Harviestoun Good King Legless

Brewed by Harviestoun
Style: Bitter
Alva, Central, Scotland

Attractive deep copper colour. A dryish, mainly malty beer, but Harviestoun likes to use plenty of hops and this is no exception. This provides a good balance. There are subtle spicy notes too. Whether this comes from the hops, or from added spices is not clear. If the latter, it’s very subtle and not overdone at all. A nice beer. Cask (handpump), the Devereux, Temple, London.

Cask, Whey Pat Tavern, St Andrews. Appearance is flat chestnut, thick off-white head. Aroma floral hops, tangy, hint of orange and spice, light. Malty taste, biscuit, floral and fragrant hoppy. Hoppy bitterness lasts through to the finish, not too dry, but lasting. Very nice, all in all.

Thick creamy offwhite head slowly settles out of a milky carbonated body, leaving a sharp dividing line and under it a clear amber body. Head has very good cling. Milky fruity malty aroma, quite mild, with resiny notes, quite hoppy. Deep fruity resiny malty floral taste. Excellent harmony. Honey notes. Lots and lots of hops. Dry wooden resiny floral aftertaste. An excellent beer. (0.5pt cask at the Old Mitre.)

Dec 06 Cask conditioned @ Humble Plumb, Soton. Nice citric hops verging more towards candied peel with spice than full on zest. Combines well with the slightly sweet malts with hints of biscuity caramel - drys out well wityh the generous hop dosage. 3.5
Dec 05 Cask conditioned @ Guide Dog, Soton. Some Sweet malt. Citric hops and sulphury yeast. Mismash of flavours which don’t complement each other. 2.7

Any first impressions?
-Creamy head lingers atop the copper hues.
-Shy citrus fruit, dry biscuity malts, and straw comprise the unassertive aroma.
-Plenty of leafy and citrusy hops dally for the pleasure of the haystack.
-Flavors are well-structured amidst the typical low carbonation.

What if you dig deeper?
-The shy aroma could be improved upon with some more hop announcement.
-Leafy hop bitterness is quite muscular.
-This is an enjoyable, hop-heavy bitter which lacks just a bit more personality to become very good, imho.

From the Bow Bar, Edinburgh.

Cask@The Red Lion, Isleworth, London. Deep copper colour as Chris_O points out. Lagery sort of malts, quite neutral, but with a nice soft melony, kiwifruit hop flavour, nicely fresh, light and pleasant.

Hand pulled at the Anchor, Birmingham. Oh blimey, by this stage I am getting a little tired of Xmas themed beers - the idea isn’t bad, but it does rather depend on whether you liked the idea of a tart-ish, mildly spiced, bolshy Bitter. Is this a Scottish Ale?? Who knows! It’s OK, as a swiggable ale, but nothing to get me going really.

[Cask from Blackfriars] Amber with a tight (sparkler) head. Light hoppy notes, orange peel, mint, caramel and cookie dough malt. Light palate, dry finish.