Caledonian Deuchars IPA (Bottle/Can)

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

500ml bottle. Clear, dark golden body with a creamy off white head. Nice citrus/grapefruit aroma. Sharp, dry bitter slightly malty flavor. Medium body, but actually impressive and balanced at only 4,4% ABV. Nice crisp, bitter, balanced and relativity light IPA that can enjoyed without getting dunk.

Golden colour, small white head. Aroma has floral hops and some lemonade. Flavorur is malty and hoppy, has some citrus. Starts fresh, finishes bitter and dry. Nice.

Bottle (500ml). Poured pale golden orange (pale amber?) with a good sized creamy, off-white head which was fully lasting. Big butterscotch aroma (very pleasant) with earthy hops, marmalade, oak, salt, sweet biscuity malts, creamy caramel and hints of banana. Flavor was similar to aroma with a mild hop bitterness (earthy), butterscotch, caramel, sweet biscuity malts, marmalade, oak and some salt in the finish. Medium bodied with lively carbonation, dry/creamy mouthfeel, a watery texture and a good finish. A touch too carbonated.

50 cL bottle. Pours clear and golden orange with a lacing white head. Aroma is medium dry malty with a light hops bitterness, vague fruity note. Flavour is medium dry and bitter with a mild fruity note, yet vague. Somewhat disappointing IPA yet still a good brew.

500ml bottle, served chilled. Pours a reasonably clean orange body, white foam. Grassy nose, touch of citrus and earthy spice, honeyish malts in the background. Medium body, low carbonation. Hop driven body, not overly done, orange marmalade and spice with some biscuity malt in support. Finishes decently bitter. Average sort of bitter, quite drinkable.

This filtered bottled version of the beer often pronounced as Doo-shah by people who don’t know better, is (I’m embarrassed to admit) in better condition than the cask version often found in bars and pubs without terribly good beer. This may be helped by the 6% increase in ABV. It has a delicate and refreshing citrus fruit and floral character. I imagine I’ll buy this one again.

Bottled. Very little aroma but a surprisingly pleasing flavour of wheat, citrus and spice. There’s also a touch of carbonation that suits this beer well. I’ve had this beer in cask form in the past but only pubs that serve it way too cold; this was much better at cellar temperature.

Low carbonation and minimal head over a very nice body of spice, citrus and bitters. Nicely done.