Gales Pentagel

Formerly brewed at Gales
Style: Bitter
Horndean, England

One of my favorite beers, although I haven’t been able to buy it for about 8 years. Extremely smooth and tasty. Definitely try it if you get a chance.

Picked this up at the Foodery in Philadelphia. The pours out a dark amber body with a slight off white head that leaves no lacing. Scents of malt sweetness mixed with a fruity tartness rise from the glass. There are also notes of a roastiness about it too that come through. The taste starts of with a light roasted malt flavor that is a bit sweet from caramel. It’s a bit syrupy going down and there are notes of various fruits throughout the flavor. Mouthfeel is creamy with a medium body. Pretty good drinkability here if you in the mood for a really malty brew. Overall this is pretty good and would definitely be for the malt head.

12.08.04 330ml bottle. Got this (as a gift) from The Foodery in Philly. Seeing the status and that there were no ratings in the last two years is somewhat disconcerting....sweet tea colored brew with little head, lingering foamy ring. Caramel, earth, cherry punch aromas. Much darker and richer than I expected, vinous. Very sweet up front -- caramel and dark toffee. Some grassy hops. I think it might be oxidized, or I’m just not getting it, but it’s a bit cardboardy. Some earthy acidity at the finish and lingering.

Interesting friuty aroma, thin head, and copper body. I thought the beer tasted like an ESB, but needed more maltiness to improve the overall taste of the beer.

Fruity, wine-like nose; orange-amber color; low head. Toaste malt flavors disappear quickly. Thin, but somewhat complex.

Chocolate, portwine aroma. Red amber body. Chocolate taste, but thin and flat. Not very good.

Malty and well hopped, but not to the point of being cloying. Clean flavor without much adverse yeast influence. Very nice Suffolk ale, somewhere between an ESB and a pale ale.

Robust and complex, earthy English ale.