Woodfordes Nelsons Revenge

Brewed by Woodfordes
Style: Bitter
Broadland Brewery
Woodbastwick, England

Cask, gravity flow @ the Fur & Feather Inn, Woodbastwick, Norfolk.
Upon ordering this one I was queried by a lovely bloke at the bar. Happened to be the head brewer of Woodforde’s, Dr. David Crease. He was wondering if I’d enjoyed the beers I had tasted. "F’ckin’ oath" I would have liked to have replied, had I been a nonce. This was yet another beautifully crafted ale produced by my now favourite brewer. Produced itself a clear copperish gold, light sparkle in the lights, with a short-lived whitish head that adhered minimal legs to the glass. Soft, continual wafts of controlled, rounded toasted malts, orange marmalade and floral, earthy fresh hops. Very clean. Nice, firm, malty palate, quite dry almost Pilsener-malt flavours come through as well with a good bitter, zesty bite of citrus fruits. Quite peppery as it crosses the tongue, nicely balanced with a good dose of Goldings hops showing a robust earthy and floral apex before a lightly bitter swallow that sees more clean malt and citrus fruits lingering in the mouth and down the throat. This was lovely. Deadly sessionable, extremely well balanced and very, very tasty. A lovely Bitter. A lovely brewery!!!!

Woody and floral hops are apparent above the lightly toasty caramel malts in the aroma. with pleasant fruity esters. Lightly hazy pale copper coloured body is topped by a decent white head that recedes to partial cover and ring with some spotty lacing. Fruity esters are apparent over lightly toasty and caramel malts with traditional earthy, woody, herbal, floral hops apparent. Mild to fair finishing bitterness keeps the sweet malts from becoming cloying. Medium body with fairly low carbonation that only is only gently effervescent on the tongue. Pleasant enough but pretty straight forward. Half pint glass. Cellar temperature. Bottle (BBAug ’06, Bièropholie, Jun-06).

Any first impressions?
-A veil of head stays atop the hazy orange.
-Athletic wooden Goldings hoppiness presents a straightforward aroma.
-Dusty yeast floats about in the quiet orangey, citrusy hop flavor.
-The low carbonation and svelte maltiness create a smooth mouthfeel.

What if you dig deeper?
-A moderate hop finish dries up the palate.
-Malts don’t contribute much apart from an underlying structure.
-This bottle is a little too yeasty for its own good.
-Emulating cask ales in a bottle is not particularly pleasant in my view; this one is certainly drinkable, but it is eminently boring.

Bottle; best before August ’06.

500mL. Rather dull looking particles-heavy orange with barely any head. Aroma is before all quite soapy from the hops and rather stale yeast procuring a pine sol and lavendery herbal character. Competent perfumey fruitiness underneath reveals solid oranges with a mellow bitter bite, zesty nature closing on juicy. Soft fruitcake maltiness feels relatively round. Very low carbonation, almost cask like, though less textured. Not the cleanest example, nor the brightest.

Robe cuivrée claire sans mousse. Arômes de fruits et de houblon aromatique. Saveurs de fruits, de levure et de houblon aromatique.

Aroma:Light caramel and light bitterness... Appearance:Hazy gold-orange,light white head... Flavor:Candy,caramel,good bitterness..

1. Cask Stillage at the Mill At The Pier, Wigan 13/03/2003 Golden coloured with a very fruity aroma. Some dryness in a lasting hop finish. 2. Cask Handpump at Wetherspoons, Manchester 22/11/2003 Amber golden coloured with floral and hoppy aromas. Crisp malt finish.

Reddish orange coloured beer with w weak white head. Strong hop nose with hints of sweet fruit and malt. Dry on the mouth with a light bitterness. a bitter hop flavour, again a sweet fruity flavour and a long, dry, crisp aftertaste. Cask from the Rose & Crown, Snettisham, Norfolk.