Caledonian Deuchars IPA (Bottle/Can)

Brewed by Caledonian (S&N, Heineken)
Style: Bitter
Edinburgh, Lothians, Scotland

[Sampled in 2005.] A "pilsner-IPA" caused by the watery IBU. Too easy drinkable and therefore less interesting. Weak bitterness and sweetness in the hops.

Bottle. Golden/pale orange color with small white head. Very light smell for an IPA. Light aroma of citrus, malty sweetness,toffee/cookies. Some floral notes. Smooth tastes of hops, citrus, malt, some caramel/toffee. Nice dry finish. Very drinkable and a good session ale with low alcohol%. I would very much like to try this one on cask. Had this at Haket Pub in Gothenburg.

This was disappointing. I’ve had it on cask, and the canned version is far inferior. The aroma is good and full of hops, but the flavour is flat and one-dimensional, with a modicum of hops and malt.

500 mL can from LCBO, served almost cold in a tulip glass.

App.: Medium-deep golden, average white head, a bit of lacing. Aroma: Very American: big juicy hops (grapefruit, pine, resin), a background of chewy sweet malts and rye bread crust; an earthy funk as well, a bit of biscuit. Palate: Medium body and carbonation. Flav.: Less promising than the nose; about half of the hops comes through and maybe a third of the malt; almost dry, some bitterness (but not enough) and a watery finish.

Too bad, cause the nose showed great promise.

500ml bottle from Waitrose. Straw with a dense white head; aroma of fresh grass and hops; strong hop flavour, but not too bitter, some citrus and some sweetness; sustained bitter finish.

A bitter? What? Seriously? JUST a Bitter? Seriously? I got so excited when I first smelled this beer, and saw the colour, then tasted it. It seemed like a genuine IPA to me. I have a cold right now, so I can’t even fully taste it, and it also hurts a little on the throat, yet I’m STILL loving this beer! Fruity malts, hoppy, smooth, tasty. If it’s just a bitter, it’s the hoppiest bitter I’ve ever had.

500 ml can. pours golden with an average white head. citrisy hop aromas cascade off the small white bubbles. flavours are citris hops with a nice malt backbone. i tight little brew. a bit thin but the flavours were good and its very easy to drink.

Pours a clear golden colour with a thin white fizzy film. Aroma is malty caramel, and floral hops. Flavour reflects the aroma bang on with some malt caramel sweetness upfront and a touch of hop bitterness in the finish. Tasty. However the palate really hinders this beer with its watery mouthfeel, and short lived aftertaste. This beer is still quite drinkable however, probably a good beer to get people started on IPA’s.