Young's Special London Ale - Wells & Young's Ltd

Chrily

Norway

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%

01-28-2013 11:05:04 | More by Chrily

tonton

Hong Kong

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

03-29-2013 09:12:12 | More by tonton

BGsWo22

New York

4/5  rDev +0.8%

03-20-2013 22:46:05 | More by BGsWo22

innominat

Ireland

4/5  rDev +0.8%

03-19-2013 14:27:57 | More by innominat

brheuer

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -24.4%

03-17-2013 21:14:32 | More by brheuer

KStark

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

02-09-2013 04:11:04 | More by KStark

matjack85

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%

02-01-2013 06:47:30 | More by matjack85

Bix

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

01-27-2013 14:03:18 | More by Bix

phishbone23

New York

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%

01-23-2013 17:17:07 | More by phishbone23

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.96/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Coppery-bronze with an off-white head, good retention, leaves some lace.

Subtle aroma of fruity esters, British hops and some underlying malt sweetness.

I expected a little more bitterness for balance, but the sweetness from the malt is still pleasant. Some modest fruity esters, with only a hint of hops in the flavour.

Moderate body has a very slight residual sweetness.

Overall it's a nice British brew. Though for something this strong today, I'd expect a little more hops & bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 03:39:27 | More by Derek

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

01-19-2013 08:14:53 | More by KalanM

spycow

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

01-14-2013 04:24:27 | More by spycow

cliff1066

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

12-28-2012 01:41:43 | More by cliff1066

Pecan

California

3.25/5  rDev -18.1%

12-20-2012 17:55:50 | More by Pecan

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle served in an English pint glass.

A: Pours a dark orange to amber color. Clear. Forms a medium bubbled and aired white to yellow color. Many lacing are formed and left in the glass

S: Sweet grains. Toffee and caramel malts. Flowery citrus hops. Bready and fruity Ale yeasts

T: Slightly sweet malts. A bit fruity too. Toffee, caramel malts, grapes, brown bread. A little bit metallic. End is hoppy and bitter. Not extremely, just as a good ESB should be :)

M: Light body. Medium carbonation. Grainy and bitter aftertaste. Great balance

O: Excellent drinkability. Great British ale. Recommended

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 19:50:18 | More by eduardolinhalis

kurgan3

Poland

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

11-05-2012 16:47:18 | More by kurgan3

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

10-22-2012 06:48:03 | More by schopenhauerale

BrazilianAussie

Brazil

4/5  rDev +0.8%

10-19-2012 01:38:23 | More by BrazilianAussie

FLima

Brazil

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

Little foam but good carbonation. Dark brown colour. Herbal hops are predominant in its aroma. As expected, a bitter taste, but also quite refreshing at the same time. Sweetness from malt with some fudge twist. Some citric notes can also be identified.
All in all, a very balanced beer with high drinkability but with lots of taste. Excelent beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 18:50:37 | More by FLima

MrKennedy

Australia

4.13/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle from Vintage Cellars, Wynyard, into a Brooklyn tulip.

Pours an orange light amber colour with a white head of foam that sits at a level just above film on top. Sporadic lacing.

Smells of toasted malt, marmalade, light citrus with some orange. Unmistakeably English.

Tastes on the sweeter side with toffee, light caramel as well as some citrus with light orange. Vibrant.

Sessionable, yet there is a substantial body to it. Quite impressive. I think the citric flavour helps keeps it very drinkable and the solid malt base makes it feel very full bodied.

A classic. Impressed with this and how well it has held up especially given the journey. Was saving this for an English tasting night that didn't get off the ground. Been a good 5 years or more since i've had a glass of this and even better than i remember it to be. Super impressed.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 12:49:00 | More by MrKennedy

cammo84

Australia

4/5  rDev +0.8%

09-15-2012 10:55:08 | More by cammo84

Viceroy

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

09-15-2012 00:08:37 | More by Viceroy

Wantedandlisted

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

08-19-2012 22:54:09 | More by Wantedandlisted

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.8%

08-09-2012 22:11:59 | More by rolltide8425

doktorhops

Australia

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Well, well, Wells & Young's, after being averagely impressed with their Banana Bread Beer it was a long wait between rounds (so to speak) and finally I succumbed to buying the Special London Ale with (topically) an Olympics being held in London right now ("Aussie, Aussie, Osterreich! Oy, Oy, Ja!", or something along those lines).

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a nonic pint (Imperial, of course rebel scum).

A: Looks the part; white head, cloudy amber body.

S: Heavy toasted malt base with a smattering of the classic English hops (Fuggles & Goldings) which give it a fruity and earthy aroma, and a hint of musty yeast. Smells like a classic English pub ale.

T: First of all - read the best served at temperature on the back of the bottle; 10 to 12 degrees Celsius - this makes a difference. English pub ales are best drunk lukewarm, not ice cold, this really brings out the flavours: toasted toffee malt base with a slight grassy hop front note leading to a pine/resinous hop back palate. It's a smooth blend too, which really adds to the drinking experience, I'm almost done yet I really want another.

M: Mid to heavy body with a light carbonation. Heavier than most English pub ales but it is explained by 6.5% ABV.

D: Sold! It's a great old style English pub ale that we have here. Perfect example of the style and very enjoyable. I'll 'ave another.

Food match: The national dish of the United Kingdom; fish & chips... no wait, curry.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 09:38:19 | More by doktorhops