Goldihops

Cask@Bon Accord, Glasgow. Dark golden honey color, small creamy head. Good fruity hoppy nose - some pine needles. Good hoppy, fresh "pine wood" bitterness. Very good session ale.

Cask half-pint at NERAX on 5/3/06. Quickly receding white head forms a large ring of bubbles on the edge, while the liquid is a highly clear, soft yellow-golden color, with an almost very light moss-green tint and some sharper brass tones.The nose has just the barest hint of lively fruits, tucked under a doughy yeast with some very bare pale malts. There is a light dose of sweetness, but it is fleeting. Hops also show some dustiness, though for English hops, they are quite clean and well-stated, tickling the senses somewhat and providing more than average aroma strength for a very light golden ale. No diacetyl here, that’s for sure. Opens up rather watery, as expected, with dusty, plant-like hops running in to the palate quickly. Slowly, but surely, some very minor citrus notes show up, adding some light bitterness and almost a tea-leaf-like note of dryness. My biggest issue with the flavor, however, was that it seemed rather worty. Bits of very low gravity wort sweetness, slightly sticky-chewy, diluted by water. Still, for all that, the hops are gentle and delicate, adding just a touch of bitterness. Almost becomes a beer just as an afterthought. Apropriate, engaging, light carbonation, with no looseness or thinning. Certainly no alcohol. Take my "tastes worty" with a grain of salt because I know nothing about true English beers.

Cask at GBBF Nettle hop nose on this golden beer, goodish citrus and very drinkable. Good golden style ale.