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Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA (USA) (Bottle)

Percentile
72
overall
Brewed by Belhaven (Greene King)
Style: American Pale Ale

Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
5083.27/5.03.26/5.06.1%69.1Lager glass, Shaker
Commercial Description:
Bottle: Pastuerised.
A refreshing example of an India Pale Ale from the master brewers at Belhaven. The blend of Cascade and Challenger hops combine to produce an abundance of fresh hop aroma that preludes a bitter-dry taste explosion. Crafted from nearly three centuries of brewing heritage at Scotland’s oldest independent brewery, this ale from Belhaven will have your taste buds tingling.
6.1% USA export version. The Europe version is 5.3%.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 bierkoning (6020), La Tropica, Netherlands
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/56/104/513/20
Dec 24, 2006  
Orange color. Grapefruit and earthy hops in the aroma. Earthy hopbitter flavor with grapefruit and red berries. Cascade hops, definitely. Grapefruit also in the long earthy, leathery aftertaste with a dry out effect. Hint of plastic. Well made.


 kenb (1100), Oregon, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/58/103/517/20
Dec 21, 2006  
16 oz bottle from my BA Secret Santa (thanks Lackenhauser). Pours a semi hazy amber with a large white head. Nose is floral citrusy, mostly orange. Taste is the same with a good caramel maltbackbone and LOTS of hops..somewhat biscuity, and even some fruity esters.... Very tastey, lingering bittersweet aftertaste. Thin to Medum body and moderate carbonation. Incredibly balanced. World class English style IPA.


 tiggmtl (4310), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/515/20
Dec 13, 2006  
Grapefruit, floral and herbal hops are quite perfumey in the nose with underlying biscuity malt sweetness. Brilliantly clear golden caramel coloured body is topped by a fine bubbled white head that lasts well and sticks to the sides of the glass. Nice balance between caramel and biscuity malt sweetness, citrus and floral hop flavours, fruity esters and moderate bitterness. While it is certainly understated compared to American examples, this showcases that British brewers do know how to use the hops in a much more subtle and balcnced fashion. Medium body is quite dry with lively carbonation that verges on prickly. Snifter. Cellar temperature. Bottle (BB Dec-07, LCBO, Dec-06). Seems to be mostly North Americans that have rated this one. I wonder if it is primarily brewed for export?


 biznizness (934), Mooresville, North Carolina, USA
2.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/55/103/512/20
Nov 26, 2006  
Not very good, I’m not a fan. Lacked a potent hop punch and was just sort of... blah. Pass on this one.


 beerinmarch (2781), Alabama, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/517/20
Nov 22, 2006  
One of the better english IPAs i’ve tried in a while. This brew has a great malt flavor, kinda earthy, smokey, fruity blend with some woodiness to it. Finish has a grassy and spicy hop character and dry finish.


 Braudog (3752), Dayton, Ohio, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/103/517/20
Nov 19, 2006  
Poured from the bottle with a towering fortress of airy foam over a light orange brew. Nice little woodsy aroma of pine needles. Big smokiness comes out in the first swallow ... wow, this is a perfect fall beer for the fireplace ... outdoorsy ... pine, smoke, and a sweet maltiness. Nice!!


 StompBrockmore (300), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/515/20
Nov 16, 2006  
500ml bottle - pours a very clear gold, with a fluffy white head. Great carbonation. Aroma is fruity hops, and very fresh. This beer goes down really easily, and has a nicely foamy, creamy mouthfeel. The flavour is fantastically balanced, making this ale incredibly drinkable and sessionable, giving some good airtime to the malts but which do not detract from the bitterness of the hops, of which there are quite a lot. As I said, everything is very well balanced here, but the hops still punch through in abundance, with a finish that is mildly bitter and lasting. A quality IPA. Very nice.


 DerWeg (756), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/513/20
Nov 13, 2006  
Holy cow, what a beautifully hopped aroma. The Urquell of IPA. The smell promises so much, and the taste and finish is absolutely elegant. It comes across so fresh and vibrant and has a fullness that is perfect. In a way the Thistle is a paradox - really balanced in the British tradition, but still proudly hoppy next to a lot of quite decent IPA’s from America. DFH60 and GD Titan have nothing on this for quality. Soft classy tang of bitter citrus rind & malt fruits play well together.



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