Spingo Extra Special
Blue Anchor Brewery in Helston, Cornwall, England 🏴
Barley Wine - Barley Regular|
Score
7.12
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A stronger beer, based on Springo Special that is only available at Christmas and Easter. May be seen badged as Extra Special, ESP, Xmas Special or Easter Special.
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7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Thanks to Scopey for bringing this to the London tasting, October 2016. Quite differrent from what I am accustomed to in a barleywine. the alcohol is less prominent. Carbonation was higher than typical of most American examples. Rich, malt flavor, some caramel, sugar. Good palate.
Tried
from Can
on 06 Jan 2017
at 22:16
7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
4th October 2016
Craft Islington Gathering. Big thanks to Paul. Lightly hazy amber beer, good cream colour head. Palate is airy and semi dry, decent fine carbonation. Very fluffy malts. Tangy fruits. Crystallised fruits. Some cherry. Finishes light and fruity bitter. As always from Blue Anchor - interesting and tasty.
Craft Islington Gathering. Big thanks to Paul. Lightly hazy amber beer, good cream colour head. Palate is airy and semi dry, decent fine carbonation. Very fluffy malts. Tangy fruits. Crystallised fruits. Some cherry. Finishes light and fruity bitter. As always from Blue Anchor - interesting and tasty.
Tried
on 25 Oct 2016
at 05:15
8/10
Tried
on 17 Oct 2016
at 16:07
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle picked up at the brewery. It pours cloud rich mahogany brown with a thick beige head. The aroma is rich, woody, vinous, fruit sponge, bit of funk, light vanilla, fruit cake and earth. The taste is dry, vinous, juniper, plum skin, red grape, jammy, Vimto, wood, light alcohol, touch of sherbet, redcurrant and funk. The finish is dry and vinous. Medium + body and moderate - high foamy carbonation. A bit like prize old ale in some aspects. Rich and complex. Works well for me.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Oct 2016
at 07:07
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Bottle shared at the CBC Islington for the jk tasting. Many thanks to Scopey for this one. A hazed dark brown coloured pour orange coloured pour with a halo of beige head. Aroma is semi sweet, socks, brown sugars, veg, sock funk. Flavour is composed brown sugars, raspberry, blackberry, hint of sour, green apple. Palate is frothy, spritzy carbonation, drying finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Oct 2016
at 07:01
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle shared at the JK Tasting - Craft Beer Co., Islington. Many thanks to Scoopey. Pours deep amber with a huge, billowing off-white head. The aroma is lightly musty, with dashes of earth and dried berries. Light to medium sweet flavour, with more berries and some bready malts. Light to medium bodied with fine to average carbonation. Finishes with more bready malts, light earth, more ripe berries. Good enough.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Oct 2016
at 16:56
7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Cask-conditioned, served by gravity at the Tewkesbury winter beers festival, 7/2/2014. Slightly hazy amber, with next to no head. Sweetish, berry fruits, caramel and a touch of spice, with a gentle finish. Very easy for the ABV and enjoyable.
Tried
from Cask
on 10 Feb 2014
at 13:33
6.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle at home - June ’12. Dark chestnut brown with a thin off-white head. Sugary nose with fruit and sweet malts abundant. Dark caramelised sugars in the taste allied to a background fruit flavour and a good dose of booze. Medium to full in body with moderate carbonation.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Aug 2012
at 14:46
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Christmas Extra Special, at the brewpub in late January. Dark brown. Has an earthy, toffeeish aroma with accents of liquorice. Rich, fruity, spicy and sticky sweet. Good balance. Delicious, moreish, goes down too easy.
Tried
on 07 Apr 2011
at 00:47
7.3/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask (handpump) @ Nags Head, 5 Russell Street, Reading, Berkshire England RG1 7XD. [ As Blue Anchor Extra Special Brew Alc. 7.6% ].Clear dark red brown color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, roasted, caramel, overripped dark fruit, spicy, brown sugar, dried dark berries. Flavor is heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a long duration. Body is medium to full, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat, finish feel is light alcoholic. [20100428]
Tried
from Cask
on 30 May 2010
at 07:23