Coniston Old Man Ale (Bottle)

Brewed by Hepworth
Style: Old Ale
Horsham, England

What makes something an old ale? very nice crisp clean aroma. Also has a nice amount of hops. A dry grainy finish, a pretty tasty beer.

(Bottle) Pours a clear deep amber body with a creamy medium-sized white head. Aroma of florals, fruitiness (cherry and raspberry), and light citrus. Flavor of malt, mild hops, and fruit (mostly cherry) wuth a dry, carbonated finish. Complex with a good balance.

Pours a dark reddish brown color. Aromas of wood, dark fruit, and some sweetness. Flavors of whiskey?, caramel, and some faint hops.

This one was a nice surprise. The bottle came from State Line, and it poured a hazy deep copper-ruby color with a huge beige head. The aroma was malty and fruity, with hints of that Flemish soury yeasty aroma that it characteristic of Cantillon brews. The palate was dense and complex. The flavors were of fruity, bready malt up front, giving way to some hops and spicy floral fruit and cabernet notes. As it warme, I got some cinnamon/nutmeggy notes, with a more pronounced Flemish sour quality that was sweeter than a Flemish sour. This beer impressed me greatly, and I rcommend it highly, especially with a cured meat, cheese, and cracker tray.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry & tupalev -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Pours a hazy reddish-orange with a large white head. Slightly sour yeasty aroma with some caramel malt, fruit and hops. Flavour’s also yeasty and slightly sour with a dry citrus hop finish. Not sure what classifies this as an Old Ale? I agree with HogTownHarry, seems more like an ESB, an average one at that.

Bottle (500ml). Shared with blankboy and tupalev - my bottle. Poured hazy orange with a large white fluffy head. Quite a bit of UK hop funk, with tea, citrus fruit - an average ESB malt & hop combo, maybe a little sour, but I liked its yeastiness. Taste of bitter yeasty orange juice - had a medium bitter finish after mild juicy malt at the outset - mouthfeel lively, astringent and bitter - I liked this okay, but it sure didn’t seem up to the oomph of an old ale, more like a variant on an ESB. Still okay by me.

Bottle, shard with Hogtown harry and Blankboy, courtesy of Harry. Dark orange, bubbly small white head. A little sour in aroma, but the hops cover it up, musty as well. Decent bready malt taste, but still a hint of sourness. Light grapefruit hops are prominent as well. Seems just like an average bitter, not an old ale. Not terribly interesting.

50cl bottle. Pours copper, w/ a supple white head into my imp. pint glass filling it very nicely. Aromas of a spring meadow & horse hair. Fairly watery mouthfeel at first. Tons of bubbles. Holding head. Mineral water makes a big impact. Another hepworth beer that hints & reminds me of Orval. Bitter & dry w/ a big mineral profile. This one is much more mild in the Orval assoc. The elements culminate in a chewy grape-skin finish. Very intriguing beer. This series is re-defining my concept of Brit beers. It is starting to seem like I might find a Brit beer that is captivating, unique, striking, or special. I’m not ready to apply those monikers fully to this beer, but I’m being pushed in that direction.