Wychwood Hobgoblin (Pasteurised)

Brewed by Wychwood (Refresh UK - Marstons plc)
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Witney, England

OK - It was Halloween 2007 and I was surviving inside a box - I was Awesome-o from South Park - search on Google then imagine yourself trashed and attempting reviews - drunk, obnoxious, oblivious to anyone else’s feelings, opinions, and knocking most things over in my path. Just a drunk with a cardboard box on his head, drinking beer and spilling just as much. The text that follows was from that night, reviewed out of my box, zero visual connection to the papers that I was attempting to scribble on., smelling and viewing through stretched black panty hose. It all ended up sprawled over both sides of four pieces of loose leaf paper and partially on the kitchen counters as I did not realize that I had written right off the paper (all info lost) and written in nearly incomprehendable scratch which one can only recognize as either a non-natural left handed attempt or of a child who just learned to print. What I can decipher without any editing (aside from spelling) says this: Mediocre cap, nice colour - brown with a hint of red, looks less than average, so-so cap is a little weak. Near brown cap, a bit bubbly. OK pour. I think some malt, I can’t tell because I’m trapped voluntarily inside a cardboard box. Bready, still find some caramel but it lacks any real interest. I’m drunk inside a box. Very malty, dry, touch sour (very little) and watery. The hops are mild. Roast malts are too weak.Decent carbonation, ok malty finish but could use more bitterness. What a disaster. Thanks go to Brad and Nat for letting me and Leah become the most drunk at the party (you fed her that entire bottle of wine and I got nothing out of it when we got home)... was there ever any doubt? I never disappoint. Too bad this beer does.

Beautiful brown-red ale, lightly carbonated with a frothy lively head. Hoppy, mouty smell with caramel, chocolate sweetness and cherries. Maybe even pears. Bitter sour - typical ale, but with the bitterness more watery and refreshing.

Small head & good lacing. Murky look, brown. Light hops & taste of molassas. Medium body, and thin texture. Decent

Can. Pours slightly hazy brown with a 1 finger creamy off white head. Aroma is caramel, buttered white toast, hints of toffee, sweet grain, apple and just a little butterscotch. Flavor is caramel, sweet butter, a hint of smoke, coffee with lots of creamer, sweet apple, a little roast, some earth, over ripe apple, a little citrus and underspiced banana bread. Finish is overripe fruit, apple butter, caramel, a little roast, some earthy hops and apple pie filling, way too sweet for an ESB to me. Palate is medium body, a little slick, a little oily and slightly sticky on the lips with a dry finish. This is a pretty good brew, but I find it to be far too sweet for it’s own good. To me it really doesn’t taste much like an ESB either.

50cl bottle into a pint glass. A clear ruby-brown ale with a small diminishing off-white head. Malty aromas dominate with hints of citrus fruits. The palate is velvety smooth with flavours of caramel roasted malts balanced by those bitter citrussy English hops in the finish. Nicely integrated flavour profile. Medium to full bodied for the style. Recommended.

Bottle. Dark copper with a medium off-white head. Good retention and lacing. Aroma is sweet malt and toasted malt with caramel and english hops. Flavor is toasted malt, caramel, earthy notes and english hops. Medium body.

"Nice looking beer nice dark brown body tall thick creamy cap with great retention the lacing I very roapy. Aroma is full and smooth, sweet malts, slight coffee, some banana, and what I think might be black liquorish this smells yummy. Taste is just as good as the aroma the flavour is very full but with out being overly intense. Malts are rich and toasty tasting, banana and slight alcohol, coffee and marshmallow are all coming through. This is a great brew I have forgotten how good it was.

My fist memory of this beer was due to its’ name. The bold smell and dark colour are exactly what it tastes like, no surprises. Dark roast malts. I can tell there are hops in there somewhere, but they’re hiding under the massive malt assault on your taste buds.