yalnikim (666), Wellington, New Zealand Oct 6, 2008 Tasted 06/10/2008. 12oz bottle courtesy of TheGrandmaster via one of his travelling workmates. Pours a luscious rose gold with a tight creamy off-white head. Nose reveals stonefruit (peach esp.) with some floral notes, spicy hops, a little steely character, caramel and stewed fruit (a little tired?). A late note of subtle citrus comes through. Sweet stewed malt in the mouth definitely gets me looking at the best before date - 07/2008 - but there is a nice juicy fruit hop flavour all the way through and a sprinkling of spicy hop. Mild-merdium bitterness. Full weighty mouthfeel for 5%, soft carbonation. Still very balanced. I suspect this is a really great beer that is just too old (and the storage didn’t it let it get away with it). Lt_Dan (66), Greater Los Angeles Area, California, USA Sep 24, 2008 Had on draft, and have had it numerous times in bottle. A nice amber color, not much head. Has a nice subtle hop flavor with a bit of a dry malt finish. Great to session and cook with. phishpond417 (1463), Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA Sep 24, 2008 Sampled on draught: Pours a clear copper colour with a large white head. Aroma is of grapefruit, noticeable pine and floral hops. Taste is a little hoppy, otherwise acidic and bready malt flavor. spikester (442), Salem, Oregon, USA Sep 18, 2008 Deep amber with a half-inch of cream colored head. Fair amount of ring lacings. Taste is spicy leathery hops with a decent amount of malts. Well balanced, easy drinker with low carbonation for the English Pale Ale style. Easy drinker with relatively low abv of 5%. I would love to try this on tap or a growler fill. tronraner (1437), Maryville, Tennessee, USA Sep 16, 2008 12 oz bottle. Pours copper with tight beige head. The aroma is sticky, candyish hops with some toasty malt and some faint spice (licorice and cinnamon?). The flavor is toast, grain, and some floral hops. There’s an adequate bitterness, especially toward the finish. It leaves a woody/fruity aftertaste that doesn’t linger for all that long. The palate is a little thinner than I would like.
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