Wells Waggle Dance

When a bee finally finds nectar after a long search, it's often too knackered to be able to tell anyone where this new and exciting source is by the time it gets home to the hive. With a small army of bees watching on in fevered anticipation, the poor scout, wheezing and short of breath, takes the only sensible option...it tells its colleagues where the nectar is through the medium of interpretive dance. 

This is a (semi) true story and the source of the name of the honeyed golden ale, Waggle Dance, the history of which, a bit like the source of nectar, needs a good deal of interpretive dance to explain. It was originally produced in 1995 by Vaux Breweries of Sunderland, an old Northern powerhouse brewer founded in 1806 and formally one of the big 3 North East brewers along with Newcastle breweries and Cameron's of Hartlepool, sadly the only of the three still with us today.

By the end of the 1990s Vaux was in trouble and was eventually wound up with a number of its famous ales disappearing along with it. Luckily Waggle Dance wasn't one of them as the recipe and rights had been sold to another old British brewer (1831), Youngs brewery in London in 1999.

In 2006 Youngs merged with the Bedford based Charles Wells (1876) to form Wells and Youngs brewery. Over the next 10 years the Wells half of the company slowly took full control and eventually returned to being solely called Charles Wells, though still producing Youngs branded ales.

Being a relatively new addition to the Youngs stable, it was decided to remove Waggle Dance from that brand and hand it to the Wells line-up, where it sits today. A pretty complicated story for a beer that's less than 25 years old, but as the marketing points out, it is an unusual beer. 

It's made using a fair dollop of honey, which means it's often seen as quite a sweet drink. As the brand has changed owners over the years, some have said the taste has changed with it. I've read complaints that it's now too sweet, but also that it's now too bitter. I actually think it's extremely well balanced, though I've noticed subtle differences between the various batches that make it over here to Malaysia. But then, many extremely good real and craft ales have slightly differing notes batch by batch, while sticking to the same general taste. I like that, It reminds me this isn't a commercial lager and just so you know, the current batch is beautiful. A real winner on a hot day.

Wells Waggle Dance is a Honey Ale brewed at 5% and despite the unusual but interesting aroma of honey and sweetness, it's the British hops that hit you first; dry and moreish, before the subtle, sweet aftertaste. It's an old school summer ale.

It's not easy to find in Malaysia and is at the mercy of local shipping and customs whims, but is well worth seeking out for something refreshing and different. In fact, if you see any Youngs or Wells beers in Malaysia, I'd grab them. Oh, and let me know, eh?

2021 UPDATE: Wells and Youngs beers have since departed the shores of Malaysia, along with many of the more traditional UK brewers. Hopefully we'll see them back soon rather than later.