Gwatkin Blakeney Red Perry

Brewed by Gwatkin Cider
Style: Perry
Hereford, England

Bottled, Ludlow Xmas medieval market 2007. Even yummier; frighteningly fresh, effortless effervescence, plump pears. Re-rate December 2007. Bought several bottles back and am currently yomping through a few. A benchmark perry. Original review, April 2005, Scored 4. Barrel, Notts Beer Fest 2005. Underwhelmed pear aroma, wonderful juicy flavour, dessicating dryness, sustained finish. Yummity.

From a polypin at Battersea Beer Festival 2006. I have to go with SilkTork on this one. Pale gold, no head. Red pear aroma, which is not huge but the flavour is terrific. Very good pear fruit which is fleshy and succulent. Not overly sweet. Some wood and then quite a dry finish. Yummy

Appearance
Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 2   Pale(1)->Dark(5) : 4   Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 1
Aroma
Intensity : 4  
Yeast : 3   Bread : XX   Hay: 4   Brett : 2   Floral: 5   Wood: 4   Leather: 2   Barnyard : 2   Medicine : XX   Phenols: XX   Cheese : 1   Vinous: 3  
Notes: Caramel : XX   Honey : XX   Applesauce: XX   Appleskin : XX Pear : 4   Tropical Fruits3  
Flavor
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 2 Juicy: 4   Sourness : 3   Bitterness: XX   Farmy : 3   Complex: 2   Length : 3
Palate
Light(1)->Full(5) : 5   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 1 Chewy: 3   Sharp: XX   Chalk : XX   Astringence : 2   Tea tannins : 4   Alcohol : XX
Comments: Dark for a perry, yet a superbly fresh one with a generous pear flesh nose, juicy and balanced whose peaks are reached in its flowery, fragrant nose and soft-edged palate despite heavy tannins.

From the barrel at Battersea Beer Festival. Pale gold colour with that indefinable perry tinge. On the sweet side of medium but has plenty of tooth coating tannin to set that off and provide some backbone. Far more tannic than usual for a perry. Woody, but succulent and juicy at the same time. Finely balanced and beautifully made.

From barrel at Stratford upon Avon beer Fest ’07. Sl cloudy gold with no head. Delicious aroma of champagne pears leading to a rich fruity delight almost fizzing on the tongue even there is no carbonation at all. Natural and tasty. lovely.

Bottle. Pours an extremely pale yellow - almost clear. Aroma is underwhelming, a little pears. Flavour though, is astonishing, powerful and dry. Pears, wood, flowers and spices. Great!

Brown golden thin clear body with a small white head; Small but deep pear complex nose, lots of skin and a little meat; Soft carbonation in soft sweet body; Tannin like dry in a long finish, lots of sweet pear skin aromas, barrel, the tannin dryness gives this an amazing character.

Bottle @ Copenhagen Øl Festival. No head and no lacing to be observed. Lovely golden colour. Reasonable dry notes of pear, apple, berries, wood and grape sugar. Medium bodied with a lively carbonation. Moderated sweet flavour with some acidic to balance this Perry. Nice sweet grape sugar/pear finish. Defiantly the best Perry so far.