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Youngs Special London Ale

Youngs Special London Ale

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 Percentile 
86
overall
An English Strong Ale brewed by
Wells & Youngs

Bedford, England

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
6263.53/5.03.53/5.06.4%89.6English pint, Trappist glass P  Stats

Commercial Description:
Bottle Conditioned. Occasionally available in the cask.
Production moved from Youngs to Wells & Youngs in 2007.
Ingredients: Maris Otter and Crystal malt; Fuggle and Goldings hops. Dry hopped with Golding and Target hops. Re-pitched with fresh yeast and wort in the bottle.
Young’s Special London Ale is the UK’s No.1 bottle conditioned ale. It is an unpasteurised, living beer, matured in the bottle for a fuller, more complex, multi-dimensional, fresher taste. Without artificial carbonation, the only fizz is the natural effervescence created by fermentation.
“A wonderfully balanced, deep-golden strong bottled ale, brewed from pure malt and a phenomenal amount of hops. A lively, fruity character with suggestions of banana and orange zest.”
CAMRA Champion Bottled Beer of Britain - 1999.

Most RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 dirkules (611), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/103/515/20

Feb 7, 2007  
I can’t believe these beers are retired! Good thing I went to Florida and was able to find them. This strong hop beer is the counterpoint to the typically dry american ales. It’s a malted brew with a wet hop taste and a pleasant caramel finish. Youngs does good again.

 Muggus69 (253), Sydney, Australia
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/513/20
Oct 9, 2008  
Pulled this review out from a while ago... Served at cellar temperature in glass. Woe is me and getting beers with dates. Toffee malt notes dominate the nose, has a sort sharpness to it too which always seems to indicate it’s a bit old. Clear amber body with a washy white head and lacing. Flavour is slightly sweet, toffeeish malt, hints of hop floralness, not much though. Slight bitter dry ending. Not bad but not outstanding.


Parasympatikus (24), , Finland
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/104/515/20
Sep 24, 2008  
Beautiful foggy orange color with a good white head. Nice hoppy fresh aroma. Fruity, hoppy flavor with bitter aftertaste.


 MrAleman (112), guildford, Surrey, England
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/58/20
Sep 5, 2008    Updated: Sep 20, 2008
Having been disappointed with many Youngs beers in the past, this has been a good success, first sip is a mixture of yeast, spices, acid, hops and then the mixture of fruit sets in, this is a strong, powerful and very nice ale. The after taste is also very good. It has a luxurious feel to it and although, its perhaps not a great session ale, its a good one to have sometimes, nice. UPDATE: did not enjoy this so much 2nd time round 500ml bottle. it may have something 2 do with having tried Greene King ipa earlier which was bad.


 madquacker (505), Canberra ACT, Australia
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/57/104/515/20
Aug 25, 2008  
Knew this was good as the floral and citrus came off the nose. Murky colour with not much of a head. Citrus and spice with modest grip. Nice beer.


 Borresteijn (587), Amstelveen, Netherlands
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/516/20
Aug 22, 2008  
50cl Bottle from Cracked Kettle. Cloudy amber beer, white head. Aroma of hops, caramel, malts, sour fruits. Flavour is fruity and very hoppy, a bit spicy. Nice bitterness, bitter finish.



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