Hook Norton Hooky Gold (Bottle)

Brewed by Hook Norton
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, England

Bottle from State Line. Pours semi-hazy canary with off-white head. Nose is pale malt, honey, Saazy hops, citrus, and spicy florals. The taste is malty, with some notes of honey, hops, citrus, and a lot of spicy white peppercorny flavor. This one surprised me, and I’d buy it again any day.

This poured a clear golden body with a three-fingered head that lasted pretty well for the duration. Spotty lacing. The aroma was full of floral hops with a soft pine undertone covering some honey sweetened malts. the "American pizzazz" of the commercial description reveals itself in the increase of hoppy (pine/floral/herbal/citric) bitterness in the flavor that’s well balanced by the sweet, grainy, bready malts. The finish is a refreshing pine and floral bitterness that lingers for some time. Nice drink for the upcoming warmer weather.

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Interesting beer... Very light bodied... The american hops are very assertive yet mild relative to the thinness of the body, i think due to the unexpected flavor of them... Im usually not a huge fan of beers of this style but this is a bit different in that it is an english bitter with american hops, most golden ales are irrelevent as far as im concerned... I like this better than the Old Hooky..

Bottle from the brewery. Brilliant gold with an uneven fluffy head. Bread, honey, fresh straw and peanut aroma, overlaid with zesty hop hinting at pineapple, cut grass, pollen and lime. Full, clean and slick with orange peel and juniper-like hop, marmalade, tonic water dabs, bread and vanilla. Clean and lingering with bags of soapy citrus and floral hop. Top drawer (pasteurised) GA.

Bottle from John’s Marketplace in Portland, OR. Lightly hazy peachy gold color with a decent white head. Aroma is sort of peach fruit over light malt. Flavor suggests peach. Body is near medium over slight carbonation. There’s a green tea note. As time passes it’s still peach to me, but the bitter builds. Each sip has a great nose and a marvelous taste. It is somewhat spicey. Spiced peach. Love that.

50 cL bottle. Pours cloudy and golden yellow to orange with a slowly collapsing chalk white head. Mild peach fruity hops aroma, quite inviting. Flavour is mild grapefruit and peachy hops with a light caramel malt beneath. Bitterness seems to take out the sweetness yet the balance seems quite good. Ends quite fruity and light bitter. Nice brew.

Bottle, picked up SH Jones, Bicester. Pale golden colour definate hoppy aroma, taste was pleasantly fruity with a continuing bitterness, another good bottled beer from Hook Norton.

Bottle. Golden beer with a strong head. The aroma is very dry and fruity caramel hopped, and the flavour is nicely biiter and fruity. Overall a good beer.