Greene King Abbot Reserve

Brewed by Greene King
Style: English Strong Ale
Bury St. Edmunds, England

Although this beer has several low scorings from others this is one of my favourite beers from the JD Festival. The traditional Abbot Ale has been refined to give a balanced full flavour ed ale. Not as strong in taste as Stones Double IPA but very pleasant on the palate. Smooth and strong tasting with a nice refreshingly hoppy aroma.

April, 2008 JDW, Rochester. Part of the Grand National breakfast. O ye! It’s not an immediate grab your bals beer. It goes in the mouth fairly dry and restrained - then, on the swallow, that mellow sweet fruit soon followed by a very earthy and English hop scratch which lingers and develops. This is a profound ale - an exquisite balance of malt and hops. Nice one! [4.1]
Dec, 2009 JDW, Rochester. A full bodied, smooth and tasty pale ale. Soft, integrated hops with elements of fragrant fruit and peach perfume. A very pleasant ale. Very enjoyable. [3.7]

Deep amber from the cask. Sweet and sour cherry and raisin with bread aroma. I also picked up cola at one point. Flavour of the medium to sweet bready and roasted nut malt is followed by the sour fruity punch, then the satisfying hops to finish but it doesnt linger. Maybe theyve upped the hops in this recently? I really liked this.

Bottled A reddy brown coloured beer with a whitish head. A fruity aroma with some toffee notes, but deliberate and not diacetyl. Jammy in the mouth with good alcohol notes. Nice and fruity and malty. Really surprisingly good. Shows that GK can brew really good beer if they try.Score 3.7
Subsequent cask rating scored 3.4. Average becomes 3.6

Cask handpull at Crosse Keys, JDW, London. Strong beer with a malty/nutty flavour. Deep amber in colour with lasting thin beige head. Raisin/cranberry aroma. Fruity malt. Alcohol is a little sickly. A good fireside warmer if a little sweet.

Cask, The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Oadby. Amber and copper with a cream head. Aromas are chocolate and toffee malts with almonds and raisins. Vinous with alcohol. Flavours are sweet malts and ripe Autumn fruit. Some raisins and brandy with warming alcohol. Good.

Bottle. Brown in a clear bottle.Creamy head and a brown appearance. Some sweetness with that typical GK taste although with more body than usual Obviously brewed for the supermarket trade.

Bottle, from Sainsburys Lincoln. Amber gold, thin but lasting white head and moderate condition. Sweet burnt toffee, typical GK hop resin and bready malt in the nose, full and balanced in the mouth with a gentle hop flower note in harmony with a discrete sweet toffee maltiness, some background caramel notes and a vague woodiness adding complexity, sweet toffee and caramel initially in the finish, with a developing but restrained hop bitterness and retronasal spirity alcohol.