RCH

Microbrewery in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Established in 1983

Closed in 2017

Contact
West Hewish, Weston-super-Mare, UK - BS24 6RR, England
Description
Brewing started behind the Royal Clarence Hotel, and in those days trading as the Royal Clarence Hotel Brewery, in Burnhan-on-Sea in August 1982. A 5 barrel brew plant was used primarily to supply the hotel only. The brewery was taken over in May 1984 and the beers became more available in the free trade. Due to problems with the water supply, the brewery was using that much that hotel guests could not wash, the brewery moved in January 1993 to an old cider mill in West Hewish, Weston-super-Mare. Capacity was tripled during the move and in 2000 work started on upgrading the plant to a 30 barrel brew length. The brewery closed in early 2017 but relaunched shortly afterwards as Pitchfolk Brewery.

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6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bottle. Clear brown color, short brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, rye, coffee and some licorice, blackcurrant as well. Sweet and malty taste, slightly bitter, bready. Decent porter indeed.

Tried from Bottle on 28 Jan 2007 at 13:39


7.6
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. bottle conditioned, ABV is 4.5%. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Decent and lingering creamy tan head. The slug-like "trail" of the head down the side of the glass as you drink has allegedly given the beer its name - together with the fact that the brewers had to "fight" slugs coming into the brewery at the old premises. (As we know, slugs LOVE beer.) Pleasant aroma of prunes, mild coffee and chocolate. Roasty flavour, fairly dry, notes of coffee, dark bread and chocolate. Some fruity notes in the finish, "coffee" aftertaste. A decent porter with a moderate ABV.

Tried from Bottle on 25 Dec 2006 at 12:42


7.2
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Bottle conditioned. Brewed with pale malt only. Golden colour, just a slight haziness, large off-white head. Nice hoppy aroma, hints of citrus, leather and maybe some oak. Distinct hoppy flavour throughout, some citrus and toffee, fruity finish. Bitter and long lasting aftertaste. A refreshing beer - not bad at all.

Tried from Bottle on 23 Dec 2006 at 13:39


7.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

500 ml brown bottle, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. "Hand brewed" by RCH Brewery, but bottle conditioned by Branded Drinks. ABV is 6.0%. Contains coriander seed oil. Deep amber colour, just a slight haziness, low head. Enticing and very special aroma - coriander, cloves and ginger, rum-drenched raisins, fortified sweet wines and herbal shampoo. Flavour is very spicy - one of the spiciest beers I’ve had so far, initially sweet and vinous, but with a ferocious attack of coriander, dry ginger and bittering hops in the finish. Dry aftertaste. I’d say they could with advantage have gone a little easier on the spices here, and we’d have a softer and more drinkable beer. The ale "base" seems decent enough. As it is, this is an INTERESTING beer, to say the least. Not for people who hate coriander and ginger.

Tried from Bottle on 21 Dec 2006 at 13:23


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Pour is a very hazy brown with a average white head. Aroma is nice. Lots of stong spice with a nice dose of hops. Flavor is also pretty decent. Very tart and citrus with some nutmeg and clove. A super spice ale and one to look for.

Tried on 15 Dec 2006 at 18:34


5.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Cask. Something like deep yellowish golden colour, small creamy white head. Aroma is grassyness and hops with some fruity hints. Flavour is slightly bitter, with grass and fruity hops in it. Quite standard casked ale, and not too exciting.

Tried from Cask on 26 Oct 2006 at 02:01


4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 2 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4

On cask. Sampled with Finn at The Glasshouse in Norwich. Golden brown with nice clarity and a low level of white head. Aroma is only present with hints of grain and grass. Bitter fruit in a shallow taste. Dry finish (26.09.2006).

Tried from Cask on 17 Oct 2006 at 01:42


4.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 2 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5

Cask at The Glasshouse (JDW) Norwich 26 Sep 2006. Dark golden coloured. A small lasting soapy head. No identity. Caramellish finish.

Tried from Cask on 14 Oct 2006 at 16:12


7.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

(Cask at Oliver Twist, Stockholm) Colour is dark brown with ruby hints, small off-white head. Nose is roasted with notes of berries (blackberries, cherries), chocolate, black coffee and notes of citrussy hops. Taste is roasted with chocolate, coffee, liquorice, blackcurrant and crowberries. Some citrussy hops in the finish. Fairly dry, medium body, actually leaning slightly towards the thin side. Very nice and tasty porter.

Tried from Cask on 20 Sep 2006 at 14:21


5.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at the New Inn, Gloucester, 02-09-06. Amber coloured, with some fruitiness though not in the same league on that front as the Battledown Brigand tried in the same pub. Quite bitter and whilst perfectly fine no great shakes.

Tried from Cask on 02 Sep 2006 at 16:52