6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Bottle, thought that I’d already rated this so quite surprised to note that I hadn’t. Pours a golden colour with white bubbly head, aroma is a little spicy with a hint of lemon in the background. Tastes quite sweet but refreshing and has vein of lemonyness running through it, bitter and dry towards the end.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 May 2007
at 02:10
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Cask. Very dark rubyish black colour, mediumsized beige bubbly head. Aroma is sweet roasted malts with hints of some hops. Flavour is mildly roasted malts, which turns into burnt wood and dark chocolate while you drink. 7 4 8 4 16
Bottled (from K Citymarket Kivihaka, Vaasa). Deep ambery brown colour, mediumsized brownish foamy head. Aroma is grass, roasted malts as well as some wood and toffee. Flavour is roasted malts, toffee, coffee and some burnt wood as well as lightly herbal notes. Pleasant bottled too. 6 4 8 4 15.
Bottled (from K Citymarket Kivihaka, Vaasa). Deep ambery brown colour, mediumsized brownish foamy head. Aroma is grass, roasted malts as well as some wood and toffee. Flavour is roasted malts, toffee, coffee and some burnt wood as well as lightly herbal notes. Pleasant bottled too. 6 4 8 4 15.
Tried
from Cask
on 21 May 2007
at 03:08
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Draught pint at NERAX on 5/2/07
Small, manageable white head is creamy and retained modestly well. Beige-golden body is fully bright. Little/no lace.
Very malty nose delays the presence of the hops, which are very, very soft and lightly floral at most. Some nuttiness, not really a crispness and light pepper-like notes sit on the finish, with a very clean yeast presence adding very soft, fruity esters. Mostly, it is a medium-sweet, creamy malt full of baked white bread, light barley grain and some biscuits. A deeper streak of buttercream runs through it, though is distinctly not diacetyl. Medium strength of aroma, some light paperiness and tannin on finish. No alcohol or flaws.
Very malty flavor up front has vanilla, buttercream and bread dough all providing a fair complexity, but a slightly seltzer-like finish, almost like a hard-pretzel, stemming from the yeast, nuttiness and dry malt tannin, seems rather bland and not really crisp. True, there is some hoppiness, but EKGs are never very crisp and the bitterness is extremely minimal. Still, it’s well-done to style and flawless. I guess I’m just not crazy about the malts and the slight hardness/graininess. Not enough balancing softness nor a supple enough texture. Medium-low carbonation.
Small, manageable white head is creamy and retained modestly well. Beige-golden body is fully bright. Little/no lace.
Very malty nose delays the presence of the hops, which are very, very soft and lightly floral at most. Some nuttiness, not really a crispness and light pepper-like notes sit on the finish, with a very clean yeast presence adding very soft, fruity esters. Mostly, it is a medium-sweet, creamy malt full of baked white bread, light barley grain and some biscuits. A deeper streak of buttercream runs through it, though is distinctly not diacetyl. Medium strength of aroma, some light paperiness and tannin on finish. No alcohol or flaws.
Very malty flavor up front has vanilla, buttercream and bread dough all providing a fair complexity, but a slightly seltzer-like finish, almost like a hard-pretzel, stemming from the yeast, nuttiness and dry malt tannin, seems rather bland and not really crisp. True, there is some hoppiness, but EKGs are never very crisp and the bitterness is extremely minimal. Still, it’s well-done to style and flawless. I guess I’m just not crazy about the malts and the slight hardness/graininess. Not enough balancing softness nor a supple enough texture. Medium-low carbonation.
Tried
on 14 May 2007
at 21:49
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Cask pint at NERAX on 5/2/07
Chestnut-amber hued bitter with a moderate amount of white head. Very bright condition, with marginal lacing.
Profound esters and lightly sweet malts in the nose are very classy. Has a slight woodiness to it, or hardness you might say, of very dry brown bread that emerges as the sweet, creamy sugars recede. Definitely hopped well, it has a strong floral character that melds well with the sugars and lightens the overall darker malt character. Just a hint of earthiness is left on the finish, with lightly bitter hop notes and more soft esters. Quite complex, as it ranges from hard to soft, malty to hoppy and pale to dark (sugars). No alcohol or flaws. Very clean, with a medium-high aroma strength.
A light English crystal/caramel malt hardness is laid upon the palate initially, but soft, vanilla and cream-like maltiness adds depth as does a fair notion of coffee and light nuttiness. The coffee is very subtle and lingers on the finish, almost chocolatey. Through the middle, there’s a fruity hop bouquet, replete with bright, red fruit esters and some leafy bitterness. Finishes dry, crisp and yet without any of the wateriness associated with the style. Probably the tight, moderate amounts of carbonation seeing to that, giving the body more fullness than it actually has. No flaws at all. Like the crop circle, I don’t get much house character, but that’s ok.
Chestnut-amber hued bitter with a moderate amount of white head. Very bright condition, with marginal lacing.
Profound esters and lightly sweet malts in the nose are very classy. Has a slight woodiness to it, or hardness you might say, of very dry brown bread that emerges as the sweet, creamy sugars recede. Definitely hopped well, it has a strong floral character that melds well with the sugars and lightens the overall darker malt character. Just a hint of earthiness is left on the finish, with lightly bitter hop notes and more soft esters. Quite complex, as it ranges from hard to soft, malty to hoppy and pale to dark (sugars). No alcohol or flaws. Very clean, with a medium-high aroma strength.
A light English crystal/caramel malt hardness is laid upon the palate initially, but soft, vanilla and cream-like maltiness adds depth as does a fair notion of coffee and light nuttiness. The coffee is very subtle and lingers on the finish, almost chocolatey. Through the middle, there’s a fruity hop bouquet, replete with bright, red fruit esters and some leafy bitterness. Finishes dry, crisp and yet without any of the wateriness associated with the style. Probably the tight, moderate amounts of carbonation seeing to that, giving the body more fullness than it actually has. No flaws at all. Like the crop circle, I don’t get much house character, but that’s ok.
Tried
from Cask
on 14 May 2007
at 12:20
8.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9.5
Cask pint at NERAX, opening night, 5/2/07
While 2007 was a remarkably clean year for the British casks as a whole, Wednesday night, while only having six British casks, was ridiculously clean. All of these casks were imported by the Shelton brothers, not coincidentally and included 4 from Hop Back, 1 from Coniston and 1 from Dark Star. As it turned out, this one would be both my first and favorite beer of the fest.
Crop circle didn’t have the strong head retention or prominent lacing that many of the other English beers had, but this wasn’t an indication of the condition it was in. Its slightly off-white head was a finger high, receding quickly to cover then ring and providing only blotchy lacing. The beer had dropped bright and was a wonderfully clear, soft peachy-gold.
What an aroma! Soft and understated, but everything I could hope for in an English golden ale. Delightfully fruity esters are very soft and deftly combine with the light malts to give almost a peach and nectarine nose. Soft hay-like suggestions emanate from the malt and just a glimpse of the corn can be found if looked for. Hops seem to be a fresh blend of both EKG and an American variety, or perhaps some hybrid. Regardless, it has that soft, very muted floral note of EKGs, complete with the nuttiness and some light hay. But it also has a distinct, lightly bitter citric quality, perhaps like tangerines or light lemons. Of course, to take all of this in, you have to work at it and continually sniff and swirl. And the 3 full pints I had of it didnt hurt either....A slight bit of paperiness, probably some light malt tannin, exposed from the high attenuation.
The flavor is where it really gets fun. Soft pale malt sugars open things up and have a very slight graininess to them. They’re brushed across the palate by a gentle, but noticeable, and very tight carbonation. Notes of light creamed wheat appear, but are chased off by fruity hops with a slight edge of bitterness. Then the corn. It comes near the end, and is only lightly apparent, but man is it tasty. Like taking the best corn lager I’ve ever had and then giving it the characteristics of an English cask golden ale in perfect condition. Fruitiness sticks on the finish (nectarines, tangerines, peaches) with more lighthearted pale sugars. Carbonation accentuates the light bitterness one last time as the beer goes down the throat and then the flavors are gone. Light bodied, with some wateriness appropriate for the style. Exceedingly clean, and actually, that may be my biggest criticism of the beer. I’d like just a little more terroir, shall we say, from the yeast!! A ridiculous complaint, as the beer is what it is, and thinking about it, there is a nice hard water-like flavor towards the end. I don’t know, it’s hard to imagine a perfect golden ale and I feel like I’m always going to find some fault, though calling it too clean does seem kind of harsh. Anyways, this like the 18th time I’ve said this, but THIS is my new favorite session beer. Too bad I may never have it again in this shape....
While 2007 was a remarkably clean year for the British casks as a whole, Wednesday night, while only having six British casks, was ridiculously clean. All of these casks were imported by the Shelton brothers, not coincidentally and included 4 from Hop Back, 1 from Coniston and 1 from Dark Star. As it turned out, this one would be both my first and favorite beer of the fest.
Crop circle didn’t have the strong head retention or prominent lacing that many of the other English beers had, but this wasn’t an indication of the condition it was in. Its slightly off-white head was a finger high, receding quickly to cover then ring and providing only blotchy lacing. The beer had dropped bright and was a wonderfully clear, soft peachy-gold.
What an aroma! Soft and understated, but everything I could hope for in an English golden ale. Delightfully fruity esters are very soft and deftly combine with the light malts to give almost a peach and nectarine nose. Soft hay-like suggestions emanate from the malt and just a glimpse of the corn can be found if looked for. Hops seem to be a fresh blend of both EKG and an American variety, or perhaps some hybrid. Regardless, it has that soft, very muted floral note of EKGs, complete with the nuttiness and some light hay. But it also has a distinct, lightly bitter citric quality, perhaps like tangerines or light lemons. Of course, to take all of this in, you have to work at it and continually sniff and swirl. And the 3 full pints I had of it didnt hurt either....A slight bit of paperiness, probably some light malt tannin, exposed from the high attenuation.
The flavor is where it really gets fun. Soft pale malt sugars open things up and have a very slight graininess to them. They’re brushed across the palate by a gentle, but noticeable, and very tight carbonation. Notes of light creamed wheat appear, but are chased off by fruity hops with a slight edge of bitterness. Then the corn. It comes near the end, and is only lightly apparent, but man is it tasty. Like taking the best corn lager I’ve ever had and then giving it the characteristics of an English cask golden ale in perfect condition. Fruitiness sticks on the finish (nectarines, tangerines, peaches) with more lighthearted pale sugars. Carbonation accentuates the light bitterness one last time as the beer goes down the throat and then the flavors are gone. Light bodied, with some wateriness appropriate for the style. Exceedingly clean, and actually, that may be my biggest criticism of the beer. I’d like just a little more terroir, shall we say, from the yeast!! A ridiculous complaint, as the beer is what it is, and thinking about it, there is a nice hard water-like flavor towards the end. I don’t know, it’s hard to imagine a perfect golden ale and I feel like I’m always going to find some fault, though calling it too clean does seem kind of harsh. Anyways, this like the 18th time I’ve said this, but THIS is my new favorite session beer. Too bad I may never have it again in this shape....
Tried
from Cask
on 11 May 2007
at 16:55
6.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
(Bottle, White Horse, Parson’s Green, london 28 Apr 2007) Golden yellow colour with foamy white head. Fruity, spicy nose with tropical fruit and lemon. Malty, clean taste with fruity notes of tropical fruit, spicy notes of lemongrass and a fairly dry, soapy finish. Ok, but despite the spices, lacking some character.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 May 2007
at 15:14
5.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
500ml bottle from Booths. Clear pale gold with lasting white head. Thank goodness a bottle conditioned British beer. Delicate spice aroma, with elderflower hop. Little bit empty in mouth, may be lager malt used. Again light spicy thai flavour on finish. Bit of staleness on aroma. Not my favourite. Interesting flavours but weak in body.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Apr 2007
at 07:32
5.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 6
Bottle Pours a very dark brown wth a small quick light tan head. Lots of dark roasted aroma. flavor was campfire and burnt steak with a slight touch of yesterdays crushed out ciggarette butt mixed in. Fairly thin feel and a bit acidic trailer. These stouts from across the pond are in general not to my liking so much. Thanks Jordan
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Apr 2007
at 22:25
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Cask conditioned at the Inn on the Green, Bristol 25/4/07. Amber colored with a slight head. Some malt in the aroma, followed by flavours of red fruit and a relatively dry finish. An alright session beer.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 Apr 2007
at 12:46
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask conditioned at the Inn on the Green, Bristol 25/4/07. Almost black with a long-lasting, off-white head. Roasted aroma with hint of coffee. Easy drinking with flavours of coffee & chocolate, and a dry yet smooth finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 Apr 2007
at 12:42