A Head in a Hat Gin
Florence in Herne Hill, Greater London, England 🏴
Golden / Blonde Ale Regular Out of Production|
Score
5.95
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This is a beer that has been fermenting in my mind for several years. It took the opening of the City of London Distillery to give me the chance to turn a dream into a reality. Made with botanicals taken directly from the still, this is a fruity, golden ale where the various gin fruits and spices make a distinct but subtle impression. Citrus and juniper dominate the nose. The slightly sweetish body of the beer is supported by a light-blackcurrant hopping with Bramling Cross, while the gin flavours reassert themselves in the finish. Ideal for those who would like their favourite short drink a little longer. Hold the tonic!
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6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Old notes from Nov 2014 - This is an original beer gifted to me by a friend, it's brewed with gin botanicals. It pours a light amber colour with a white head. Aromas of biscuit malt, juniper & peppers. Taste of light spices with a gin aftertaste at first which blends in nicely after a few sips. This proved to be much better a beer than I first thought, the gin botanicals really come off quite well.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Jun 2025
at 13:12
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
330ml bottle. Barely clear, orangey golden to amber colour with small to average, thick, frothy, half-way lasting, minimally lacing, white head. Floral hoppy, minimally herbal aroma; no more precision available (not a lack of words, but rather of comparable flavour experience). Taste is floral and fruity hoppy, hints of gooseberry, a bitter herbal, hoppy note, juniper and laurel approximately. ’Nice and interesting’; the meaning is like the beer, 50% with positive, 50% with pejorative connotation.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Jun 2014
at 14:54
1/10
Nasty!
Tried
on 31 May 2014
at 17:50
5.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 8
Overall 5
Bottle at home, from ABM, 05/03/14. Clear golden with a good sized off white head that retains well. Nose is bread dough, light spice, metallic nip, light citrus fruit, hint of toffee. Taste comprises bready malts, biscuit notes, light spice, summer fruits. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, crisp and clean. Looks and feels the part, just not a whole lot going on at the business end.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Mar 2014
at 13:46
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6
Bottle at Craig’s tasting. Spicy nose, spices in the taste, sweet toffee, ginger.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Dec 2013
at 02:27
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 5
Bottle at Craig’s. Pours clear gold with a thin white head. Aromas of spice and herbal notes. Taste has a chalky bite, with pepper on the end. Peculiar.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Dec 2013
at 01:58
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
bottle at home ... golden amber ... thin white lacing... soft musty toffee fruit nose ...over fizzy ... soft vegative ... little chalky ... dry fruit finish
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Dec 2013
at 11:29
6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask at the Hare and Billet, Blackheath. Amber pour with a white head. Toffee, citrus and light spice aroma. Malt laden flavour with some clove and ginger notes. Spicy-bitter finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 06 Sep 2013
at 13:43
7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
26th July 2013
Drafthouse Tower Bridge. Cask. Light haze on this golden beer. Little white head. Palate is smooth and slighty soft. Immediate juniper spice. Light dry malt. Touch of marmalade hops. The hops integrate well with the spice here. There is no cinnamon or chilli or anything of that ilk, it’s all floral spice. Finishes semi dry with the floral spice going in to the aftertaste. Interesting and tasty.
Drafthouse Tower Bridge. Cask. Light haze on this golden beer. Little white head. Palate is smooth and slighty soft. Immediate juniper spice. Light dry malt. Touch of marmalade hops. The hops integrate well with the spice here. There is no cinnamon or chilli or anything of that ilk, it’s all floral spice. Finishes semi dry with the floral spice going in to the aftertaste. Interesting and tasty.
Tried
from Draft
on 24 Aug 2013
at 08:56
5.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask gravity dispense. It pours clear amber with a a minimal white head. The nose is juicy marmalade, floral, peppery juniper and bread. The taste is soapy, potpourri, light astringency, pepper, caramel and a touch of bitterness with a dry finish. Medium body and low carbonation. Taste doesn’t live up to the aroma. Interesting, but not terribly drinkable.
Tried
from Cask
on 17 Aug 2013
at 07:50