Margi
and Id, owners of Taplow's moogBREW, warmly welcomed the Big
Berkshire Ale Hike team during a break from their Thames Path jaunt
on the final yet inclement day of British Summer Time.
Located
some 10 minutes' walk of Taplow's railway station they brew a broad
range of ale types and strengths mainly for key cask [live, cask
conditioned ale in a bag within a plastic keg], bottles, cans and
occasionally traditional cask. They tend to open to the public on
selected Saturdays, which are indicated in advance on their website.
In
their smart, snug timber outhouse, capacity barely a dozen, they were
serving the 3.5% pale ale 'Wild Hop', the 6% IPA 'Bastard Bunny
Strikes Back', the 6.2% speciality ale 'Pretty in Pink' and the 7%
stout 'Fast Gerald's Stout'.
The drizzly, blustery conditions kept
us sitting indoors but during fine weather customers can relax in the
extensive garden which is well stocked with benches and gazebos. Ale
is served in two-third pint measures or less and each is assigned an
amusing yet menacing cartoon pump clip.
The smooth session ale 'Wild
Hop' is made from hops picked by Margi from the surrounding
countryside; the stout is a typical dry yet potent example but my
firm favourite was the flamboyant 'Pretty in Pink', which is pale in
colour and infused with pink peppercorn and juniper: its intricate
flavour profile is a weaving of grassy, herby notes with touches of
lavender and oil of bergamot that doesn't outstay its welcome.
And I
hope our team didn't outstay our welcome because we were there for
nearly three hours enjoying the ale and conversing with the locals
while the jukebox skanked joyfully through a endless stream of 1970's
dub reggae. Well done Margi and Id. We shall be back.
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