Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA (Europe) (Bottle)

Brewed by Belhaven (Greene King)
Style: American Pale Ale
Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland

Bottled, 5.3% ABV. Clear, golden beer with a small, off-white head leaving nice lacings. Fruity aroma with pine and citrus on a malty background. The flavor is malty and fruity as well, with a medium body and a bitter and fruity finish. It also leaves a sugary feeling on the tongue. A refreshing beer. (061109)

Bottle at home ... Crisp clear orange ... sweet light malt nose ... matealic orange hops ... little cararmel and lots of fruit... tasty enough but no real depth.

Big shiny offwhite creamy head with larger bubbles. Light brown body. Sweetish nutty malt aroma with citric floral hop aroma. Sweetish, firm malty taste with a strong smoky flavour and nutty notes. Hoppy, watery, smoky, almost burnt, aftertaste. A bit one-dimensional, but good. (0.5l bottle. Rated 2006-11-11, moved after split.)

Bottle had this 02-02-08 Many thanks to Craig for this one, cheers mate! Pours warm golden colour with white bubbly head, nice crisp citrusy aroma. Taste was really quite decent far bitterer than I expected and good citrus and juiciness to this. The sweetness was there but not intrusive. As English, sorry British IPA’s go this is one of the few that are ucking the trend for a worthy beer of this style, very good.

Draught. Copper orange with white head. Citrus and fruits. Also reminds me of hay, a bit dry perhaps. Bitter after taste. I had this beer after another, very good beer, Dugges Never mind the Bollox, so maybe I am a bit unimpressed. A bit thin.

Appearance: Light copper orange brilliantly clear, good head and long foam stand. Aroma: Clean citrusy American hops, with honey, malty and biscuity aroma. Orange peel and grapefruit. Little to no fermentation esters. Flavor: Rich bittersweet character with a resiny almost piney bitterness with lots of supporting caramel malt. Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and chewy mouthfeel. Overall: Big chewy American style IPA with lots of citrus hop aroma and a chewy body. Resinous bitterness matched with a clean dry malt character and some support from crystal malts.

Bottle 0,5l at Blå Rock Cafe Tromsø. Strength 5,3%. Colden coloured. A fluffy white head. Strong aroma of citrus. Flavour dominated by pleasant fruityness. A lasting sweet and fruity aftertaste with hints of apricot. This is a real IPA: Well hopped and a bit strong. A nice beer for my rating no. 500.

500 ml bottle, now available in Norway (Vinmonopolet). The European version is 5.3% ABV, while the US version is 6.1% (the two versions need a split). Clear deep golden colour, moderate head. Very nice hoppy aroma (Cascade and Challenger), hints of toffee too. The flavour has a distinct hoppy bitterness throughout, but the moderate malty base has a tad too much sweetness for my taste, and I also get some "alcoholic" notes, despite only 5.3% ABV. Not very complex, but not bad either. Bitterness lingers in the long aftertaste.