Hook Norton Old Hooky (Bottle)

Brewed by Hook Norton
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, England

Bottled version. There it is, that luscious, juicy malt I want in a true English ale. Soft, toasted, caramel aroma with an underlying butter note. Salt is also noticable in the aroma. Bitterness is prevalent throughout the profile. Toasty, light caramel makes up the bulk of the malt character. The beer is not overwhelming but it has a slight chewy character to it. The earthy, spicy, woody Goldings come out in the finish and combine with a touch of malt sweetness on the middle of the tongue for a phenomenal exit.

This beer was amber colored with a moderate head and wispy lacing. It had a fine floral and spicy aroma-inviting. Soft on the tongue, really fresh tasting with a medium sweet maltiness and hoppy background. Finished smooth with just a little hop bitterness.

Bottle. This is a dark, hazy amber beer with a thick and firm beige head. Its aromas are quite dusty with sweet caramel and butterscotch. Unfortunately these aromas do not translate into flavours. They are predominantly grassy and resinous instead. Quite thick on the palate and an average bitter finish ends the beer. I was somewhat disappointed with this one.

Pours amber/red, thin off white head.
Nose is fruity and bready - a bit of cherries.
The flavour has the classic English bitter character. Bready malt, toffee, fruity hops providing a good strong balancing bitterness. A bit of spice.
Mouth filling flavour, very balanced.

Bottle, 500ml. An amber colour with an average lasting head. Aromas of cirtus, malt and blackberry. Quite sweet taste with hints of caramel and dark fruits. A slightly malty, fruity finish. Full bodied, somewhat syrupy. Average carbonation. Disappointing.

Pours a nice shade of amber with a modest head... Sweet malty aroma, subtle fruitiness... Slightly fruity taste with sweet malts... Decent offering, a bit overpriced in the US....

Golden, small head. Has a fruity aroma, and fruit is there in the flavor as well. Sweetish and a little dry.

Old Hooky has a deep amber, almost copper colour. The aroma is sweet fruit which dominates the flavour although there is a nice hop quality to the finish.