops are Bramling Cross and Fuggles. A splendid companion for tangy English cheeses, the beer has a ripe aroma of pear drops and ripe malt. Peppery hops make their presence felt in the mouth, balanced by a malt/toffee note. The finish is fruit and hoppy with a powerful underpinning of rich fruits. 6.0% ABV, 50cl, �1.99, brewery website, quite widely available.

Wye Valley, Dorothy Goodbody�s Wholesome Stout (England) (RP) This was the beer Peter Amor was destined to brew, given his Guinness connections. Ignore comparisons with the Dublin stout � this is a brilliant beer in its own right, one of the finest revivalist stouts in Britain. The label claims Dorothy Goodbody found the recipe in her grandfather�s brewing books and like the lady in question this is a full-bodied and memorable beer. It is brewed with a complex grist of Maris Otter pale, crystal and chocolate malts with roast and flaked barley. Northdown is the single hop variety used. It is jet black in colour with a ruby edge and offers a stunning nose of rich chocolate and espresso coffee, burnt grain and powerful hop resins. The palate is smooth and creamy with overtones of roasted grain and bitter chocolate. The long and lingering finish is creamy, bittersweet but finally ending dry, roasty and bitter. I am giving this five stars as I can�t fault it 4.6% ABV, 50cl, �1.79, brewery website, quite widely available.