Landlord - Strong Pale Ale - Timothy Taylor & Co. Limited

doktorhops

Australia

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

The more I drink English Pale Ales the more I become enamoured with their relative simplicity and charm. It is as such that I found Timothy Taylor and his smiling Landlord holding a pewter tankard of what one can only assume to be the fine beverage, and I hope to be as happy as that Landlord soon enough.

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a nonic pint.

A: This one presents itself with a clear amber body and a 1cm off-white head that stands fairly well, don't often see head on an EPA, it's a nice change of pace.

S: Floral hops, reminiscent of Fuggles if I'm not mistaken, abound with a mix of biscuit and caramel malts and an almost bread-like yeast thrown in for good measure.

T: Sweet upfront, slight buttery diacetyl with a chewy caramel malt middle followed by floral hops. Big flavours (as long as you drink it at the temperature prescribed on the back of the bottle) for what is essentially a mid-strength, in Australia anyway, beer. The malts begin to steal the show from the hops as it warms so bear that in mind.

M: Medium bodied with light carbonation, as a good EPA should be.

D: Calling it a "Strong Pale Ale" might garner some negative reaction from boutique beer drinking quarters, however one thing to remember is that compared to most EPA's this is strong in flavour. It's certainly not as subtle as many pull tap ales I've had in the UK, so in that respect "Strong Pale Ale" is befitting of this brew. The only points I would deduct is cost, again there are UK breweries that do decent (if not better) ales at a lower cost, e.g. Harviestoun and Hook Norton are two off the top of my head, otherwise a great EPA here.

Food match: This beer makes me think of the traditional English roast pork with gravy, crackling, Yorkshire pudding, peas and roast vegetables.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 09:30:57 | More by doktorhops

bennetj17

Arizona

4.49/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Medium copper color, good clarity, thin off-white foam. Definitely an English style Pale, the aroma has a good mix of lightly toasted malts and some herbal hop balance.

The flavor is where this beer really shines. Such a rich taste for a lighter alcohol beer. The toasted bread malt gives hints of caramel sweeteness, balanced by a tea-like herbal hop bitterness. The finish definitely has a nice bite and keeps you coming back for more. The beer tastes full, yet clean, and the carbonation is really nice on the palate. I enjoy how that grainy malt character strikes the tongue up front and nicely contrasts the bitter finish to give an overall awesome balance.

Overall this surpassed my expectations. I'm pretty sure this bottle had been on the shelf at least a month or so, and with that it still tastes delicious. A good change-up from the American style Pale Ales I'm used to. Going back to pick up some more of these.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 04:05:14 | More by bennetj17

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.26/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Landlord is an excellent English Pale Ale, satisfying in nearly every way, from appearance to aroma, taste, and feel. The only drawback is its price point, at over $5 per pint in the US. Still, one I'd enjoy from time to time if locally available.

Pours a 1.5cm-tall head of barely off-white foam, made up of very fine bubbles, resulting in a dense mass of froth atop the body of the beer. Retention is excellent, the foam lasting indefinitely throughout the glass. Lacing is also outstanding, with thick washes of residual foam clinging to all sides of the glass, renewed with each sip. Body is a modest copper brown color, lighter at the extremities, mostly transparent (10-20% opacity) with light bringing out a solid orange hue with yellow highlights.

Aroma of cracker-like malts, unleavened bread, light caramel, and fruit-like esters (pear, orange) with a slightly dry, herbal touch of hops.

Taste is of light caramel, cracker and slightly bread-like malts, English hop characters (dried leaves, spices, fruity tobacco, orange peel), black pepper, clean fruit esters. Front of palate finds sweet, cracker and bread-like pale and caramel malts with a slight nod towards the herbal/vegetative British hop character. Mid-palate of cracker-like pale malt, slight caramel sweetness from caramel malt, pleasant herbal and mulch-like hops with enjoyably modest bitterness featuring a peppery component. Back of palate is of complex hop components: a bit of dried leaves, spicy in an herbal and peppery way, fruity tobacco, dried orange peel, and bitterness with a modest hint of the pale and caramel malts in the background. Aftertaste of moderate, but quite noticeable bitterness with a cracker-like pale malts, slight caramel from caramel malt, and orange-like ester.

Beer is medium-light in body, with enough carbonation to immediately foam this up on the palate without any noticeable fizziness, which is kind of amazing. Closes dryly, with modest stickiness remaining on the palate and lips.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 05:54:04 | More by falloutsnow

Robert-Simmonds

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%

06-12-2013 21:56:29 | More by Robert-Simmonds

godzillalad

Ireland

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

06-05-2013 18:45:49 | More by godzillalad

zenithberwyn

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

06-02-2013 04:09:19 | More by zenithberwyn

soju6

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a dark copper color with a small head that fades to spotty lacing.

S: Aroma of citrus , caramel malt with bit of fruit in the background.

T: Taste follows siute with a citrus nip then some caramel sweetness and bit of fruit. Nice bitterness and the finish is quite dry.

M: Medium body, crisp and refreshing. Nicely balanced.

O: Enjoyable beer. it’s nice to have a traditional style beer once in a while. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 03:55:23 | More by soju6

Brenden

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Landlord looks to have strong character and a sturdy bill overall. It's a thick, deeply hazed copper-bronze color. The yellow-tinted head is strong, rising over one finger and staying for the entire session as a heavy 3/4 finger that leaves very good deposits of lacing.
The nose is earthy and nutty with mineral notes and a noble hops presence in more earthiness and a very much herbal and spicy profile.
The taste follows suit in the profile, though it has more strength, and the focus is balance. Being an English style, I have to remember not to expect a beastly-hopped beer, not to mention that it's a pale ale, not an IPA. As such, it succeeds. Toasty and earthy malts mingle well with herbal and earthy/mineral hops bitterness for an extremely sessionable beer. My only issue is the slightly metallic note offers a strange sweetness.
The medium body leans light, and it actually goes smooth rather than relying on being heavily carbonated or bitingly crisp. Crispness is there, of course, but it does lack bite a touch in the beginning; this improves a lot as the session goes on. Just a little bit of chalky dryness comes into the finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 18:23:01 | More by Brenden

nitro0292

New York

4/5  rDev -3.6%

05-25-2013 03:39:11 | More by nitro0292

WesWes

New York

4.16/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

The beer pours a deep golden/amber color with a thick frothy white head that stands tall and lasts. The aroma is good. It has an excellent mix of pale and biscuit malts along with a touch of crystal malt. It's light with a bit of sweetness and plenty of English yeast esters. The taste is good as well. It has a well balanced flavor that boasts of pale and crystal malts. It has a light sweetness that's enhanced with the English ale yeast. It emits a wonderful fruity character. The hop character is well perceived; grassy with a slight floral bouquet. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a real tasty beer; true to style and quite delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 15:53:39 | More by WesWes

TomRB

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

05-11-2013 18:57:19 | More by TomRB

ngeunit1

California

4.11/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Slightly hazy golden-orange with a finger of frothy white head. Fades normal.

S - Sweet caramel and biscuit malts, grapefruit, citrus, and floral hops, English yeast, and a bit of fruity esters.

T - Sweet caramel and biscuit malts, grapefruit, citrus, pine, and floral hops, some bitterness, English yeast, and some fruity esters.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a bready and lightly bitter finish.

D - Great English Pale Ale. Great balance.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 07:14:36 | More by ngeunit1

ElGallo

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -3.6%

04-27-2013 01:42:19 | More by ElGallo

modidia

New York

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%

04-24-2013 02:59:47 | More by modidia

durlta

Iowa

4/5  rDev -3.6%

04-17-2013 02:09:05 | More by durlta

trics90

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -3.6%

04-11-2013 08:58:27 | More by trics90

Hendry

Vermont

4.59/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Apricot colored and slightly murky with yeast, minimal head with decent lacing. Nose is pure British: hops,malt,yeast: no surprise there.

The first sip sent me back 3 decades when Charles Wells Bomardier Ale used to be bottled in 6 packs with an attractive gold foil top: in 1982 $9 was a lot of money for a six pack and was only topped in price by Samuel Smiths that was sold in 4 packs.

Landlord is a distinctly hopped up British Ale that is a very nice example of the style, and makes me think that the watered down Newcastle Winter IPA that was introduced this past year was a cut rate lower case version of this strong pale ale.

The carbonation is lively but not overwhelming and the British malt coats your palate with a sweetness, while the above typical UK pale ale hop content shows up during the swallow. No alcohol detected whatsoever.

Decorated with multiple awards, Landlord is a better representation of a solid British Ale more so than other mass produced UK exports. Respect for the old school style and quality here, good effort and definitely worth a try if you appreciate what Britain has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 05:23:50 | More by Hendry

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.79/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a Fuller's pub pint. The pour is a clear orangy-apricot with one finger of billowy off-white head. On the nose I get some dry oyster crackers, a little must, not much hop aroma, and no diacetyl.

Nice medium body and dry flavor. It's dry without being hoppy (i.e., traditional). Flavors up front are dry and crackery with a well-balanced hop addition at mid-palate contributing a spicy complement. Finish is also dry. Good firm feel and not over-carbonated. Not overly complex or intensely flavored. Simply an appetizing beer that would be a good accompaniment to a sit-down lunch.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 17:06:19 | More by deadonhisfeet

dwren89

Virginia

4.09/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Had this one in England from the bottle, but poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: orange-gold, very little head, disappated quickly, hazy
Aroma: caramel malt, hoppy, strong hop esters,
Taste: very hop forward for an English Pale Ale, subtle malt background with bitter hop punch, caramel taste,
Mouthfeel: prickly carbonation, average finish,

Overall: This is a great English Pale Ale, but actually verges closer to the American style of pale ales because of how hop forward it is. Most English pale ales are more balanced and earthy, but this one definitely has bitter hops shining through more than anything. The slight caramel hints from the malt help to round out the bitter hop punch, making this a tasty brew that falls somewhere between the English and American pale ale style.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 11:47:02 | More by dwren89

vinicole

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -3.6%

03-13-2013 21:10:24 | More by vinicole

diverite

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

03-10-2013 15:06:41 | More by diverite

Seaba

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

03-01-2013 14:21:34 | More by Seaba

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer has a very interesting aroma, with clear notes of caramel and hops. The taste is more hoppy than I was expecting. The light body, highly drinkable, and well-carbonated leaves us with a hoppy aftertaste. The Landlord is certainly a good session beer, though.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 03:28:35 | More by HabiMendes

AnitaBrewski

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -9.6%

02-24-2013 17:13:00 | More by AnitaBrewski

Rn2Ln3Tn4

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -15.7%

02-24-2013 16:28:44 | More by Rn2Ln3Tn4