O’Hanlon’s Royal Oak

Brewed by O’Hanlon’s
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Exeter, England

Serve in English pint

Robe rousse aux reflets cuivrés surmontée d’une mousse blanche épaisse en dentelle qui persiste. Arômes légers de caramel et de métal. Saveurs de bois, de houblon amérisant, de vanille et de caramel. Aqueuse.

Bottle as Royal Oak Traditional Bitter Cloudy golden amber with ample off white head. Mild floral hop aroma, with a light burnt malt aroma, very light dark chocolate... the unsweetened kind. Flavour has light hop bitters with a little acidic tune. Everything is very mild and subtle. Body is watery.

Originally rated February 2008. Bottle conditioned with a best before date: 03 03 09. They do say to let the sediments settle, and not to shake. I usually like it with this stuff in the brew, but this time, I can say that the beer tasted better before I poured everything out. Now it is very cloudy, with an orange brown colour. The head is pretty decent with some creaminess and a beige colour. Good retention and lacing all-around. At first, I smell the rusty aromas I don’t like in beers, created by whatever hop (once I find, I will never use in my own brews). Then, after breathing, it seems to go away, and the nose becomes milder with some malt, roasted and caramel. Starts on little bitterness, then goes through a touch of coffee to then finish on a nutty aftertaste, which is quite nice. A bit expensive for this one, but worth a try.

16.9oz bottle, best before 5.23.08. The Eldridge Pope Royal Oak was one of the first beers I truly enjoyed during my initial intro to craft beers, so it’s interesting to revisit this. Pours translucent orange amber, topped with a thin tan head. Sweet caramel aroma, with notes of fruit and nuts. Flavor is fairly sweet, with fruit, caramel, hazelnut, earth and mild citrus. Medium bodied and incredibly drinkable. Straightforward, drinkable and very refreshing. #800

Bouteille 500ml, courtoisie de Jean-Marc G. De couleur ambrée rouge et semi-voilée. Nez de houblon terreux et légèrement herbeux, malté de caramel aux notes terreuses et rôties, légèrement fruité (léger de pommes et d’agrumes, traces de cerises), léger de fumée de cigarette et de biscuits ainsi que des notes de noix et boisées (fût de chêne). Moyennement ronde en bouche avec un pétillement bas et une texture crémeuse. Goût moyennement amer de houblon terreux (présent toute la gorgée), légèrement fruité (léger de pommes, notes de cerises, de pêche et d’agrumes) et avec un goût de tabac de cigarette et des notes boisées (traces de fût de chêne) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût un goût malté de caramel légèrement rôti et terreux ainsi qu’un léger goût de biscuits puis en finale, le goût de houblon reprend le dessus en étant plus herbeux et est accompagné d’un léger goût de noix asséchant ainsi que des notes d’alcool très doux. Post-goût moyen et légèrement sec, moyennement amer de houblon terreux et herbeux, avec des notes de fumée de cigarette et de fruits (notes de zest d’agrumes) ainsi que des traces métalliques.

500ml bottle from LCBO. Pours a rich reddy brown with large off-white head. Great retention and lacing. Aroma is sweetish and earthy with a touch of dough. Flavour to match, with even more dough -- a bit like a toasted hot cross bun! Vaguely watery mouthfeel but not enough to detract.

Amber colour w. medium sized off-white head. Very hoppy aroma and taste (citrus and great bitterness). Rounded. Long finish. Great 'traditional bitter'.

Sweet malt hop aroma. Cloudy brown colour with good head and lacing. Bitter malt flavour with sweetness. Smooth palate.