The Mothers Contempt

The Beer

This is the beer that started the argument. A proper amber ale, built on a mountain of crystal malt and brewed for people who think mild-mannered is an insult. It pours a deep burnished amber and delivers toffee, dark fruit and a firm, settling bitterness that never raises its voice because it does not have to. Easy-drinking at 4.5%, but make no mistake: it remembers every slight.

Tasting Notes

Appearance

A deep burnished amber with ruby glints at the edges, crowned by a firm, cream-coloured head that lingers like a grudge. Bright and clear enough to read your worst enemy through.

Aroma

Toffee and sticky caramel lead the charge, backed by dark fruit - figs, sultanas and a hint of black cherry. A gentle nuttiness and a soft earthy hop note sit quietly in the corner, not making a fuss.

Flavour

Rich malt takes centre stage: biscuit, toffee and a dried-fruit sweetness that never tips into cloying. The bitterness arrives mid-palate to keep order, and a faint roasted edge on the swallow keeps everyone honest.

Mouthfeel

Medium-full and smooth, with low carbonation that lets the malt coat the tongue. A warming weight befitting a beer of serious intentions, without ever becoming heavy.

Finish

Long, malty and gently bittersweet. The toffee fades first, then the dark fruit, and a quiet earthy bitterness has the final word. As it should be.

Vital Statistics