Williams Joker - Williams Brothers Brewing Company

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from 500ml bottle into a magners glass

the beer pours a golden wheat color, with a nice white head. the appearance is almost perfect for the style

the smell has very little hops in it, and actually has a lot of yeast smell to it.

the taste is similar to the smell, there is a light malt backbone along with some yeasty flavor and a little bitterness from the hops that wew not present in the nose.

the mouthfeel on this beer is light with good carbonation and its fairly drinkable

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 21:55:36 | More by rowingbrewer

JamesS

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev +26.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Picked up from Indy's Parti-Pak store.

Poured a wonderful mid-deep copper color with great head and very nice lacing. Excellent deep malty aroma with excellent Earthy and jerky hop aromas. Very nice flavor, a simple and deep malt backing with a wonderful Earthy and floral hop finish that lasts on the tongue. It went down wonderfully smooth. An excellent English IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 16:33:52 | More by JamesS

oberon

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an imperial nonic a dull light to medium golden with a thin really quick to fade white head,UK yeasty aromas like that of green apple,and biscuit malt dominate,a little leafy hop shows thru as well.For the style its pretty nice,this would never cut as an American IPA,but an English one yes,leafy with some of the slight green apple-like tartness,a firm sweetish malt base holds thru the finish.An easy going beer,quaffable and not in your face.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 21:20:55 | More by oberon

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Green labelled (unlike the picture on BA), 500ml bottle, best before Feb 2011, drank and reviewed in Jan 2011. Poured into an Abbot Ale glass tankard.

Pale amber, tangerine orange in colour, good white head on top, which left behind some good lacing.

Floral hoppy aroma, some semi-sour citrusy notes as well (pink grapefruit and lemons?).

The taste is citrus fruit bitter, with a drying hop aftertaste. No malt content found in the flavour or smell.

Almost too well carbonated, slightly fizzy if a large mouthful is taken, less so in smaller sips.

Easy to drink and a fine example of a British IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2011 16:47:00 | More by BlackHaddock

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500 ml bottle, best before July 2011. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours a slightly hazy dark gold color with a half inch off-white head. Head retention is OK, with a good amount of lacing left on the glass. Aroma is bready malt, and some citrusy hops and butterscotch. Taste is citrusy hops, grainy malt, and a bit of grassy hops and spice. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's a bit slick with moderate carbonation. Drinkability is decent, it's not hard to drink at all. It's not a bad overall brew, I'll have to try this one again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2010 01:34:00 | More by bluejacket74

jneiswender

Massachusetts

2.17/5  rDev -39.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured out of a large bottle into a tasting glass. Served cool.

A-light, gold body, white head.

S-smoky with a slightly corn smell. No perceived hop smell.

T-strong peat flavor throughout and floral.

M-light.

D-No. I would avoid this. Too many off putting flavors.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2010 02:43:14 | More by jneiswender

Dentist666

Russian Federation

4.1/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nowadays available green-labelled.
Slightly orange golden in color, not crystal, but turbid a bit, with good off-white head. Fine considerable laces.
Hop, somewhat grassy, aroma with tones of raisins & citrus, rather spicy. Good stimulus for salivation.
Taste - classical British IPA - crisp, reasonably bitter, decent resiny.
Very drinkable and well-balanced.
I was fully delighted

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 11:49:43 | More by Dentist666

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I have heard good things about this. Thought someone was having a laugh. Surprisingly it isn't easy as to find here as you'd expect.

Initially unspectacular in the glass. Golden and clear to the eye with some reasonable frothy head but no beading.

Taste was a real surprise. Patience revealed it to be not at all angry but having a focused, spiky and peppery bitterness with an intensity of its own which seemed longer and stronger than the 5% alc on the label. Lovely marmalade and gingerish quality on the tongue. Subtle yet also demanding. A real grower.

Really really enjoyed this. One of the better British bottled IPAs out there. Laugh it up.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 17:17:03 | More by Zimbo

Tone

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, gold color. 1/2 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of citrus hops, sweet malt, slight yeast, slight alcohol, and dark citrus. Fits the style of an English IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of citrus hops, slight yeast, slight citrus, sweet malt, and a hint of earthy malt. Overall, good appearance, aroma, body, and blend.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 14:08:34 | More by Tone

Billolick

New York

3.83/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Mid sized bottle, has best before dating on the rear label. Purchased at Yorktown Beer and Soda, Yorktown, NY. Pours hazed and dull golden, near white head, ample blobs and squiggles of lacing left on the glass.

Soft and mild grassy and resiny hop nose.

Easy drinking British Ale, Scotland truly is not know for its hops nor hoppy beer and this one doesn't go against the conventional. Malty yes, hoppy not really. IPA? Barely...tastes more like Brit style pale to me.

Fruity, balanced and quite drinkable stuff, worth a try if you see it in your local, surprised to find it in one of mine.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 22:15:19 | More by Billolick

Mosstrooper

California

4.58/5  rDev +27.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 500mL bottle into 16oz Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass.

Appearance: Golden color with a slight orange hue and a medium-sized white head that dissipates slowly and leaves behind a fairly thick ring of lace.

Smell: Intense earthy and woody hops, backed up by some buttery aromas.

Taste: Begins with a piney, citrusy hoppy flavor, finishing with buttery sweetness rounding out to a balanced bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with light carbonation and a slightly dry finish.

Drinkability: On BA, this is listed as an English Pale Ale- probably a misnomer as the label on my beer says "Joker I.P.A." and the back label explains what an IPA is. Also, the flavor of this is much more indicitive of an IPA than an English Pale Ale. Overall, though, this is a very good beer and one I would love to have again- and a very good beer in its style- whatever that may be. This brew is hoppy enough to satisfy hop cravings, but balanced enough and low enough in ABV to be good for either sessioning or for beginners uninitiated in hop flavors. A very balanced, yet tasty, IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 20:44:35 | More by Mosstrooper

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a clear gold color with a white head. The aroma is a mix of hops with some citrus and grass notes. The flavor is grassy hops with some lighter malts. The beer is fairly bitter. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 02:46:54 | More by Mora2000

OlRasputin989

Arkansas

3.68/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Poured into pint glass...

A: bottle is quite a bit different from the pic. pours a straw gold color with good clarity and a white 1 finger head.

S: lightly toasted bread and a spicy, lemon/lime citrus peel aroma.

T: again, bready, citrusy right up front with a honeyed maltiness. quickly becomes spicy and herbal. finish is of light fruits: white grapes and green apples, lemon, and again, very spicy and herbal.

M: medium-full bodied, almost too heavy, a zesty carbonation, and a crisp, dry finish.

Overall, a very good english ipa in all aspects. I could definitely go for a six pack of this beer. Worth a try if English IPAs are "Your bag baby, yeaa!"

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 02:52:55 | More by OlRasputin989

BeerShirts

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Light Amber in color, light-Medium Carbonation, Thick white head that drops fast to a thin layer that lasted through the rest of the beer

S- A light citrus from the hops

T- Light citrus taste with a hint of Carmel and other spices. after taste is a little bit lemony with a lingering bitterness.

M-Not many bubbles from carbonation, very smooth and light

D- would be a good fishing beer, light and refreshing on a nice summers day on the lake.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 12:50:33 | More by BeerShirts

jgasparine

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served from a FRESH cask at Max's on Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland on 3/30/2010. I highly recommend that this beer is consumed AS FRESH AS POSSIBLE!

A- Poured from the beer engine with a thick mousse-like white head, which was well-retained, and produced some very fine-textured lacing that blanketed the entire inner surface of the glass. The body was a completely opaque hazy yellow color, which showed no visible signs of carbonation.

S- Smelled of crackerlike pale malt, kissed with some zesty mild-citrus hops... high-alpha, but probably a European variety of high-alpha hop... not one of the Big American C-hops. Overall, the nose was simple, but elegant; and surprisingly rich for the low alcohol content.

T- The flavor replicated the nose quite nicely with a clean presentation of crackerlike pale malts and a moderate level of high-alpha hop flavor/bitterness. No substantial yeast ester here. Again, simple but elegant; and fairly rich on the palate given the low ABV.

M- A surprisingly firm body, given the 5% ABV. I would say that it's medium in body overall, with a nice texture to it from unattenuated sugar and suspended yeast. The carbonation was soft and delicate, as expected from a cask.

D- Very, very drinkable. Definitely sessionable. Had it on a cold March night, but I can see this being a fabulous thirst quencher on a hot day as well...

Serving type: cask

03-31-2010 11:40:30 | More by jgasparine

tatoodkelt

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My buddy and fellow BA 46and2 scored me a couple of Williams Brothers brews that arent normally available here since he works for the importer. Thanks again Dan!

Consumed 9/12/09- from notes.

Brown 500ml bottle poured into a pint glass.

A- Poured kind of a washed out orange/gold with about a two finger creamy off white head that quickly faded to a thin skim. Faint carbination and lacing.

S- Light sweet fruits, caramel and some spices I cant identify.

T- Very much like the smell with the caramel and spices being more eveident, just a touch dry at the finish. A little grassy flavor that becomes more pronounced as it warms.

M- Light to medium, not too much carbination tingle. Smoother than I expected but still crisp.

D- Very easy drinker, could blow through a few of these sitting on the deck talking with friends. Too bad its not available local.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2009 14:32:49 | More by tatoodkelt

kmacphail

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.98/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

My sister picked me up a bottle of this from the Cave in Glasgow.

The beer poured a light amber colour with a white head that settled to a thin 1mm film. The beer produced a very pleasant aroma, nothing particularly special about the notes individually but they really work well together: hops, citrus fruits, wheat that produces a very fresh fragrence.

The taste is initially dominated by hops with a citrus aftertnote that leaves a crisp, dry taste finish. This also proved it was a beer with a surprisingly medium body, obvious enough that this was not lager.

Overall I was very surprized with this beer, when I saw a light amber, almost golden colour being poured I feared the worst, but this is amongst the best of the light beers I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2008 21:08:01 | More by kmacphail

dedrinker

Kansas

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice light honey color, and the aroma is fruity and mildly spicy. Thin head (cask) and soft carbonation. Flavors are light cracker-like malt and little citrus notes amidst a honey character. Mild hop bitterness, and a smooth creamy mouthfeel glide back down the throat. This is what I would regard as a brilliant English summer beer if our summers were in the low 60's and damp! Great thirst quencher with extra body.

Serving type: cask

05-06-2007 01:39:54 | More by dedrinker

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml bottle from GapWines, Belfast...

Poured a straw yellow colour with light golden tinge. Creamy head poured big, foamy and meringue like then faded slowly to light coating. Faint carbonation drifts to the surface... some light lacing...

Aroma - Light biscuity malts, juicy spicy fruits (pineapples, apricots, some apples), light butterscotch sweetness, some honey notes, vanilla, peppery hops, some grassiness, herbal...

Taste – Light fruitiness (lemons, apples, apricots), sea saltiness, perfumey, herbal, grassy, spicy hops, marzipan/almond notes, some graininess...

Feel - Sharp and dry... light bodied... very very refreshing and drinkable... a decent session beer...

Overall - A good clean crisp pale ale... recommended...

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2007 14:36:56 | More by mdagnew

Reidrover

Oregon

3.53/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

500ml bottle. light amber/orange colour to this beer with a good sized thick off white head. Malty aromas at first then a "tingle" of hops . To me this had a surprisingly creamy malt flavour, some hops and fruits detected in the end however, perfectly balanced. The mouthfeel was on the thin side but not too bad. An east drinking ale,

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2006 16:50:14 | More by Reidrover

haz77

United Kingdom (England)

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a clear light copper with an inch of tight white head. This drops to form a thin layer. Looks to have low-medium carbonation.

S - Citrus, caramel, bread, spice.

T - Bready malts kick off with a perfumed fruity note. Citrus hops take over all the way into the aftertaste with a bit of caramel.

M - Light to medium body and moderate carbonation.

D - Above average, but nothing special. Worth a look.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2006 21:28:49 | More by haz77

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.25/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Purchased at the London branch of Royal Mile Whiskies shop, nr. Tottenham Court Road. Coming in a slim, 500ml brown (German) lager bottle, BB APR 07. Served cool in a straight imperial pint glass.

A: orangey golden, a bit like deeply-infused ooh-long tea; the thick white beer head settles soon into the beer; very gently carbonated.
S: caramellic/lightly toffee-ish creamy malts prevail, backed by richly sweet fruitiness mixed of sweet cherries and orange-flavoured gums... Overall, quite aromatic, but a touch too sweet and off-balance.
T: orange-tea-ish flavour of hops dominate the palate, backed by plenty of lively, bitter-sweet flowery esters and a firm malty backbone; gradually bringing out a faintly grainy, wheatish flavour and a mildly dryish-bitter, citrus-hoppy aftertaste; an orange-candyish touch stays at the back of the palate.
M&D: vis-a-vis its apparently soft body, it's quite lively and fizzy on the palate--actually a bit too fizzy for an English ale; a medium-flavoured and light-bodied blond ale this is. Pretty easy to drink yet not as special as the other beers in the new range of Williams Brothers' products.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2006 18:43:59 | More by wl0307