Citra - Oakham Ales / The Brewery Tap

danieelol

Australia

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a filtered, slightly hazed & radioactive yellow. Good head/lacing.

Smell is lots of citrus. Yeasty, lemon rind, lemon jelly. Some golden ale-style malt. Lots of tropcal fruits. Taste is more lemon; lemon jelly crystals.

Mouthfeel is sweet with a satisfying transition to dry and bitter.

Great beer, reminiscent of and readily on par with Little Creatures Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 13:29:53 | More by danieelol

adityashekhar

India

4/5  rDev -0.7%

06-16-2013 15:30:29 | More by adityashekhar

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.29/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Coming in a 500ml slim brown bottle, not bottle-conditioned; BB 15/05/2014, served cool in a straight imperial pint glass. Notes: The beer label describes this beer as a “single variety beer using only Citra hops”; Oakham Ales was “the first UK Brewery to commercially brew with CITRA back in 2009 and such were it’s unique qualities it quickly became a permanent fixture”. This is “A light refreshing beer with pungent grapefruit, lychee and gooseberry aromas leading to a dry, bitter finish”. Also, it has won two Gold in International Beer Challenge 2011 and 2012.

A: pours a super pale golden hue with attenuated carbonation and a thin foamy white head.
S: this is the very first time I would totally agree with what’s printed on a beer label, re. the aroma – upfront comes waves of exotic fruity hops, featuring white grapefruits, unripened lychees, pungent but juicy sweet gooseberries, and green guavas, edged by acidic note as of fresh limes. Malts are in an absolutely secondary place, providing a noticeable layer of sweetness overall.
T: surprisingly smooth yet refreshing, the swallow of gorgeous, juicy mixed-tropical fruits and citruses fill the palates with endless joy in the liquidy hops almost as in a cold soup… The almost… clean hop bitterness develops simultaneously at a parallel level to the hop flavour and aroma, lending just a reasonably dry-ish palate in the very end of each sip. Grapefruit-zest-like undertones are accentuated in the long, zingy finish. Malts? As far as I’m concerned, they’re all melted in the hop juice as well!
M&O: for a Hop Head drinker, this would be definitely one of the most joyful things to happen at the end of a long, hard/boring working day. I wouldn’t so readily compare it with the same brewery multiple award-winning JHB, or other English Golden Ale classics like Dark Star’s Hophead, Rooster’s Yankee, etc. This is a single-varietal hop beer to showcase how much this wonderful new hop variety can deliver on top of very few other complicating/compromising elements. The result is a light-bodied, satisfyingly hoppy, absolutely thirst-quenching, reasonably complex Golden Ale or APA or “Intercontinental blahblahbah”… however one likes to label it. It is just wonderful. And I dare not imagine how long I’d spend in a pub if I bumped into it freshly on cask…!!

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 20:42:52 | More by wl0307

eric5bellies

Australia

3.89/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Drank from my duvel tulip

A - Pours a light cloudy straw colour with a one fingered head that retains well.

S - Heaps of grapefruit and hop

T - Plenty of citrus grapefruit, falls a little flat after the initial hop flavours.

M - Light to medium body with minimal carbonantion, needs more.

O - Just imagine yourself sitting outside an english country pub on a summers night. This beer fits the bill perfectly. Lacks in some areas, but still has plenty on offer.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 09:25:24 | More by eric5bellies

JohnQVD

New York

3.85/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Best-before date: 01 Apr 2014

Pale gold color with a thin head that dissipates quickly leaving a little foam at the top. Smell is lemon and a touch of grass. Taste is lemony and very slightly bitter. Dry finish with a light lingering bitterness. Feel is light with light carbonation. Overall this is pretty good, but I feel like it could stand to be a bit heavier and could use a bit more supporting maltiness.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 16:59:53 | More by JohnQVD

mungus

Australia

4/5  rDev -0.7%

05-08-2013 14:20:14 | More by mungus

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.35/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

500ml bottle: BBD 12 Jun 2013. Poured into a Uk pint sleeve after working all evening at a beer festival and not drinking on 2 May 2013.

Misty golden body with a thin white head.

Citra by name, citrus by nature: grapefruit, lemon without the cheek sucking sourness. I don't normally like this style of beer but this quenched my thirst nicely and it fitted the bill for what I needed at the time. Golden, citrusy flavoured beers have had some crap scores from me over the years, but this one hit the spot.

Refreshing and pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:20:49 | More by BlackHaddock

dwren89

Virginia

3.54/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured this one from the bottle into a pint glass, I was instantly hit with the strong aromas of the Citra hops-- lots of grapefruit and other citrus aroma. Other than that, though, this beer is just average I would say. If you're wondering what the Citra hop tastes/smells like on its own, this beer could be a great educational tool. As for its actualy use though, there are many other ales that utilize the Citra in unison with other hops that work on much deeper and more pleasing levels.

Appearance: hazy, light yellow color, virtually non existent head
Aroma: very pungent aroma, grapefruit overpowering,
Taste: tangy, fruity, grapefruit from the citra hops,
Mouthfeel: light body, tart finish like a grapefruit, medium finish,
Overal: pungent Citra taste, slightly astringent because of the palate drying qualities of the grapefruit. I probably wouldnt buy this again, but it was good to taste the Citra hop on its own.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 10:25:37 | More by dwren89

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.74/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours gold with a fading head.
Nose shows floral, grassy and spicy hops with biscuity malt underneath.
Similar flavours. More biscuity malt and spicy, grassy hops. Refreshing.
Carbonation could be a bit higher.
Very English despite the hop variety.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 02:07:38 | More by CrazyDavros

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.14/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

500 mL bottle, freshness date. Poured a rather small head with less than great retention. Colour is a pale straw gold. Lacing is pretty good.

Smell: pungent citrus hops, grapefruit, tropical fruit sweetness, lychee, bready malt, really juicy. Not a ton of bitterness but really active and rich fruity citrus notes. Some nuttiness and complexity as well.

Taste has a bready maltiness leading to pronounced hop bitterness. Dry grapefruit, really dry. Subtle fruitiness, lemon peel, some almond nuttiness, grapefruit, florals. Finish is chalky dry and quite crisp, lingering bitterness.

Mouthfeel is notably really dry. Light body with moderate carbonation. Quite refreshing, easy to drink.

A nice light IPA, bitterness isn't overplayed and balance is quite solid. Quite a nice complex citrus character. Good flavour and nice characters coming through on the hops, enjoyable and well structured. I think I would prefer more body on it.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 20:26:33 | More by mick303

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

02-25-2013 18:27:54 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

Ciocanelu

Romania

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

02-18-2013 20:19:59 | More by Ciocanelu

mtbdonn

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev -6.9%

02-04-2013 18:30:48 | More by mtbdonn

pelicon

Slovenia

3.75/5  rDev -6.9%

01-23-2013 22:20:48 | More by pelicon

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle bought from The Vineyard, Belfast

Poured a nice pale golden yellow colour. Slightly off white head poured big thick and foamy with a whipped meringue like topping. Sparse carbonation drifts slowly to the surface... lots of sticky lacing...

Aroma - Spicy and slightly tropical fruits (grapefruits, ripe mangoes, kiwi fruit, pear), quite rubbery, some vegetal traces, pine, sea salt, some soapiness, grassy hops, light herbal notes, white pepper...

Taste - Spicy, citrus and grassy hop bitterness, light biscuit malts, light floral notes, good fruitiness (gooseberries, grapefruit, light pineapple,), light honey sweetness, herbal notes, quite perfumed, faint soapy hints...

M&D - Pretty sharp and dry... Light / medium bodied... supremely quaffable..

Overall - An excellent and very sessionable brew... highly recommended..

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 13:51:26 | More by mdagnew

tenesmus

United Kingdom (England)

4.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sourced from B&M Bargains, Baguley.

Pours a pale luminous straw coloured beer, thin white head with limited, ill defined lacing. Homogenous carbonation.

Lovely piney aroma, fair touch of spice undercut with citrus and lychee and a trace of farmyard.

Drinking the beer - initially a sharp bitterness immediately followed by waves of classic citra zesty grapefruit and gooseberry, tropical lychee and papaya flavours dancing over the tongue, some herbacous notes, malt is clean but neutral and very much takes a back seat, the astringent bitterness keeps banging on in. This is a eulogy to the citra hop and as such the minimal malt is well judged, allowing the characteristics of the hop to reign unrestrained.

Mouthfeel is on the thin side, but it is clean and crisp, carbonation is medium and consistent.

Considering this quality is available at B&M Bargains for a mere £1.69, overall this beer deserves plaudits for bringing top notch, affordable and challenging beer to the masses, dont miss out.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 19:42:38 | More by tenesmus

crnipeter

Slovenia

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is quite disappointing due to the poorly formed short-lived loose white head atop of clear pale-golden body .

Aroma is a showcase of fruity Citra hops: grapefruit, pineapple and mango - perhaps many more, with restrained malt background exhibiting faint biscuity character.

Balance is entirely towards the grapefruity hops and accompanying bitterness
lingering into the dry finish.

Body is medium-light but not thin as there is a slight creamy, fluffy sensation
probably imparted by wheat listed among the ingredients.

Overall, a burst of clean juicy bitterness (500 ml, BB 09-15-2013, into tulip).

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 21:38:49 | More by crnipeter

Viceroy

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -0.7%

09-13-2012 19:47:24 | More by Viceroy

StJamesGate

New York

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Burnished gold with loose but sticky froth that cathedrals. Candied lemon peel nose with some must and undertones of melon and fresh country loaf.
Angel food cake malts with some mango, then big pink grapefruit hops hit.
Lemonhedz finish and twisting waves of lingering bitterness. Soft, some chew, light to medium.

Yup, this is how to do Citra. Just enough sweet and fruit to balance and the most intricate bitter leave I've tasted in a long time. Add some wheat for cream in the body and Bob's your uncle.

Incredibly well put together. Stand this next to any Citra beer from the US. Oakham wins again.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 17:14:12 | More by StJamesGate

BBBlood

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

06-13-2012 18:43:22 | More by BBBlood

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy and light golden to yellow colour with a foamy white head that is about half a centimetre tall and stays the same for upwards of a few minutes.

Citrus, some bitter hops and a touch of pine. There is also a well balanced grapefruit aroma that isn’t overly bitter and this is coupled with an orange and lemon citrus smell that is very appealing.

Bitter citrus and grapefruit combination, although this isn’t quite as bitter as I was expecting which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is also a nice fruity flavour to it with some orange and lemon, more citrus and a touch of lime for good measure.

Light medium in body, maybe just a little thinner than I would have like but not really much of a complaint. It is quite bitter and juicy with a smooth, crisp finish and mild carbonation that make for a refreshing beer.

Very enjoyable indeed and not at all what I had been expecting. A great grapefruit bitterness that isn’t too strong and with a nice look and feel to it. The smell was great though.

1001 Beers Blog:
http://abarwithnoname.wordpress.com

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 19:25:50 | More by flyingpig

EmperorBevis

United Kingdom (England)

4.48/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly hazy lemon barley looking body with lazy lopsided big bubbled white head.

Real cutting aroma, real strike of hops, pine and old fashioned.

Dry driving taste real tart fruit tastes hops a real clear and present taste hinting at a sweetness that never appears subtle honey factors all with a tangy zing.

Good solid chewy mouthfeel, lively but fitting carbonation.

Blimey this stuff is good.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 00:12:02 | More by EmperorBevis

JCTetreault

Massachusetts

1/5  rDev -75.2%

01-12-2012 18:09:39 | More by JCTetreault

MishaEriksson

Finland

4/5  rDev -0.7%

12-28-2011 21:23:22 | More by MishaEriksson

gdkersey

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Saw this while shopping around the local Waitrose in Cambridge.

A - slightly hazy, straw golden color. pure white head that quickly fades. solid lacing throughout

S - juicy hops, citrus, grapefruit

T - instant smack of big, hoppy citrus fruit. lemons, grapefruit. a lightly toasted malt balances the hops and smoothes out the beer, not leaving any harsh bitterness.

M - carbonation is spot on for style, not overly malty or astringent from hops

I was very surprised when I found a UK brewery using solely Citra hops. Oakham Ales is one of my favorite UK brewers, and this one does not disappoint. This beer could give top notch US Pale Ales a run for their money. Awesome beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 16:38:36 | More by gdkersey