Hackney Gold - Redchurch Brewery

haz77

United Kingdom (England)

3.45/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a cloudy chestnut brown with two fingers of tight, firm off-white head. A couple of streamers can be seen. Handsome looking beer.

S - Somewhat subdued, although there a elements of citrus, caramel and cocoa.

T - A citrus note is the initial flavour. Powdery cocoa builds in the middle and become creamy towards the end. It's edged out by slightly grassy/tea-like hops. The finish is lengthy and dry. Pretty solid.

M - A light-medium body with appropriately soft carbonation.

D - A good, if unremarkable beer. I look forward to seeing what else this brewery has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 21:18:41 | More by haz77

StJamesGate

New York

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Plummy amber with piles of sandstone head that’s lumpy and trails. Giant fresh floral-resin hops nose with a touch of caramel underneath.
Toffee crisp biscuit with burnt sugar, then stinging orange rind hops.
Musty apricot compote ending and lingering bitterness. Medium, chewy, some cling.

Nothing gold about this: a straight ahead, hoppy IPA that could use a bit more subtlety and more malts (never thought I’d say that about a UK pale ale.) Not really a reworked bitter, either – IBUs hit way above the ABV. Has that Simcoe swampy fruit thing, so I can see the US ingredients. Just needs a lighter touch and a new name.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 14:54:16 | More by StJamesGate