Harviestoun Haggis Hunters Ale

Bottle at home ... Golden orange ... fruity hop ... musty dry hop ... little biscuity ... little citrus. Doesnt seem that balanced... I wouldnt ruin a good Haggis with this.

[500ml bottle from Sainsbury’s, Reading, Robert Burns Night 2008]. I suspect that this is one of the most popular bottled beers tonight! Being a seasonal special, I didn’t expect too much of it, as it was clearly being marketed on the name and amusing label picture rather than the quality of the beer. A very orange beer, putting me in mind of "Scotland’s Other National Drink", Irn-Bru. In flavour it is diametrically opposite to Irn-Bru though, for there is no hint of sweetness here. I got a hint of floral flavour before huge bitterness kicked in, setting up camp at the back of my tongue & not letting any other flavours through (the bottle claimed biscuit, citrus & fruit were in there somewhere, but I didn’t get any of those). Not a really unpleasant bitterness, just overwhelming. The bottle claimed that it was the ideal beer to go with haggis. I personally can think of many beers that would have better complemented my delicious minced-sheep-lung-and-stomach. However, maybe it’s better to look at it the other way around - haggis is one of the best foods to go with this beer, as few other meals would have an intense enough flavour and enough fat to be tasted above this bitterness! Certainly not a beer I’ll try again.

Cask (handpump) @ Cat, Enville DY7, UK. Clear medium amber orange color with a average, creamy to froty, good lacing, fully lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, some peach / nectar. Flavor is moderate sweet and light bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium to light, texture is oily, carbonation is flat. (130108)

Bottle form Sainsburys. Pale amber with a moderate off-white head. Aroma of floral hops and sweet malt. Flavour was biscuity with peppery hops and a decent bitter finish. Good.

Beautiful malt and floral aroma with slight bubblegum, straw and citrus. Taste is hoppy from start to finish. Very biiter honey with floral bitterness. Very west coast tasting. Very. very drinkable.