Dark Star Hophead

Brewed by Dark Star
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Haywards Heath, England

Cask at the 7 Stars (excellent pub BTW), october 07. Shinny, golden color with a small white head that last for quite a while and leaves some lacing. Citric, piney, spicy aroma. Very perfumey. Spicy, citric, profound hoppy flavor with some pale ale malts notes and a tea like end. Very nice. Medium to light palate, very tasty and refreshing. Nice spicy hops aftertaste. Great for such a light beer. Amazingly drinkable and tasty hoppy golden bitter.

Cask (Gallows Bird, Espoo)
Light orange, persistent sudsy head. Huge dry peppery hop aroma. Light fresh body, pale malts and dry hoppiness. Long dry bitter finish from the hops - some fruity, some citrussy. Great bite, good interesting summer bitter.
rerate of (6-2-8-3-13=3.2)
Cask (Helsinki Beer Festival 2004) Pale gold, tiny head. Citrus and bitter aroma - hops quite distinct, almost resiny. Clean crisp taste. Refreshing summer ale.

cask at the 2007 Oxford Beer Festival. Pale gold in colour with strong aromas of resiny hops, cut grass, and flowers. Hop flavors dominate, with light citrus and cut grass elements. Some biscuit dry malts enter the picture near the finish. Quite bitter. A close second to Croch Vale Amarillo for my personal "Best in Show".

On tap at The Rake, London. Intense golden colour with a small frothy head. Refreshing citrus aroma. Great citrussy flavours, well-balanced bitterness. Refreshing.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 2     Pale Yellow(1)->Dark brown(5) : 2     Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 2
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 4   White(1)->Tan(5) : 1   Lasting: 3   Lacing : 4
Aroma:
Intensity : 3  
Yeast : 2   Bread : 2   Apple : XX   Tropical Fruits : 1   Soap : 2   DMS : XX   Diacetyl : XX Sulfur : XX  
Malt : 3   Biscuity : 3   Hay : 2   Toasty : XX   Caramel : XX   Nuts : XX   Honey : XX   Cereals : 3   Grainy : 3
Hops : 4   Noble(1)->American(5) : 2   Leafy : 4   Spicy : 1   Floral : 3   Lemon/Lime : 3   Grapefruit : XX   Orange : XX   Herbal : XX   Grassy : 1   Pine/Spruce/Resin : XX  
Notes :   Peach/Apricot : XX   Earth : XX   Mint : XX   Butterscotch : XX   Smoke : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 2   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 2   Sourness : XX   Bitterness : 3   Complex : XX   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 3   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 2   Clean : 3   Sharp : XX   Watery : XX   Oily : XX   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : XX   Mineral : 2   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: Extremely drinkable, smooth bodied, foamy and hoppy, leafy ale. The quintessential tasty and drinkable session golden ale and probably the one with the best mouthfeel.

Citrus nose, amber in colour. Light/soft body. Heavily hopped - quitesimple but good. Similar to Crouch Vale Amarillo.

Huge aroma of flowers and hops. Taste is very watery of hops and more flowers.

Cask Blackfriars ... Light gold ... soft hop nose ... very fruity very light and refreshing ... good session beer and palate freshner... nice floralness.