I received this beer in a 12 oz. can with a large Union Jack on it and a Lion Rampant crest. The label is one of those plastic shrink fit labels popular among smaller breweries that contract out their canning (Holy city brewing does it as well. Maybe their using the same company?). The rim of the can proudly proclaims that it is "Hand crafted in North Carolina". I've never understood what was meant by "hand crafted" when it came to beer. What exactly are you doing by hand in a commercial brewery that would constitute "hand crafting"? Anyway, the side description reads "Known as an Ordinary Bitter in the UK. This iconic beer is far from bitter in taste. The name originated in the 19th century to distinguish it from the sweet ales available at the time. Using some of the finest imported English malts we brewed this ale to have a light malty profile. The sweetness is countered by East Kent Golding hops to give a perfectly balanced, traditional UK ale.". It's 4% ABV according to the can. The breweries web site claims it is a 32 on the IBU (international bitterness units) scale and 18 on the SRM (standard reference method), so not particularly bitter and a light brown color. I'll be using a British pub glass, as is appropriate. Let's pop the top and see how it heads.
Nose from the can is sweet and malty with just a hint of sour and a little apple as well the sent of freshly crushed green wine grapes. Unfortunately I can't just say grape because that does not really convey the exact scent and when I think just grape children's cough syrup comes to mind. The beer explodes into white foam as soon as I pour it, be careful with this one. Color is indeed a light brown. The beer forms extremely small bubbles, hardly visible, but there is an absolute torrent of them rising up from the bottom. Nose from the glass is sour malt with fruitiness. On fist sip, It's not sweet, but it's not really bitter either. It has a slight maltyness to it and a little metallic aftertaste. It's a medium body with slightly above moderate acidity. Think slightly malty tonic water and you pretty much have this beer.
It like, exploded or something
I need to get out more. This whole weekend I haven't left base since returning from Okinawa. In an attempt to get out of my barracks room and go some place other than the gym or the PX I've picked up bowling. I'm still a pretty inconsistent bowler, but I have gotten to the place where I am usually breaking a hundred points. Not good enough to join a team, but good enough to play with other amateurs. I ordered a pair of bowling shoes on Amazon so I don't have to wear the herpes laden clown shoes most bowling alleys rent to you, those should be here in a couple weeks. If I bowl once a week for over a year I'll get my moneys worth out of them by avoiding the rental fee, but I'll likely loose them before that happens. Anyway, thank you Amazon. Man, haven't they become the modern day Sears Roebuck catalog. A world of fantastic products not available in your local area shipped to your home. A modern take on an old idea, but isn't everything when you get right down to it. When was the last time you saw something that was a truly original idea and not just a re-hashed or refined version of something else? There's nothing new under the sun, but there are some unfamiliar concoctions. I suppose that's kind of what this blog is all about.
Final thoughts. It's not designed to be flavorful and mulled over, it's made to have several of them with friends whilst giving you a little buzz without getting you trashed so you can have fun socializing with said friends. It is a purpose made working mans beer and it is pretty forgettable, but that's the Idea isn't it? Good depending on the occasion, not for me though. I like my beer like I like my women; aggressive, eccentric, and intoxicating.
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