West Coast Ale - Robson's, Shongweni Brewery

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.13/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A 340ml green glass bottle with a BB of Oct 2011, so it's rather past it's best. Picked up recently from a bargain boozer for a bargain price - 49p! Bit of a random find. Described on the label as a bottle-conditioned Californian style lager.

Poured into a tulip pint glass. A deep, hazy ruby colour with low carbonation. Forms a small head of frothy off-white foam that hangs around for a minute or so before dispersing. Aroma of mild roasted malt with hints of chocolate, sweet malt, caramel, dried fruit and earthy yeast. A faintly sour, almost wine-like quality lurks in the background.

Tastes of mild dark malt, with a slightly sweet, fruity character and a dry finish. Notes of chocolate, caramel, faint roasted grain, a lactose sweetness (like a milk stout), hints of dried fruit and a whisper of citrus hops. Slightly sour and vinous. Not much bitterness, but a dry yeasty sensation upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and full-bodied, but very flat. Needs more CO2. Mildly astringent. Aftertaste of subtle dark malt and dry yeast.

Hmmmm - not sure what to make of this one. I don't know why the label calls it a Californian lager - to me it's more like an English dark mild. How different can you get? The flavour is subtle and quite complex, but the overall effect is underwhelming. I find the faint tangy sourness off-putting, and the lack of carbonation doesn't improve anything. Perhaps this is just too old, and some of the flavours have faded, or perhaps there's a mild infection (I opened another beer from this brewery, bought at the same time, and it was vinegary and oxidised). At any rate, not an amazing beer, though probably better fresh on it's home turf.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 22:13:25 | More by jazzyjeff13

arcface

United Kingdom (England)

3.63/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

340ml bottle 5.0% abv

appearance - looks very nice, somewhere between red and brown, like a plum juice

smell - smell like a typical ale, fruity

taste - very intense taste, fruity a bit sour. The aftertaste last for a long time and its bitter.

mouthfeel - medium bodied

drinkability - it's a good beer, but i don't know if i would buy it again or not, it leaves an iunanswered question after tasting it.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 20:01:45 | More by arcface

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

550ml bottle 5.0% abv

Appearance: Dark red-brown with bright red highlights when held to the light. Thick cream coloured head (lasted well), leaving good lace.

Smell: Biscuity malt dominates the smell, there are hints of ripe fruit (something like cherries?) and this is backed up by a good spicy hop aroma to finish things off.

Taste: Initially the crystal malt comes through nicely, followed by fruitiness (Similar to the smell), as in the smell the taste finishes with spicy hops, however I would like a slightly longer finish (lasting flavour).

Mouthfeel: Medium body, perfect smooth carbonation.

Drinkability: All good beers (this is a good beer)are rather drinkable, though i find these flavours place this beer lower on my "good-beer" drinkability scale.

I hope i have the style right for this beer. The brewery lists it as a california-style lager and cafifornia common was the closest style i could find. If anyone knows I'm wrong listing it under this style please BM me.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2010 11:11:12 | More by Thehuntmaster

NatalBrewingCo

South Africa

3.73/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

550ml bottle poured into a Stout glass. Purchased October 6th in Durban, RSA.

a - Pours a dark ruby/amber color with a very thin white head. The head dissipated very quickly.

s - Smells of floral notes, roasted malts, yeast.

t - Citrus, floral hops, malted grains, candied sugars, and yeast

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Solid finish.

o - This is the best of the Robson's beers that i've tried and the one that seems to benefit the most from the bottle conditioning. Complex flavor with a lot of character, this beer is certainly worth looking up if you're in South Africa.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 20:23:50 | More by NatalBrewingCo