Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA (USA) (Bottle)

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

lotsa head citrus fruits from the hops on the flavour good bitterness well balanced definatly an english beer in this aspect

Boring thin golden appearance. The aroma is lemony, grassy hops. The flavor has a substantial malt background, which is balanced by the citrusey (lemon) grassey hops. The finish has a lingering bitter dryness.

Bottle. Pours a clear golden-amber with a large mostly-lasting fluffy white head. Nice lacing. Aroma: oh yeah, I love those C-hops! There’s just enough sweet malt there to balance things out nicely -- man that smells great. Flavour: damn tasty! What can I say, I’m a sucker for Cascade and Challenger hops -- again nicely balanced with sweet malt, and there’s a pleasant bitter finish. Medium bodied. I like Belhaven’s beers but I did not expect to like this this much -- I loved it!

Bottle: Poured a clear amber color ale with a bug white foamy head with great retention. Aroma of dry and bitter hops is dominant and enjoyable. Taste is dominated by the dry and bitter hops with some caramel malt backing. Body is about average and carbonation is quite lively. This is like a hops induced bitter and overall quite enjoyable.

Bottled. Pours an almost clear copper with a lacy off-white head. Citrus, toffee, fruit and flowers in the nose. Medium body and carbonation. The taste is lightly sweet with the same elements as the aroma. Dry grapefruit rind finish, with a piney aftertaste. Middle-of-the-road bitterness for an IPA.

500ml Bottle: I’d heard things about this one, that it was more bitter than my ex-girlfriend. Don’t believe the hype. What a brew! Pours a gorgeous pumpkin/copper in colour with a thick foam head that was always there to keep me company, unlike that ex-girlfriend. Beautiful aroma of grapefruit and rose petals surrounded in hops. Flavour is just a donkey punch of hops off the top but a tremendous one at that. Solid grapefruit flavour softened by a light malty sweetness that surprisingly balances this ale well. It may be hard to call a beer this bitter balanced, but you’ll know what I mean when you taste it. Nice one!

Hazy amber body with an attractive two finger vanilla head that retains well and leaves good spiderweb lacing. Aroma begins with sweet toffee malt that is quickly chased by grapefruit, spice, and pine hop aromas. Challenger and Cascades, according to the label. Lovely mouthfeel is creamy and well carbonated atop a medium body. Taste begins with a crisp and biscuity English maltiness that is enhanced by the pine and grapefruit hop profile. Some spiciness here, as well. Zesty carbonation enlivens. A fleeting note of pears as it warms adds a subtle complexity. Quite sessionable. An interesting Scottish take on the English IPA.

Bottle from the LCBO. Bright golden colour with a moderate white head. Well hopped aroma, with floral and grapefruit notes. Soft mouthfeel. Big flavours of grapefruit and lemon, with a subtle sweetness in behind. Very nice, and much hoppier than I expected.