Light brown ale with a mild character throughout, some malts and some fruits.

Brown 500ml bottle, reviewed 16 days before it’s best before date in Aug 2011. Poured into an Abbot Ale tankard: good amber coloured body, the head of big bubbles soon filtered away to a wispy covering. The aroma is more malts than hops, unusual for an IPA. Semi-sweet molasses rule the smells, where are the hops? The hops don’t seem to be in the initial taste either. They do come into their own in middle and later during the sip/gulps. The 4.5% ABV sits well in the brew and although this doesn’t fit the normal IPA profile you’d expect it’s a pleasant drink. I love Batemans beers, this one, brewed for the Aldi supermarket chain (UK) isn’t great, but it’s still worth trying considering the cost.

Bottle from Aldi, Aylesbury, Bucks, consumed 13-01-09 Pours reddy to copper in colour with an off white head. There is a reasonable tanginess to this, a slight metallic tinge which I’m sure that I detected in the one of these Aldi/Batemans beers that I had the other day. Some furry dryness, a little bitterness. Its better than expected but that’s not a ringing endorsement. A5 A4 F6 P3 OV11

50cl bottle from Aldi, Alfreton. Copper with a thin white head; roasted malt aroma; rich chewy malt flavours but rather stewed; lacking any real finish. Not bad for an own-label.