Arbor Huxell Best Bitter

Date: 04/27/2006
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

opaque orange, fine white head, lots of lace, soft floral hop aroma with a touch of citrus, vegitable flavor, long bitter finish, touch of carmel malt sweetness,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 4/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 7/20
Rating: 2.4/5.0
Drinkability: 3/10
Score: 4

Hazy pale gold, light white head. Pretty soapy english hops nose, mostly floral nature with restrained biscuity malts. Dry in mouth, heavily hoppy for a bitter, yet keeps its english character thanks to a good hop picking, herbal and soapy. Heavy carbonation seems a bit too intense, light-medium body. Rather average, but I’m stonished that this is only 3.25%

On tap at the Arbor Brew Pub. Poured a medium and hazy golden color with a small sized white head. Aromas of floral, citrus and somewhat leafy. Tastes of floral, lightly spicy, and light caramel. Thinner body. Medium bitter finish.

On tap at the brewpub on 4/27/06: Pours a clear hazy golden with a nicely-lacing frothy white head. Dry, toasty, grainy, freshly American hopped aroma. Lightly-sweet, grainy, earthy malty body has a big hoppy bitter balance. Not necessarily very authentic, but enjoyable.

Draft at Arbor Brewing. Hazy light amber with a medium white head that diminshed slowly. Hoppy aroma. Medium to light body. Good flavor with a long bitter finish. Above average bitter.

Sample at the brewpub. Very hazy lemon-honey color with no head. Bready, lemon-cream nose...solid fruity-tart flavor, lasting subtle bitterness throughout, some late woody character.

Grapefruit-orange hop nose. Hazy yellow gold with low white head that diminishes to lasting cover and coats the glass. Assertive grapefruit hop flavour is tart with low underlying dry malt and grainy character. Bitterness lasts in the aftertaste. Soapy, floral and citrus hops are evident throughout. Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. A very hop forward American interpretation of the style that could perhaps use a touch more malt character. Sampled on tap at the brewpub.

The body was medium gold colored. The aroma was toffee and grapefruit. The taste was grapefruit and toast. There was also some almonds in this hoppy bitter. The body was smooth with low carbonation. Good stuff.