Wychwood Hobgoblin (Pasteurised)

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

stumbled onto this beer in south carolina on vacation. wonderful full bodied beer. strong flavor. great aroma. just the right amount of bitterness great smooth finish. terrific color. one of the best.

I’ve had a lot of beers... and this is easily one of my favorites... if not my absolute favorite. Depth of caramel, malt, and roast flavors clearly shows that the brewers know just what they’re doing. English hops balance the brew just enough so that the perceived maltiness/sweetness doesn’t get out of hand. People often confuse "mild" with "properly balanced"... many beers these days strive to showcase one ingredient (or a small group of ingredients), and it is much easier for the brewmaster to do so... It takes more thought and skill to consistently brew a beer that is so easy to drink, yet so well weaved that all of the individual ingredients become a whole... As is commonly said about this brew, it’s dangerously drinkable, and you almost forget that it’s a strong ale... I’ve found myself (quite a few times) forgetting that this isn’t a session ale... heh heh. I love it’s deep, almost garnet, hue. The current rating of this ale doesn’t really represent it’s quality... a must for anyone who enjoys a good English ale now and then.

Bottle: dark red brown, clear with small bubbles and pretty big white head that lasts a while and leaves a little lace. The aroma is very dark malty, a bit of toffee, with a floral element, earht, and hints of chocolate and fruit. The taste is full and rich, with a rich malty body, sweetness, slightly earthy, toasty, a faint coffee element, and a perfectly balanced piney hop bite. The finish is smooth, long-lasting, and aromatic. The flavours blend together very well and not much stands out on its own, but the balance and blending are outstanding. The result is delicious and full flavoured, yet exceedingly smooth and drinkable..

the goblins got some serious bite, good chillin beer, pretty nice top

On the basis of the excellence of this beer I’ve been searching for other beers Wychwwod makes, but they’re not readily available in the US. This beer had a beautiful dark color with a light beige head, a fruity nose without being acrid, and a smooth (not actually very bitter at all) nutty taste, with a slightly hoppy but smooth finish. Has flavors of coffee and caramel in with main taste. Highly recommended.

This is my all time favorite beer. Since most people are familiar with Bass I will use it as a comparison: take an average bottle Bass found here in the states, make it maltier, lessen the often too effervescent carbonation found in Bass, and you have Hobgoblin. I buy mine at a Harry’s Farmers market in Atlanta. Comes in single pint bottles for about $3.50 a piece but is WELL worth it. Almost too easy to drink though and you have to watch yourself as it has a higher than average alcohol content.

A very delicious bitter with a lovely creamy head and full flavored body, easy to drink, excellent with a hearty meat and potatos dinner.

Very deep red, Dr. Pepperish-color, thin short-lived head, no lace. Aroma was flowers and herbs nicely cooperating with chocolate, coffee grounds and malt. Hints of esther, cherry, and yeast. Solid well-balanced flavor, with elements of sweet fruit, toasty malt, bread, cherries, caramel and toffee. coffee and cola in the middle and a good wallop of Fuggles and Styrian Goldings hop bitterness. Excellent creamy texture, solid and viscous, without leaving a slimy feeling behind. Unusual, unique bottle. Check out their web site -- it’s better than many and tells the humorous "Legend of Hobgoblin Ale."