Thorogoods Billy Bs Golden Malted Apple Beer

Krazyyy. Where to start? Poured a murky dark amber. Nose is like a lambic. In the mouth it is initially sweet, followed by a tart acidicness that almost puckers your mouth. Obviously a lot of apple and like minded flavours. Fairly heavy. Big drink, though a bit one dimensional. One of those gotta try beers and definately eaier than drinking sam adams triple bock or dogfish head 120 (beers i would group in a similar indescribable category). I want to give it a higher mark, but in truth it was difficult to finish and didn’t really leave me wanting more. Odd ball and wonderful, but can wear out it’s welcome.

[Bottle] Pours reddish-amber with a tiny off-white head. Aroma is huge and outstanding. Almost like a fruitier Rodenbach, but not quite as sour, with great funk, very faint acetone notes, some blackberry, and barrel after it warms. Taste has a very nice balance between the tart, light cheese and funkiness and, the big apple, with a little orange playing in there too. Full mouthfeel, smooth, and a nice lingering finish. Wow. This beer went way beyond any expectations that I had for it. Incredibly well made, dangerously drinkable, and has almost no signs of alcohol. I keep wondering if I’m rating it too highly, and then I have another glass and it convinces me that it deserves it and that I could even maybe go a little higher. I’m going to be buying another of these.

Bottle. Pours a murky dark amber with a small off-white head that diminished slowly, leaving a thin lace on top. Funky aroma and flavours of sweet apple, pear, oak and a touch of spice. Sour mouthfeel with a light acidity on the palate as well. I’d have no idea there was such a high abv if i hadn’t read the label on the bottle, it’s just too easy to drink... a beautiful beer and makes for a rare find in Australia.

Bottle courtesy of Highlandlad, shared with several home brewers after trying some sour beers. Slightly hazy, golden amber body with non lasting head. Aroma is what is expected, apples without being too in your face. Taste was a bit more malty than apples, some nice sourness and didn’t notice the alcohol.

Bottle with yalnikim. Pours a beautiful golden amber. Lambic-like sweet and sour on the nose. And yes, that peach - always takes a woman’s nose to pick up such nuances. Full on sourness on the palate - that really bites in the finish - but with an impressive creaminess too. Loveit! Would make a perfect after dinner drink, joined with cheese.

Tasted 09/03/2009. 750ml bottle courtesy of, and shared with, TheGrandmaster. Happy 3rd birthday Frankie. Pours rose gold, a little hazy, with a big creamy foam that subsides to nothing but resides all the way to the bottom. Not far past ’flat’ in the carbonation stakes. Big funky acidic nose, floral and slightly minerally, reminiscent of the best lambics. Fritha picks a room full of peachy notes upon entering from the outside. She’s right, it is a bit "furry". It’s fatter than I expect in the mouth andI’m reminded of the girl who once called me a "chubby chaser". The malt character is subdued, this is certainly apple leaning, but it has a big mouthfeel that a cider could never achieve... even a French one. Spicy and somewhat sweet but with a long, complex acidic and tannic finish - this beer/cider is one for good guys. Can’t taste a nughty hop pellet anywhere in this big boy. More a digestif that a apertif. We drunk it at the wrong time of day, which makes me think we should have another. Fritha thinks I’m "a bit funny" for the rest of the night. I think I’d sleep better if I’d had the whole bottle myself.

Didn’t quite know what to expect...Poured a hazy golden amber body with rather significant off white/cream coloured head. Aromas are more or less as expected. Slightly chalky golden delicious apples paired with acidic granny smith and some hinting spice. Palate is not quite what i expected. Typical cider feel and flavours upfront before a huge wave of sweet syrupy honey, brown sugar and spice rolls through the mouth. Finish is tart and acidic as expected, which serves to cleanse and balance out the sweetness in the mid palate. I demolished the whole bottle and then slept like a baby!! It was delicious!!

Bottled: Wow, what a beer. Shared bottle. Poured a decent head that quickly vanished ontop a hazy gold body. Aroma apples (duh) slighly spicy acid winey nose. I let it sit a while then the flavours had time to develop - malt & sweet apple up front a touch of spice and a abruptly vinegar/soured finish. My tastebuds were intially stunned then clamoured for more. You don’t even notice the alcohol until you try standing/talking. Great stuff.