Fuller’s Bengal Lancer

Brewed by Fuller’s
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
London, England

Serve in English pint

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Pint at the Parcel Yard at Kings Cross station, London. Golden amber, with a tight white head.Biscuit and tropical fruit in the aroma. Nicely balanced on the tongue, hop bitterness develops as you get down the glass. Mild carbonation, slick mouthfeel. An enjoyable "quencher".

Tap. Pours clear copper with thin, fizzy white head; short retention and minimal lacing. Aroma is sweet fruit, caramel malt, floral hops, and candy sugar. Flavor is balanced malt and hops (medium bitterness) with some fruit esters; semi-sweet finish. Light/medium body, medium carbonation, and low warmth.

Tap at Max’s. Pours clear orange with a medium, fizzy white head, medium retention with good lacing. Aroma is fruity esters, minty and woody hops with biscuit malt. Flavor is malt forward with medium hops and bitterness, fruity esters and a dry finish. Medium to light body, low warmth and medium carbonation.

Before I talk about the Bengal Lancer I must state this is the first beer I’ve reviewed in my new ’Man Cave’. I’ve converted one of my garages into a bar: the first beer to launch it was ’La Chouffe’, a special Red Wine was also broached before this, my first ’Cave’ review. So, to my first of many new reviews. Brown 500ml bottle (bottle conditioned), best before 5 Oct 2012, drank and reviewed on 23 Jan 2011. The version I’ve reviewed is a 5.3% ABV one. Poured into my huge ’Judas’ stemmed tulip glass. A large white, foaming, bubbley head sat on top of a clear body, the colour of which was a bright pale amber, with a terracotta look to it. The aroma was of summer fruits, with a slight hoppy undertone, no malt smells at all. Tasted good, not overly hopped and the malt content didn’t appear too strong either. A pleasant mix of flavours with none overpowering anything else. Sweeter than most IPA’s and certainly not as hoppy as most, but very drinkable. Good carbonisation and well balanced, the alcohol hidden within the flavours. Pity the head died so quickly, otherwise a very good beer. Fuller’s rarely let you down, another fine beer from their stable.

Aroma: Huge citrusy aroma! Very hoppy, extremely appetizing. Some caramel notes that blend very well. Some exotic fruit, too. Mouthfeel: Standard oily and smooth light body. Taste: Very nice balance on a bitter character. Cookies, nuts, honey under a orange peel and grapefruit bitter flavor. Superb! Finish: Long, bitter and peppery. I love it! Overall: Excellent. Not sure if it is better than Fuller’s IPA though.

Aroma is metallic, sort of dusty, some hops come through. Taste is pretty much the same, some creaminess and cardboard. Not into it really.

Not particularly aromatic, but it’s a lovely-looking beer and it has a distinct taste without being overpowering and light enough to be able to enjoy a few.

Tap at The Three Lions in Denver. Clear gold with a medium rocky head. The aroma was kinda biscuity with some light grassy "British" hops. Taste was clean and balanced with some appropriately zesty carbonation. Flavor starts grassy and hoppy, though not too bitter, then turns mildly sweet and malty with some pale grain and toast notes. Very balanced and a superb British IPA, ending just a little hoppy/herbal.

Nice hoppy bitterness, not much of a nose but good flavour profile,looks good in the glass and goes down easy,all in all a nice ale.

500ml bottle. Clear golden color with a nice white head. Leaving nice lacing down the glass. Aromas of fruits (apricots?), mild spices, clean hops and malts. Flavors of sweet malts, a good dose of clean British hops. Smooth and easy to drink. I would like a little more of the hop flavor. All in all a good English IPA.