Daleside Monkey Wrench (was 5.4%)

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

Marden Village Club, Marden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		24 Oct 2026	4th beer of this visit: Very good head and lasting lacing on this English Strong Ale from Daleside Brewery which got its boilers fired up back in the mid-1980s, operating as Big End from 1988 before taking the grand name of Daleside in 1992. They pitched up their tent in Harrogate, the Victorian spa town famous for its healing waters in the scenic stretch of North Yorkshire, having first spent decades at Camwal Road in Starbeck. Rooster's Brewing Co bought the firm recently and tucked the production into their Hornbeam Park facility, keeping the old Daleside family yeast alive to preserve its historic character. A dry malted first hit on this ruby-mahogany coloured ale. A fruited bitterness rising. A very predominant British sovereign hop variety, Goldings, in the copper kettle aiding an aromatic spice and a wash of honeyed floral notes. Alongside a choice traditional bittering leaf, the hops are kicking up for me a spiciness and fruitiness mixed with an earthy bitterness. A maltiness climbing up from a roasted selection of Dark Malts behind bready biscuit, coffee and dark cocoa, and caramelised Crystal malts dropping a massive dollop of sticky, unctuous toffee and burnt caramel sweetness for me alongside the flavours of hazelnut and dark vine fruits like juicy raisins. Not overly malty in the least and with also a hint of banana. A red berry fruitiness lingering. Served in very good form.

The Furze Wren, Bexleyheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		03 Nov 2023	Initial promise but lost head and lacing fairly quickly

The Leading Light, Faversham, Kent

Walmgate Ale House & Bistro, York, North Yorkshire

The Swatters Carr, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

The Watch House, Lewisham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		18 Jan 2015

Fitzgeralds, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

The Humphrey Bean, Tonbridge, Kent

The Sovereign of the Seas, Petts Wood, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		11 Apr 2012
oz11	Not Tried	10 Apr 2012

The Green Ginger, Torquay, Devon

The Thomas Sheraton, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham

The Bricklayer's Arms, Putney, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		24 Feb 2011	Dark brown, smooth, sweet and malty - a strong mild in my book. Well rounded with just a hint of fruity hop in the finish. My score 16/20.

The Job Bulman, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear

Who	Score	When	Notes
Ron D		15 Jan 2010	Very pleasent tasting ale