Hobgoblin - Wychwood Brewery Company Ltd

canadianbarman

Alberta (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

**My 4th review**
This beer was so cool looking on the shelf that I just had to give it a try. I opted for drinking staight out of the bottle for no reason other than the bottle (and label) are interesting.
--My only complaint was that it seemed a bit skunky. I don't know if this was because it was skunky or because that is the ways it is supposed to taste. I am a long time beer drinker but a rookie reviewer, and am not sure on this. It was still not bad and, if fresh I am sure I would absolutelly enjoy this beer. Draft would be awesome, or maybe even in a non clear bottle. I would definetally give this beer a second chance.
**Thanks for reading**

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2003 21:13:13 | More by canadianbarman

slitherySOB

Ontario (Canada)

2.23/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Asides from the cool, axe weilding label, the only thing going for this beer is the colour and the smell. I got a fresh bottle, so skunkiness was nonexistent as it was for some reviewers. Beautiful, dark amber glow I fell in love with. Aroma was sweet enough to be pleasant, but not so sweet that it smells like a calorie stuffed dessert. That was all I enjoyed from this beer. It tasted bland. I"d give it a lower taste score, but after a few sips, I guzzled it. Then guzzled, it tastes okay, but not enough to save it. Mouthfeel was sticky, chewy and dry. Drinkability? No way will I ever be drinking this beer again. Which sucks. I really wanted to like this beer. Don't know why, but really, I did. Oh well.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2003 10:36:09 | More by slitherySOB

Viking

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark, clear, garnet-colored body, with just a bit of apparent CO2. Not much of a head, and that fades pretty quickly, though a fine lace stays atop the beer nearly until the end. Malty chocolate aroma with spicy, floral hops. Hints of fruit present as well. Rather hoppy flavor - spicy and somewhat fruity - with a smooth malt backing. Chocolate flavor is subdued, but comes through strong in the finish where it blends with a rich fruity flavor. Mouthfeel a bit thin, but somewhat saved by an oily hop finish. Very interesting ale. I'd purchase again if it didn't come in clear bottles.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2003 04:42:45 | More by Viking

guinness33

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pours a dark amber/reddish color. hints of chocolate are immediately apparent in the smell and the taste. coffee flavouring is not so apparent in the smell but is definitely noticeable in the flavour. a very smooth ale. i bought this on a whim as i had a friend who enjoyed it quite a bit and i can now say the same. a good english brown.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2002 15:45:41 | More by guinness33

JISurfer

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hobgoblin lives up to it's name. It's a little known beer that causes a great uproar in your mouth. It has a nice golden brown color to it and has a golden taste. The taste is somewhat remeniscent(sp?) of a chocolate malty flavor mixed with fruit which is deep and strong. It has a good head to it and, ofcourse isn't carbonated and comes off fresh. Give it a try and you'll be suprised.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2002 20:27:13 | More by JISurfer

jtw5877

Ohio

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

Pours a nice brown hue with a white/tan head, possibly a little bit light stuck due to a slight skunkiness in the smell. A good english brown ale, nothing that knocks my socks off. A very cool bottle however.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2002 19:20:52 | More by jtw5877

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Points for a cool label and name. Very pretty dark amber color with a thick beige head. Light skunk aroma buried the malt and caramel that should have been more within reach. Luckily my bottle wasn't lightstruck long enough for the flavor to be affected as well. Even so, the flavor was a little unbalanced on the buttery/malty side. There was a slight nutty and hoppy flavor but not enough in my opinion. This wasn't too bad but I won't be rushing out to get it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2002 07:50:13 | More by Dogbrick

MTMugs

New York

3.35/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Nice color; poured well. The head held nicely. But it wasn't the ale taste that I expected. Not hoppy at all. It was a very hot day and it did hit the spot. But for the price and the availability of other brews...I'd choose something else the next time.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2002 17:08:08 | More by MTMugs

oberon

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Good attention getter label,nice malty/chocalate beginning,with some fruit flavor in the end.Smell was a little musty on mind,but the appearance and taste was real nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2002 08:48:01 | More by oberon

the42ndtourist

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

nice looking bottle anyways.... even if it sometimes gives skunk.
It pours with a 2cm head that dissipates to a persistent thin layer of tan foam. The colour is amazing, a beautiful deep dark coppery red. The taste is smooth, with some bitterness, and also a nice sweet leading edge. Certainly something I would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2002 18:21:22 | More by the42ndtourist

tigerpaws

South Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

LOL as with previous post I have to agree this beer has a very bad scent or should I say smell to it. Not impressed with the color either was very opaque. The taste saved it somewhat, while it didn't have near enough hops for me, my friend said it was very bitter. I will drink this brew agian but won't go out of my way for it...........CHEERS

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2002 09:04:08 | More by tigerpaws

mickeymac

California

3.55/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

As with Wychwood's Fiddler's Elbow, I got a big noseful of skunk, probably because of the clear bottle. It's got a decent sweet malt flavor with a hint of hops. A slight amount of chocolate comes through. It seems a bit thin.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2002 07:28:04 | More by mickeymac

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

2.35/5  rDev -37.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

One of the smellliest beers i've ever had, kind of had a rotten smell, which didn't really make me want to drink, but to my surprise, it was OK, quite malty, and bitter hop finish, just a bit strange. Oh yeah, lose the clear bottles.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2002 16:14:26 | More by rastaman

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a reddish-brown color, with a solid tan head. On the nose there are aromas slight hops and a pinch of chocolate could be detected after reading the description on the back label. On the palate hops, nutty, slight caramel, and rounds out with some fruitiness. Mouth feel is smooth. Overall good stuff, but a bit high in price.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2002 14:23:16 | More by WilliamPhilaPa

John

New York

4.03/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16.9oz. bottle. Rich ruby colored brew...impressive appearance. Nice bubbly cascading effect when poured. Lumpy head reduces to a persistent layer of tan foam. Sweet wort, caramel and hoppy aroma. Slick and full on the palate. Chocolate malt is evident as well as molasses with an orangey hoppy flavor in the finish. I'd love to try this cask conditioned.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2002 07:06:44 | More by John

Jason

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 16.9 oz clear English looking bottle with no freshness date to be found.

Appearance: Deep reddish copper with a patchy spidering light tan lace that holds its own.

Smell: Chocolate and coffee with hints of malt sweetness and a buttery nose from the yeast.

Taste: Close to being silky smooth with a nice fullish body. Malt sweetness is dominant in the front though soon lets in some vague nutty and chocolaty flavours with a slightly subdued hop bitterness. More chocolate flavours become noticable as well as a light buttery yeasty finish.

Notes: A tasty rounded and full bodied brown ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2002 12:36:04 | More by Jason

Reverand

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First off love the label and bottle design! Wychwood certainly has some colorful labels. Hobgoblin has great deep brown color with very little head. Taste was really good most dark beers taste heavy but not this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2002 05:04:25 | More by Reverand

inebrius

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Murky, dark amber with a slight lace. Initially fruity nose gets lost in a sea of malts. Toasted hazelnut malt body finishes with a hint of hop and fruity-ester. Creamy-mellow form makes this Brown a drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2002 19:30:54 | More by inebrius

AaronRed

New York

4.28/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A really nice, malty brown ale. A slightly buttery flavor, combined with a smooth chocolate taste, made this beer very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2002 21:23:06 | More by AaronRed