Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA (USA) (Bottle)

Brewed by Belhaven (Greene King)
Style: American Pale Ale
Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland

from a 500 ml. bottle. Poured a burnished copper color with a nice fluffy white head. Nice lacing down the imperial pint glass. As I expected with a Scot’s ale it had a nice iodine malt flavor. Something some might read as phenolic. Good balance between alcohol warmth, malt sweetness/mouthfeel, and hop bitterness. I distrusted this beer as authentic UK b/c of the cascades, but I have to say the use is judicious. It doesn’t have that US microbrew pine/grapefruit overdone thing. For anyone who sees cascade on the label and thinks it’ll be like 3 Flloyds, forget it. If you want a nice, balanced IPA with a Scot’s twiist...try it.

Bottled. Kinda flat and bland if you are a big hop head (like I am). This is crisp at first and then falls apart. I know i like a good ipa when the burp taste is fantastic, this burped like a flat pancake. Seems I have never had a good bottled Scottish beer. When in Glasgow, I was blown away by how great their beer was, esp. 80 schilling.

This is not a favorite nor will it ever be. Strong butterscotch candy aroma, witha bit of grassy hops, almost on the herbal side. Flavor is extremely bitter, with some biscuity maltiness

The label disturbs me with the whole " 3 centuries of..." crap. The cascade hop has not been around that long so this whole line is a wash. Plus is this the best you could do after 300 years? A nice smelling beer, warm hop spice. Flavor is lost a little with my acid palate but is light on the hops. Slightly dry finish. From a bottle, would it be better on tap? I dont think so.

Twisted Thistle IPA A - Light brown, red and orange hues are there as well. Frothy white head and ample amounts of lacing. S - Buttered malts, earthy, and grassy notes. T - Taste has a nice malty upfront backbone, waves of fresh Cascade and challenger hops. They really don’t come across much, and the bitterness is only slight, yet it balances well however, and taste comes out fine. Lingering light bitter aftertaste, with a semi-dry finish.

There’s a marked yet subtle difference between the fore- and after-taste: the foretaste is lightly (not at all extreme, as the previous reviewer suggests) malty and piquant, with hoppy overtures. The aftertaste transitions into what we all love about IPAs: creative blending of pleasantly bitter hops. I find this particular blend just right for mild moods, where one desires just enough bitterness to remind us of the acetic quality of hops without pushing the envelope. There are moods where I want the envelope pushed, but for lightness, this is a pleasant option. Bottle, 1Pt, .9Fl. Oz.

the only reason i had this beer was because i found a place that sells Stone here (it’s the only place i know of around here). suprisingly enough, it’s at 30th street train station. anyway, i went in for a stone but they were out so the bartender recommended this. i was wholeheartedly disappointed. this beer is not an ipa. it’s maltly as hell. all i needed was some ice cream and i could have had a malted milk shake. blech!!!

Bottle (500ml). Slightly hazy orange with a huge beige foamy lasting head. Very fresh light fruity malt aroma and plenty of floral/perfumy/funky hops - really nice, a great change from the full-on resin/citrus assault of many west coast IPAs. Taste is ... ah, petrol-y, a common Belhaven trait, very funky hop-sour - even the grainy malt seems a tad sour too, but refreshing and no aftertaste. Soft, light mouthfeel, a little acidic, not terribly carbonated - refreshing, a nice change.