Bottle from Bier Huis, Ossett. The blurb on the front of the bottle has changed. Don’t know if the contents have? Any road, this is sticky. Loads of toffee. Ripe, on the turn, fruitiness. Lots of sweet. Not enough zesty bitterness for me. If I saw this on keg, I’d pounce on it. It just needs freshening up a bit.

330ml bottle. Have been mightily impressed by Hardknott in the past so was looking forward to this, but unfortunately this just didn’t hit the spot. Pours a little lifeless with no head or lacing, aroma seems more promising with resinous orange / pine, but taste presented things a little muted and dull with no real freshness alongside a slick mouthfeel. Disappointing.

Bottle at home from City beverage company. Aroma is sweet resin, canned fruit, dank lemon. Maybe not the freshest example. Dark orange / amber colour with a thin off white head. Dank orange, citrus flavours with pine and sweet caramel.. Hops are a bit off, just don’t pop. Too much cara malts. Palate is fairly sweet and sticky resin. Some metalic biterness in the finish.

Bottle from Drinkstore, Dublin [231213]
Dark amber, hazy, thin white head that dissipates to thin rim around glass. Aroma of orange, hint of peach, yeast esters, berry fruits - quite complex aroma - touch of strawberry, no alcohol. Taste of berry fruits, touch of strawberry, some orange, touch of tropical fruits, sweet fruits malts, candy sugars, yeast esters, good fruity belgian yeast, little alcohol...drank fairly cold from fridge...after an hour warms up, more alcohol, less fruits. Palate - soft carb, medium body, sweet malt palate. Finish as main flavour, smooth, clean finish, some warming alcohol more apparent as it warms up.
Overall - Not a double IPA at all, more an unusual sort of belgian strong ale. I liked this....these latest Hardknott brews in 2013 are more refined than the rougher stuff in previous years...

330ml bottle from t’brewery online shop. Pours clear copper brown with no head. Aromas are medicinal and piney, high alcohols and edging towards nail varnish remover. Taste has a bit of pear drops, sweet and some hop bitterness at the end. Oily and sticky mouthfeel. Bitter finish. OK.

Bottle @ Christers. Pours slightly hazy golden with a creamy head. Aroma of malt, fruity hops, oranges, mandarin. Flavor is malt, sweet fruity hops, oranges, little acid. Medium body, soft carbonation, light warming alcohol in the finish. 231013

Bottle @ Aarhus tasting. Hazy orange with a lasting off-white head. Aroma is sweet, malty, caramel and moderate hoppy - citrus. Flavor is quite sweet and rather bitter. Dry and rather bitter finish. 231013

Bottle, 8%. Clear dark amber with small tan head. Aroma is malt, caramel, yeast, dark fruit and toasted. Flavour is malt, caramel, toasted, medium sweet, yeast, little sour and dark fruits.

Bottle from A Tutta Birra, Milan, bb 11 Apr 2014
Beautiful amber color, clean, with medium sized compact head. Delicate aroma of caramel, candi sugar and fruits. Strong mouthfeel, with caramel flavor, moderate sweetness, relatively strong bitterness, some hop resins, but also a dusty and earthy final that is a bit hard.
Rough.

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