Coniston Bluebird XB

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

Bottle bought in England, but clearly intended for North America as the label reads ’Imported by Shelton Brothers, Belchertown MA’. The sweet, hoppy aroma and citric flavour of this amber beer make it reminiscent of a transatlantic product. The result is pretty good, but one wonders what the point was. By the way, Belchertown sounds a cool place.

Large white frothy head of varying sized bubbles. Reduces slowly. Ginger ale and spicy hops aroma. Some light malts. Medium golden orange in color. Light crisp flavor with some lemon and more ginger. Spices and a bit of yeast. Finish is a little dry with a slight bitterness. Finishes clean. Decent but I don’t think that this is much better than the regular.

Other than the self-given style not being very accurate, this beer is pretty good. Smells like hops and has a pretty decent amount of them. A little too much citrus flavoring to be fantastic, but good.

Lightly hazed dark golden colored liquid. A tall fluffy cream colored head with decent lace. Aromas of light pine and orange peels. Only a hint of pale malt. Full malt flavors from the first sip. A light citric hops balance. A touch too carbonated for my liking. Some herbs a tea seem to mingle with the malt. I like the way the malt is developed in this one. but there are to many herbs on the finish.

I was delighted that the initial aroma pured a nice grassy and piny smell to it. Taste the same with a bit of floral arrangement, nice and smooth with a bitter back-taste

Smells like sour apples and british hops. The bitterness is balanced well with the smooth mouthfeel. This is like a pale ale with a unique bitter bite and a hint of sour saison flavoring in the finish. Great beer from the blokes across the pond. lol

Cask. This to me seemed more of a pale ale. Poured a copper color with little head. It was not distinct and definitly was not a golden ale. It actually was nothing special but nothing bad either.

I don’t know what has happened to me lately… I have become a sucker for session beer… enjoying them far more than the busty and bold High Gravity beers of the moment!

Poured a lovely copper body and a tall pillow of ivory head. The aroma and flavor bring pleasing earthy and mildly spicy citric suggestions. The finishing hops are blended together nicely with fruity, bready, and biscuity malts. The palate is medium and the finish is dry with hints of chipped Pine and Cyprus woods. Well done; a nice mild drinker, indeed!