December 2006: This is a very good beer, like all of Wadworth’s beers I have tasted, be they cask or bottled. Most of the 500ml bottle got into my Hoegaarden Grand Cru glass on the first pour, the rest arrived very soon afterwards! Light amber, copper colour with a swiftly disappearing white head (I blame the gurkins). This review is being conducted with a little snack of gurkins, olive bread and a french soft cheese (Le Pie d’Angloys), I know it should be tasted on its own, but the Bishop would approve, even if the purists don’t. The aroma is very sweet, caramel and hops fighting it out, with a sacarin sweetness winning, I like it. Like a lot of stronger UK beers, they get sweeter as they move up the alcohol ladder, this is no different, again, I have no problem with this, but sometimes wonder why we can’t produce a strong, bitter tasting beer. This beer hangs around in the mouth (even with gurkins about), it is not as sweet later on, a spicy hoppy flavour arrives at the end. I think this is a very pleasant beer and will be having some more whenever I see it, I bet the draught (cask) version is out of this world.

Bottle 5.5% - Copper colour. Aroma is quite buttery and some sweet peachy fruit comes through too. Soft maltiness at first then a bit bitter with an oaky dryness. The fruit comes back giving a sweet finish.

Bottled 500ml (BZ, ABV 5.5 %, BB 05/2012)
Pale amber color, small white head, lace. Sweetish, fruity hoppy nose with light notes of cardboard/grains and barnyard. Light to medium-bodied. Quite exotic fruityness with hints of leather and some grapefruit. Peppery finish. Interesting although not something to drink more very soon. There is some flavors which are familiar from strong East European lagers (fusels?).

Bottle 50 cl at Rotary Pub, on December 1, 2011BB 30 Nov 11, marked 5.5% ABVHazy golden color, fluffy yellow head. Sweet, hoppy, fruity scent. Bitter, sweet, fruity taste. Alcohol and bitter aftertaste, a bit fruity too. Smooth mouthfeel, medium high bitterness.

Bottle. Pours a hazy amber color with a small off-whit ehead. Has a fruity malty weak hoppy aroma. Fruity malty sweetish bitter hoppy flavor with hints of caramel. Has a fruity malty hoppy finish.

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Bottle from Presporska pivoteka, Bratislava. My bottle says 5,5%. Dark golden color with nice huge white head. Nice lacing. Aroma of citrus, some spices. Taste, citrus, spices, some woods in background. Nice long bitter finish. Nice.

[2nd rate: bottle, gift from Mum & Dad – cheers!] Metallic up front then a rather dull caramel - killed by pasteurization? Weird it’s so much worst than my first rate, perhaps I’m used to beers not being pasteurised now? 4/3/6/3/10
[1st rate: 500ml bottle from Morrissons, Chippenham that Dad shared with me - cheers] Pours a light amber-bronze with a moderate off-white head and light to moderate fizz. It has a good rich, smooth, slightly oily mouthfeel. There’s oak at first, with caramel and malt following through, a little lemon and pepper and a moderately bitter straw finish. For a pasteurised bottle, this is surprisingly good - a decent, if very traditionally flavoured, strong English ale.7/3/7/4/14
Score is average of all rates.

Bottle. Golden colour with an off-white head. Aroma is fruit, malt, apple. Flavour is fruit, malt, apple, hay, alcohol. Medium body. Ordinary beer.

Bottle. A clear, golden beer with a finger-thick off-white head leaving some lacings. Quite hoppy nose with some toffee. At first with some peach, but that soon disappeared, being replaced by peppery citrus and a fruity touch. It’s a bit thin on the palate, dry, and with flavors of toffee, peppery, citrusy hops and bitterness. Toffee and bitterness in the end. A quite pleasant one, but not impressing in any way. 101016