Crouch Vale Topsail

Cask at the Wenlock Arms, London on 8th November 2009. Gold with whitish head. Some hop aromas; hop kick with spicy notes and bitter/grapefruit hop. Texture was a little on the flat side and there was a moderate to brief finish.

Cask conditioned at The Wellington, Birmingham. Orange Gold with white head. Good sulphery nose, nice and juicy leading to a richer than CV’s usual malty body. Fruity and zesty, nicely sharp hops, quite dry with a long, long bitter finish. This brewery certainly knows how to tick the right boxes.

Cask (Helsinki Beer Festival 2004) Rich orange, tiny head. Crisp fresh citrussy hops. Sweet malty body, slightly maizy or candiflossy. Refreshing brew.

Cask Conditioned at the Oddington Arms, Oxfordshire for the Rugby World Cup Semi-Final 13-10-07 the third time that this wonderful little pub/stone shed has opened this year Dark amber in colour with nice white bubbly head. Lovely vibrant hoppy aroma, wonderful fresh and fruity taste with nice hops throughout, they’re right about easy drinking, I certainly exceeded sensible drinking levels on this little gem from Crouch Vale.

Cask. Golden colour, small beige head. Aroma is fruity hops and some caramel. Flavour is very pleasantly fruits and hops, all in a very good balance. Some slight grassyness in the aftertaste.

Gravity, Far From The Madding Crowd, Oxford. Shiny copper with a small layer of white head. Bright perfumey citrus, mixed with a sulfury, spicy, farmy character that in this case is not unpleasant. Delicate grapefruit flavor, clean underlying mal. Dry, gently prickly finish. Might not be Crouch Vale’s shiniest star, but still a cracking good ale.

Brought to my work via a plastic carton. Aroma has crouch vale American hops written all over it super citrusy grassy hops. Taste has some pale malt/caramalt through the intence hop attack on the tougue. I suppose the caramalt is what adds the depth and colour but its essentially the brewers gold which is a very good thing.

Cask, DBF 2005. Gold, thin white head and moderate fine condition. Gentle flowery hops in the nose, low sweetness balanced by an underlying hop note in the mouth and an initialy sweet finish that turns hoppy with time.