Coniston Bluebird XB

Brewed by Hepworth
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Horsham, England

12-Nov-07 (500-ml bottle: Purchased for $4.49 at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA) An English Pale Ale made with Mount Hood hops, and the lemony citrus character of this beer is unmistakable. But not just the lemony flavor of citrus, but it also delivers a bit of ginger and a fair amount of unexpected tartness that really jumps out since the malt backing is so very light. Slight earthy quality with a whisper of nuttiness in the finish. Earth, nuts and soured fruits in the mildly aromatic nose. Light in body and carbonation, and dry on the palate, but the prickly acidity and tartness makes the beer clean and very refreshing. Smallish, off-white head covers a body that is golden in color and moderately hazy. Overall, this level of tartness is a shock to encounter in an English beer and it’s a bit out of whack for sure, dominating over all other flavors, but the beer is still oddly enjoyable.

Bought at AJ’s, recommended by Jonpol. I like ESB’s but this is too mild for that style. I liked the beer, but didn’t wow me. It was very smooth and drinkable, a great session beer. I couldn’t detect any overwhelming aroma and taste, but the cascade hops won out a little bit, semi dry and medium length finish.

Bottled. Clear golden color, thick frothy white head. Nice soft hoppy aroma, blossom, flowery, slight herbal. Soft bitter taste, again bit herbal, slight pine. Good stuff.

Pours copper into an English pint. Off-white micro head quickly recedes to skim surface. Mild pine and resin aromas. Creamy head upfront quickly turns thin. Well balanced and highly drinkable. Lasting mild slight resin hop finish.

Bottled. Poured clear lighter orange with a nice initial cap of off-white head. The aroma picked up toasted pale malts supporting grassy and hay-like hoppage plus small amounts of pine and citrus.. warmth brought out a little honey.. nicely-balanced. The flavor had honey and pale malt sweetness again with very dry grassy and citrus bitterness.. some sourness.. the extent of the dryness make it rough at the finish. Lighter-bodied with moderate carbonation on the palate.. again, the way this came together at the end wasn’t too pleasant. Decent overall.

Light orange pour with medium rocky head that fades quickly. Nose is nice combination of citrus and grass somewhat lemony, some raw grain. Flavor is lemony and grainy, very mildly bitter. Finishes with a touch more lemon peel and grass. Ends dry and somewhat grainy, pleasantly so. All around a great session beer... wish it was priced as such!

Bottle.Light orange with a small head,aroma is of hops pine and apricots,taste is hoppy clean and grassy with tangerine,dry finish

Bottle.Medium, very fizzy off-white head that mostly diminished, patchy lacing, transparent, fast rising carbonation, and a gold hue. Nose was hoppy, citrus, musty, lightly malty, and grapefruit. The flavor was lightly hoppy, citrus, semi-sweet, lightly bitter, thin, and some grapefruit.Mildly tingly, thin mouthfeel and light in body. Easy to drink, easily forgettable, nothing special, and not a beer I will pursue again.