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Holdens Summat Else

Holdens Brewery
Dudley, West Midlands
Beer style: Bitter - Ordinary / Best
Ref: ratebeer.com Apr2024

Common descriptors are
Cask; Special - September 2005. Also available bottled.
A straw coloured bitter brewed using English Maris Otter malt and Cascade Hops, producing an ale with a floral hop aroma and a constant bitterness present throughout that led to a satisfying dry hoppy aftertaste. It was an unusual and distinctive brew - hence summat else!
Well dressing was a widespread Black Country custom whereby wells were adorned with flowers. There was always fierce competition to become the local well-dressing champion. In the early 1800's such a competition was won, surprisingly, by an old woman who lived alone in an isolated cottage. Her success was attributed to a hob (a small friendly goblin). Like many households, she used to put a bowl of milk porridge and a bit of cake on the doorstep before going to bed. This was provided for 'the luck' i.e. the hob. On one occasion she found the food had been eaten and shortly after heard a strange voice asking for shelter. The woman, a kindly individual, knew it must be either a ghost or Summat else - a name which she quickly gave to the small hob who accepted her offer of shelter and took up residence in the chimney. The two struck up a supernatural friendship and the hob - as a measure of gratitude - helped the old woman to collect enough petals to win the annual well dressing competition.