Belhaven Harvest Ale (Cask)

Formerly brewed at Belhaven (Greene King)
Style: Bitter
Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland

Lucky Baldwin’s IPA Festival 2005

Slightly clouded coppery appearance. Orangey tea aroma. Mild yeasty palate, dryish hoppiness, fairly citric bite in the finish. Lingers slightly spicy with a mild tea finish.

Tasted at the 2004 Bistro Hop Fest. Light gold color. Small head. Aroma is fruity and sweet. A light to medium bodied ale. Malts are fruity and sweet. Hops are slightly grapefruity and floral. Not very bitter. Smooth taste. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

(Draft: Wet Hop Beer Festival, O’Brien’s in San Diego, CA) I had this several days prior to the Wet Hop Festival, the very day it was first tapped. Pretty light in flavor, balanced, moderately bitter hops, and I suppose a little fruity and malty. Mildly sweet. The gentle malt actually comes out more in the finish. Aroma of fresh hops and some light malt, but the nose is fairly light overall. Smooth palate, light to medium in body. Medium gold color. Almost no head, barely even a sheen, so the color can’t be reported. Not bad, just kind of boring. Easily my least favorite of the beers in O’Brien’s Wet Hop Festival.

This brew pours with a crystal clear golden body topped by a pencil thin head with a touch of lacing. It has a vinegar/pickle aroma with a slight sweetness. It actually smells like easter egg coloring. The flavor is slightly sweet yet woody and hoppy with a slight vinegar note. Medium bodied, smooth and a touch dry.