OHanlons Royal Oak

Brewed by OHanlons
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Whimple, England

From a 1pt. 9oz. short narrow neck brown bottle with a blurb and history lesson, along with serving and pouring instructions, on the back of label and I too, have a best before date of 02.28.05, but the pale ale held up well. Made a good appearance, the cap popped when I opened it, poured an hazy orange and gold hued copper with a large billowing foamy head that slowly settled into a thin rocky, foamy lacing, good carbonation. Had a big, sweet berry fruity and earthy nose with a little dry yeast and molasses in the background. A crisp, carbonated textured, smooth light bodied mouth feel, good drinkability. Nice berry fruity, with a subtle banana, taste, a buttery, syrupy molasses maltiness, a dry earthy hop bitterness, a balanced bitterness with the sweet malts, and a dry earthy and malty finish, well done. I really enjoyed this English Pale Ale, balanced and tasty. When I saw the best before date, I was expecting the worst, but this ale held up well, recommended for anyone liking pale ales and ESB’s, English or American. In Michael Jackson’s Great Beer Guide, this listed as a pale ale.

(on bottle) Unclear, toffeecloloure with a small, lasting, white head. Woody and fruity aromas, with a backdrop of caramel and smoke; Sniffed this one for a long time; goood. Parshly bitter, malted flavour and a tart, refreshing finish.

Bottle conditioned. Clear darkish brown colour with a slim off-white head. Aroma is malty and big floral hops plus some citrus fruit in the background. Nice mix of malt, hops and fruit in the taste. Medium bodied, lively mouthfeel. Well balanced and interesting. Very good.

bottle shown BB07/16/06...cloudy rich amber color with long lasting fluffy tan head...aromas of stone fruit, berries, wheat bread and a sour woodiness. flavor is full of raisins, dried herbs,earthy bread and a bit of nutty dryness. cask like mouth feel. past its prime but delicious...

Bottle. Dark amber color with a medium, creamy, long-lasting, beige head. Malty aroma with some hops, some nuts, mild fruitiness, and light toastiness. Sweetish malty flavor, a bit of caramel, a bit of biscuits and slightly bitter finish. Rounded and medium-bodied. Not bad.

Cask at the Bricklayers Arms, Putney, 1st June 08. The strength is instantly apparent. Interesting malty taste with the ghost of a coconu flavour too. Smooth palate but not much to my taste.

Pours a light orange with a big white-orange head and lots of carbonation. Aroma of fruit (apricot and peach) is subtle, but pleasantly blended with hops.Flavor is malty, and has a nice hop flavor component. There is a pleasant, yet subtle hop bitterness finish. Reminds me of one of my home-brewed English PA's. I like this one.

nice bottle conditioned beer, amber colour. lotsa rocky white head, nice lacing. Good Malty character, slight hops, kinda nutty. Great bitter. Had at smokeless joes