Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA (USA) (Bottle)

Draught@SBWF2008 (thanks to Jonas for pointing this one out!). Golden colour, mediumsized beige head. Aroma is hops, fruits, wood and nectar. Flavour is much the same in a very nice balance. Sweet caramel and nectar in flavour. A bit of alcohol too, as well as some rather sweet fruity notes. Pleasant!

Pours a near clear straw color with decent foam white head. Aroma is slightly floral with a hop sweetness. Flavor is weak, but hides the alcohol. A little bit of buttery slickness on the tongue. Not all that impressed.

1pt+ bottle from Weavers Discount Liquors, Elkton, MD...amber pour, white head...aroma is floral with malts, hops, bit of orange citrus...flavor of malts, hops, caramel, apricot...slight bitterness on the swallow.

Pint bottle. I really liked this! Looks and smells liike a good IPA should, with some resin hop aroma. Malt has a shortbread character, with some caramel sweetness. The finish is full of resin and some piney hops bitterness. I liked the malt-hops balance with this one, as well as the flavor complexity. Slightly astringent mouthfeel. Can’t wait to have another.

This is a great IPA. It’s copper-amber with a big, off-white heard slowly shrinking to leave a small permanent top and some lacing. The aroma is citrus (pineapple with some grapefruit, lemon), caramel, toasted bread, hay, grapes, fruit. The tatset is earthy leaves, raisins and grapes, citrus (mostly lemon and grapefruit), caramel, bread cruast, some hay, and a light wine quality. It is nicely sweet with a hoppy bitterness that just dominates and it has a lot of good, full flavour that holds up very well to food. It’s highly drinkable.

Bottle. Pours amber red with a big, orange white head, that is quick to disappear. The head holds some floral aromas, grass, peach, grapefruit in the hops. The taste is sweet, slightly fruity, bready with caramel, grapefruit and a hint of earl grey tea.

Clear coppery gold with frothy white head, scattered lacing. Floral, dry aroma. Citrus blossom, lots of citrus in the nose against a grainy background. Refreshing, spritzy aroma. Soft, very gentle carbonation. Juicy palate. Unique flavors. Very herbal. Citrus blossom, orange pith and peel. Smooth, interesting, and can really imagine how great it would be as a dry-hopped cask-conditioned version!

Single bottle from Three Cellars Milwaukee. Very good, nice hit of hops. Smotth refreshing and enjoyable.