I see that High House Farm Brewery has launched a new beer; a sweet stout at 4.8% ABV named after the farm's none too sweet bull called Fred.

Although I've not been out that much really over the holidays so far I've not come across the beer myself but has anybody else?

If you have what does it taste like?

All the Best for 2008.

Cheers,
John Holland.

John,
Andy will have it on athe Bacchus Thursday (either on pump or from the cellar). It's currently on in the William Jameson, Sunderland having come on during New Year's Eve day. I had a couple of pints since and it is quite sweet but has nice overtones of roast malt.
I also noticed an 'available soon' Allendale Celebration Ale @ 4.7% in the Lambton Worm but am still waiting it to come on.
Both these ales are part of the local option for JD Wetherspoon so may be on elsewhere locally.
Cheers

Andy very kindly offered me some from the cellar on New Year's Eve. While not as sweet as I'd expected it's still a mighty fine 4.8% drink. While I'm not a sweet stout fan, I did manage two pints. An excellent beer, just what we've come to expect from HHF.

Thanks Cider Bum for the tip-off I called into the Bacchus yesterday (Thurs.) tea-time and tried the beer (via hand pull) for the first time and as you say it has a tasty roast malt flavour.

Plus I agree with ulsterbusbill in that it is not that sweet really and certainly not as much as I expected.

The other thing I noticed was the colour. Although as you would expect it is black it also has a nice reddy hue around the base of the glass when held up to the light.

My only adverse comment is that although it was a very chilly day in my opinion the beer was served a mite too cold.

But all-in-all a very decent beer well worth seeking out just as one would in fact expect of a High House Farm beer.

Cheers,
John Holland.