Criffel Ale
Sulwath in Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland 🏴
Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular|
Score
5.91
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The original site at Southerness was beside the Solway with the Criffel mountain range behind. This adjoined the birth place of John Paul Jones and like him our premium “Criffel” ale can be a bit of a brigand. Strong, rich and dark amber, with a distinct character of it’s own, largely attributable to three specially selected hop varieties this is brewed with.
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6.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Keg tap from the Brewery Tap, Castle Douglas. Light brown/amber with a tiny wisplet of white head. Light scent of malt, berries. Taste is standard but enjoyable: a simple bittersweet taste which leads to a surprisingly dry finish. Light body. Not the greatest of beers, but thus would be a welcome alternative to bland Scottish pub bitters.
Tried
from Draft
on 28 Apr 2015
at 10:00
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle at home. Pours golden amber, nose is malty, fruity, taste is similar, refreshing. --- Beer merged from original tick of Criffel on 17 Jan 2012 at 19:46 - Score: 10
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Dec 2014
at 23:37
6.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
On cask at Sir John Maxwell, Glasgow - clear light gold body, firm white head. Nose sweet caramel and under ripe fruit. Taste is soft malt, with a creamy mouthfeel and slightly bitter finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 10 Aug 2013
at 04:00
5.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Bottle from Aldi 020112
Amber, clear, frothy white head, some lacing
Aroma - Soft sweet golden caramel malts, soft cereals
Taste - Soft caramel malts, hint of toasted malts, touch of unusual smokiness - bit farmyardy, vague hint of citrus, some bitter hop in background, odd flavour but it’s drinkable
Palate - soft carb, medium body, quite oily. Sweetish malts and light bitter hop palate. Finish - fairly dry. bitter lingering dryness, palate not that clean.
Overall - Very average beer, some unusual smokiness in the sweetish malts that makes it stand out a bit though, hop presence is just some soft bitterness. Reasonable.
Amber, clear, frothy white head, some lacing
Aroma - Soft sweet golden caramel malts, soft cereals
Taste - Soft caramel malts, hint of toasted malts, touch of unusual smokiness - bit farmyardy, vague hint of citrus, some bitter hop in background, odd flavour but it’s drinkable
Palate - soft carb, medium body, quite oily. Sweetish malts and light bitter hop palate. Finish - fairly dry. bitter lingering dryness, palate not that clean.
Overall - Very average beer, some unusual smokiness in the sweetish malts that makes it stand out a bit though, hop presence is just some soft bitterness. Reasonable.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Jan 2013
at 15:52
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
14th April 2009
Dark amber beer. Toffeish malt with a pleasant smoky note. A trace of port as well.
Dark amber beer. Toffeish malt with a pleasant smoky note. A trace of port as well.
Tried
on 21 May 2011
at 10:31
5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 5
Cask @ Scottish Real Ale Festival 2010. Clear golden colour, white head. Aroma is slightly malted, hint of hops. Flavour is sour malty, biscuit. Fairly dry. Sour and fruity finish. Not good.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 Jun 2010
at 13:56
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask (handpump) @ GBBF 09, Great British Beer Festival, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, England.Clear medium amber color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, caramel, spicy - licorice, moderate hoppy, grass. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a average duration, chlorine notes ? Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20090806]
Tried
from Cask
on 29 Nov 2009
at 02:23
4.8/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
Gravicask from the Scottish Bar at GBBF. Clear golden. Dry fruity aroma. Fruity flavour developing to a more hop resinous taste with some dry spices. Rounded in the mouth. Alright, but a bit out of tune (Earls Court, 06.08.2009).
Tried
from Cask
on 12 Sep 2009
at 16:47
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask@GBBF2009. Golden colour, small white head. Aroma is wooden, floral hoppy and also has some mild earthyness and bready malts in it. Flavour is sweet nectary along with fruits, some leathery notes as well as strange notes of sweet.
Tried
from Cask
on 20 Aug 2009
at 01:20
4.6/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 4.5
Cask@GBBF 2009. Golden color, small off-white. Sweetish fruity hoppy aroma. Raw apple flavor, fruity. A bit odd.
Tried
from Cask
on 12 Aug 2009
at 02:08