3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
UPDATED: APR 10, 2008 The hops are back! See previous notes, but I can bump my rating back up because this is now consistently hoppy fruity and delicious.
Newest batch early 2007 not so good - hops have faded, leaving behind the all too generic English based malts dominating the proceedings. Bring back the hops - turn them up not down, especially with a name like this! I’ll average the cores out until I try it again. Original rating: On tap at Volo. Dark orange, small white head. Nice citrus hop aroma - grapefruit - and some sweet malt notes. Nice hop taste - this is an English style session ale, lots of rich caramel and sweet notes with a noticeably American hoppy bite - very similar to the new Headstrong, but even better in my opinion - a little less body but much more hops. Only complaint: because the body is a little thin, it becomes a little too sweet and then unbalanced as it warms. But served chilled, this is a great Ontario beer and a nice effort by Durham. And they should be commended for pushing our conservative little Province wide envelope.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Draught at Volo. Orange-amber colour with a tiny head. Aroma is mild, a bit earthy with a hint of hops. Flavour is quite hoppy to start, overpowering anything else that’s in there, but it settles down nicely after a few sips. Hops are of that pleasant grapefruity variety that I tend to like, and it’s backed up by good malts that are biscuity and a bit earthy/minerally. The brewer describes this as being influenced by the beers of the US Pacific Northwest, and I can see that in the hops, but the rest of the beer fits nicely with the UK style ales that Durham specializes in. All in all, a pleasant, non-pretentious pint.
2.8 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 10/20
Cask Ale Pint enjoyed at the venerable Victory Cafe by Honest Ed’s, Toronto! Darkish coppery robe and nondescript aroma of hoppy-ish something and sweetish malt. Carbonation and fresh feel is somewhat pleasing but the hops are not individually expressive in the taste and the malts don’t tie in well. A somewhat jangly, un-integrated pint. But okay. Work in progress?
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
UPDATED: AUG 12, 2007 Nothing special to look at,golden yellow with bubbles. A whiff of C-hops. Good bitterness, significant hops and malted. Balanced. However, Run-of-the-mill IPA but nicely drinkable. A good effort by a local microbrewery. Served on the too-cold side at Smokeless. Creamier and lacier when had a year later at Victory.
|
