Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbodys Christmas Ale

Brewed by Wye Valley
Style: English Strong Ale
Hereford, England

Bottle.An excellent strong ale with plenty of character. Poured with a small head.Slight traces of liquorice with a full body that gives the impression of being far stronger than its six per cent. A lovely winters ale.

500ml bottle from Utobeer. Orange/red with lasting deep beige head. Lovely earthy hop aroma. Oh that is nice. Just shows what British brewers CAN do. Good malts, some red fruit, gorgeous red fruit, vanilla and earthy aroma. Subtle and agile ni mouth for a 6% beer. It’s just a lovely Xmas beer. Finish has a bit of sting. I wouldn’t have thought this was 6%. Rather lovely.

Bottle, bought @ YNWA, Kolding.
Pours redish amber with a medium, creamy, off-white head. Sweet malty aroma, some red berries, subdued chocolate and a touch of holly. Fine, very dry mouthfeel. Flavour has quite a lot of dry chocolate, crystal malts, some cocoa. Very dry finish. Different than most other Christmas beers, and that is not excactly a bad thing.

Bottle, SH Jones, Bicester, 04-11-06. Pours mid brown in colour. aroma quite malty with some seasonal spices, taste never quite lived up to expectations though as with all the Dorothy Goodbodys I’ve had so far it was still pretty good. Flavour was malty and with good hoppiness, little bit nutty, but quite tasty if a bit unexciting. Had this again 16-12-06 and really enjoyed so have upped the ratiung slightly.

Bottle 50cl. @ home.
Clear medium to dark amber color with a large, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, nutty notes, caramel notes, light to moderate hoppy, grass, orange, licorice notes. Flavor is heavy sweet and bitter with a long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. It has a very weak aroma, the flavor is very strong. [20081112]

Redish amber colour with a medium off-white head. Aromas are toffee malts and spices. Taste was malty and with good spicy hops. Dry hoppy finish.

50 cL bottle. Pours almost clear and golden deep orange with a small white head. Sweet, light spiced and malty aroma. Flavour is bitter, slight roasted and caramel malty. Smooth and semi sweet flavoured into a nice bitter finish. Nice lingering roasted finish. Nice one.

Bottled@The Rake, London. Amber colour, mediumsized beige head. Aroma is caramel, spices, some fruity and floral hops as well as some wood. Flavour is caramel, some fruits, floral hops as well as mild spiced notes. Wellbalanced, and probably fits the Christmas foodtable rather well.