3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
A British Witbier! Whoa! I loved how cloudy and spicy this brew is, but apparently others did not. Until I noticed the label says "Ginger", I’d have guessed that coriander and citrus were at work here. A frothy, foamy head that doesn’t die adds a nice touch, but the spice factor is not for those unfamiliar with witbiers. Be prepared. Almost $7/bottle in NYC!
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
The appearance resembles that of a wheat beer. The beer is very drinkable and smooth owing to its similarity to wheat beer.
2 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 4/20
The Freeminer Brewery only started up in 1992, but - as shown by other reviews on this site - has delivered a range of unusual but outstanding ales that earn praise and awards. This Shakemantle beer is spiced up with a generous helping of ginger - not as outrageous an additive as first appears: there are other beers, Gingersnap and Morocco for example, that use ginger; and ginger was a fairly common additive before hops were used to preserve beer. There is fruit amongst the spice - raspberry and tangerine - and a bit of corriander to add to the spice. An unusual beer and not one that I will be trying again - I might even struggle to finish the one I have!
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 16/20
Unbelievably full nose. Chock full of everything from lemon, lime, orange and spice to a wee bit of malt. Nice light golden orange color with a bit of haze as expected. Flavor is also full of odd flavors that routinely change - citrus fruits, light notes of dark fruits, ginger, malt, sour candies, etc. A fine, brisk carbonation pulls all of this together with its zest. Finishes slightly acidic and drying on the tongue -very refreshing. This is a great summer beer!
3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
This beer isn’t that bad, actually. Vigorous aroma, not that unpleasant (though I couldn’t place it easily and certainly not as ginger) with a flavor that grew on me as it warmed up and the ginger came out more noticeably (it is very subtle when cool). It was rather limp in my mouth, at first, but somewhat contrary to expectation, as it warmed up it got some life in it. I wasn’t expecting the sediment in the bottle and so didn’t pour carefully enough--somewhat crunchy when I got a bit by mistake. I for one liked the appearance--little head, even after a vigorous pour (see yeast comment, above)--but the cloudy deep golden color was attractive in a regional British beer.
0.8 AROMA 2/10 APPEARANCE 1/5 TASTE 1/10 PALATE 1/5 OVERALL 3/20
Bottle information describes it as a full mash ale with Maris Otter barley, Riband wheat malt, hops and added ginger and to be served with a slice of lemon (which I left out). Hazy orange brown colour with floating bits and a wispey 5 second head. Aroma is faint grassy hops and stronger ginger. Medium to soft gingery-spicey start but quickly dies to a watered down flat low-cal dry ginger ale. Thin flat body and very ordinary bitter ginger finish. Normally I like ginger flavours but this was so bad I couldn’t finish half a pint. Probably a reasonable beer until they added the ginger.
(Rated 9/5/02: Llangollen, Wales)
1.3 AROMA 2/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 2/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 3/20
In a word... yuck! Nose reminiscent of plastic. Flavor of sauerkraut juice. Extremely astringent. How the hell did this wind a Gold Medal the 1998 GBBF?
2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
Bottle conditioned. No head and as cloudy as a weissbier but with no clove or banana notes. Fresh ginger on the nose but fairly understated. Sour taste at first that then develops into more of a citric, almost grapefruit taste as you drink. More ginger is apparent in the mouth and aftertaste where it becomes astringent but never overpowering
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
This was my first beer of this kind. It kinda had me confused a little. All I know is it had a deep ginger smell and I thought it was good and different.
2.8 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 4/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
Deep orange coloured. Big ginger smell, light bodied, somewhat acidic. In all a drinkable unusual beer.
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