Duchy Originals Organic Ale

Brewed by Wychwood (Refresh UK - Marstons plc)
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Witney, England

Label actually states English Ale, but I’m reasonably assured that it is a marketing thing for here in the states. Bright copper color with a moderate, but stable ecru head. Wet floor malt, and mild hops of mild herb in the aroma. Nothing that excites the schnoz. I saw this was a Wychwood brew and cringed slightly as I placed it in my basket. Forgot about it until I tasted and the memories flooded back. Nutty malt mixes with mild alcohol. Dry hopsack flavors add little to balance. THere are some nice floral flavors in the middle, but they are swept away by a dry caffeine bitterness. Gets sweeter as you progress.
Earlier Rating: 9/26/2005 Total Score: 3
Label actually states English Ale, but I’m reasonably assured that it is a marketing thing for here in the states. Bright copper color with a moderate, but stable ecru head. Wet floor malt, and mild hops of mild herb in the aroma. Nothing that excites the schnoz. I saw this was a Wychwood brew and cringed slightly as I placed it in my basket. Forgot about it until I tasted and the memories flooded back. Nutty malt mixes with mild alcohol. Dry hopsack flavors add little to balance. THere are some nice floral flavors in the middle, but they are swept away by a dry caffeine bitterness. Gets sweeter as you progress.

Pours orange with a medium off white head. Aroma is fruity and malty. Flavor is sweet and malty, grassy hops, and herbal notes.

Very smooth beer, hop taste but with little or no bitterness afterwards, which I found odd. Pleasant to the palate but it falls short with the fullness and length.

Nice bitter. Got this bottle at Sam’s in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. Poured with a medium tan head that settled down to a partial thin cover and a little lace. Color is a clear nice medium honey amber. Aroma is tropical fruits at first then a little hoppy, malty, and burnt sugar. Flavor’s very similar, but more dominant burnt sugar, and hops. Good carbonation and mouth. Nice bittersweet finish. Session beer.

Bottle at home. Cloudy amber coloured with a medium sized lacing white head. Sweet aroma of malts, caramel and dried fruits. Sweet flavour of malts and caramel with notes of hops. Sweet finish. Nice aroma, but boring flavour.

Bottle. Beautiful copper, clear, with a massive head that laces well. This is what a beer should look like. Peaty-malt aroma, with very little hop notes. Heavy, but dry, with a bit of a sour finish.

Bottle. Pours a clear orange-hued amber with a fine off-white head with good retention. Fruity aromas and a caramel maltiness, which is almost choclately at times. A good balance between the caramel and fruitiness of the malts and the grassy hop quality with a mild biscuity tone. Mild carbonation, oily palate texture and lasting hoppy finish. Nice.

bottle. Poured amber, a bit of a skunk aroma at first but the ale tasted sweet with a dry bitter, spicy orange after. Good mouth feel. A bit too much carbonation. not overly hopped.