The Proof Is In The Pudding

Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale 

Charles Wells Brewing Family / 5.0% ABV

I love pudding.  I like Chocolate, Vanilla and Tapioca pudding.  By far, my favorite pudding is Butterscotch.  However, I also like Toffee pudding especially when it is made into Sticky Toffee Pudding.  OMG, if you have never had Sticky Toffee Pudding you haven't lived.  Sticky Toffee Pudding is a British dessert consisting of a very moist sponge cake, finely chopped dates, covered in a toffee sauce and often served with a vanilla custard or vanilla ice-cream.  Can you feel the calorie counter running amok?  I have to admit it, the British really came up with a winner here and they took it one step further at the Charles Wells Family Brewery in the heart of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom.         

The Charles Wells Brewing Family has been crafting beers since they bought their first brewery in Bedford in 1876.  Today, they have plans to build a new brewery, visitors center, shop and on site brew pub.  For more information on the Charles Wells Brewing Family go to their web site at http://www.charleswells.co.uk/.  

If you remember last year, Wells came out with a delicious Banana Bread Beer.  This is one of Mrs. Meister's favorites.  As a follow up, they have taken the ingredients of sticky toffee pudding and converted them into an ale.  Now mind you, I am not a huge fan of sweet or sour beers, but am more of a traditionalist when it comes to drinking beer.  However, I am game to try anything and my love of pudding lured me to this beer.

THE REVIEW  

SIGHT:  At first pour, you get a clear brown color with a reddish hue down the middle.  The head was about a 1/8 of an inch thick, tan in color which dissipated quickly.  When I first looked at this beer in my glass, I thought it was cream soda.  It made me think back to being a kid with an ice cold glass of cream soda. 

AROMA:   With the name of Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale I expected nothing more than the aroma of toffee pudding.  Guess what, that's exactly what it smelled like.  Not much more to say here other than it smelled delicious.

TASTE:   As I took my first sip, I got the toffee flavor up front all the way to the end with very slight hints of vanilla.  The flavor was not overpowering but just right.  I was pleasantly surprised that it did not overpower me with a sickening sweet flavor that would send me into diabetic shock.  The one thing that took me back a bit on this beer was the after bite at the end.  I was somewhat surprised by it considering the toffee flavor up front.  Hey, this bite is not a real bad thing, just surprising.

Overall, I would have to say that the proof was in the pudding.  I couldn't drink it all day or on a hot sunny day, but it would be great to have after dinner with your dessert.  You can pair up a cold Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale with a slice of apple or pecan pie or a big bowl of french vanilla ice cream.  You can pick up a 4 pack of Charles Wells Sticky Toffee Ale at Leo Beer on Welles Street in Forty Fort.

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5= Outstanding

4= Very Good

3= Good

2=Fair

1=Skunk