Old Fireglass has been a wanderin’ round Wiltshire, wallowing in an oasis of Wadworths’ wonderful brews. As a moonraker born and bred, I was elated to be back in my old stomping-ground on the rollin’ downs. They hold a magic for me as alluring as a pint of Waddies 6X, imbibed slowly and leisurely in one of the many olde worlde pubs Wadworths still have. This brewery sticks to tradition. 6X has an ABV of 4.3%, so it’s no light-weight. It has a hoppy, fruity, malty bouquet, producing a bitter-sweet after-taste : nostalgic bliss!
    If you like a strong, red-coloured beer, try Farmer’s Glory (4.5%): as ripe and tasty as a Wiltshire farm wench. It’s hoppy and malty - you can smell the countryside when the crops are waving in the wind and the animals graze in the green meadows. Hops and Malt, Harvest Ale, again with a high ABV of 4.5% is not to be trifled with, delivering a glut of different flavours : malt, hops, fruit and pepper and emitting an aroma of nutty sweet malt balanced out with the tartness of the hops. This one reminds me of harvest festivals I attended as a nipper, abundant with the sweet fruits of nature with the promise of a special treat after!
    Now to the big boy : Old Timer, with an ABV of 5.8%, is so majestic I’m sure it must be the King of the County : malty and fruity, sultanas, bananas, malt, hops all combine to make it a wonderfully aromatic strong winter ale. As I supped this brew by a blazing log fire, it kindled a flame in the pit of my stomach just as Dorothy Thomas (the farmer’s daughter) did 30 years previous.
    I also recommend Easter Ale at 4.5% (a seasonal beer), or Summersault between June and July. Henry Wadworth’s IPA at 3.8% and Valentines oat malt ale at 4.5% also get my interest up. In fact I haven’t found a Waddies ale I dislike - just the name of the brewery conjurs thoughts of my dear old silver haired mam washing with a dolly tub, while a pot of rabbit stew simmers on the stove; home-baked bread, slivers of hot ham off a recently boiled joint, and of course, a roll in the hayrick and Farmer Thomas chasing me up the aisle with his shotgun cocked and....that’s enough! It’s 1998 now and I’m off up north to garner some more tales of ales. See you next time!