 daboskabouter (1469), Fergus, Ontario, Canada
Dec 7, 2006
Deep copper colour with a foamy almond coloured head. Some lace clings to the sides as the head dissipates. The nose is caramelly malt with hints of sweet fruit, apple and some tin. The body is thin with a thorough sweet maltiness and just a touch of bitterness in the middle. Dries off at the finish which comes too quickly.
Stew41 (883), Caulfield, Australia
Sep 14, 2008 Not bad. Looks quite inviting; very clear and almost glowing with a red-brown hue and decent, almost chunky head. Nose show some sweetness, perhaps a touch of sugar (Belgian-like), and maybe a slightly funky wheaty note too. Carbonation levels are a little than expected and get in the way of the flavours to an extent. Not much in the way of sweet malt or fruit, at odds with the aromas, rather some drying pepper and some sugary malts. I drank this at BB so perhaps not in the best condition.
highlandlad (1200), Sydney, Australia
Aug 28, 2008 Once in a blue moon I get a craving for the sort of session ale I drank by the gallon in England, momentarily forget how poor most pasteurised bottled bitters are and squander a ludicrous sum on something like this. For once, the urge has paid off. To be fair, at 4.8%, this would not be considered a session bitter in England. That’s too much punch for a long evening in the boozer. Nevertheless, this is one of the better bottled ESBs that I’ve come across. It’s sweet and a bit sticky with a surprising heat for this sort of abv. John Bull was a coppery brew with an an above-average creamy head that laced and lasted unusually well for a bottled bitter. The aroma was atypical for a bottled English ale, with lots of raisiny fruits and Belgian-style residual sugars. Prunes, caramel malts and some peppery alcohol. Medium-bodied with soft carbonation in the British style. Almost creamy. The crystal malt-driven flavour mix shows sticky burnt sugars and dates, with a long warming finish for a 4.8% abv ale. The alcohol is surprisingly prominent. I suspect this would be sickly in any quantity, but a pint certainly warms the cockles. (Pint bottle from Randwick Village Cellars. BB 31/9/08)
madquacker (505), Canberra ACT, Australia
Aug 23, 2008 Deep red with a solid creamy head. Sweet raisens and a little cloyiness that rolls around quite nicely. Is a lot of it in the bottle!
fonefan (4871), Ulfborg, Denmark
Aug 11, 2008 Bottle 50cl.
Clear dark amber color with a average, frothy, good lancing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is light to moderate malty, roasted, caramel, light hoppy. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a average duration. Body is medium, texture is oily to watery, carbonation is soft. (300508)
sir_Pino (588), Zawiercie / Żywiec, Poland
Jul 30, 2008 No 426
Rated: 01.06.2008
Bottle transaprent (white), 1 pint (568 ml)
Appearance: Pours deep, essential, dark brown with rubby hue, much more essential in colour than ’Morland’s Old Speckled Hen’, body is perfectly clear and seems medium bodied, carbonation of the body is low, head is beige, cappuccino like in colour, frothy in texture, initially small, decreasing to minaimal but still lasting.
Aroma: Herbal - earthy hops, mild woody - nutty touch, toastyness, brown sugar, rather no caramel hints, some kind of smokyness but clean and slightly milky on the other hand, giving some notes of minerality and whipped cream. Definitely towards hoppy profile in terms of English Hops, spices, resin, raisin.
Flavour: Malted barley and gentle sweetness felt initially at front, earthy - spicy - herbal - hoppy retronasal aroma, body feel medium, bready with notes of brown sugar in nose, bitter on palate but not as strongly pronounced in its bitterness as ’John Bull Premium Ale/Bitter Ale. Finish duration is long.
Palate: Body is medium, texture is creamy, carbonation on palate is medium, finish feel is clean, slightly alcoholic, mineral, slightly spicy.
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