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

Jason

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Semi-aggressive carbonation that foams quickly when first pouring. Tawny bronze hue with a very faint haze from the yeast, light tan head drops down to a thin lace. Woody aroma with hints of hops and a musty grain showing some faded sugary sweetness. Thick and slick mouth feel, smoothness has to force its way through the viscous body. Juicy fruity and a tad buttery with a thick maltiness which brings a heavy hand of sweetness. Hops are bitter enough to counter the sweetness as well as a spicy alcohol. Ripe fruity flavours throughout. Drying husk toasted grain in the end. An eclectic strong ale that would be better paired with a rich meal than to drink it alone.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2002 18:44:21 | More by Jason

Todd

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Custom 500ml brown bottle. This is Young's Millennium Edition of the style, previously known as their Export Bitter. Best before 4/2001. Bottled conditioned.

Appearance: Pours with some highly active carbonation which induces a great big foamy, off-white, rocky head with great staying power and stick -- probably one of the best heads on a beer. Colour is a bright amber. There's a thin layer of sediment at the bottom, from its being conditioned in the bottle.

Smell: Has a really soft bouquet with notes of fruit, fresh hops and toasty malts with a slight earthy aroma. Lovely perfumy vapors.

Taste: Smooth on the palate, a bit slick. Medium bodied brew with some chewiness to it. Upfront there's a rather tasty malt character of caramel/toffee and toasted malts that mingles with a unique raw hop presence (leafy and oily). Fruit flavours and some citrus adds a lovely twang of bitterness, especially as it gets a boost from a tingly carbonation that refreshes the palate. It's all artfully balanced with the malt. Finishes sweet with some bready flavours (yeast).

Notes: Without a doubt one of the most enjoyable beers that I have ever had. All the makings of a world-class brew. It's balance is perfection, it's taste is liquid bliss. I got this one on sale at Bread & Circus for $2.99. I have to buy some more!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2001 13:01:04 | More by Todd

pin

Australia

2.5/5  rDev -36.9%

05-21-2013 20:47:18 | More by pin

tonton

Hong Kong

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

03-29-2013 09:12:12 | More by tonton

BGsWo22

New York

4/5  rDev +1%

03-20-2013 22:46:05 | More by BGsWo22

innominat

Ireland

4/5  rDev +1%

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

brheuer

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -24.2%

03-17-2013 21:14:32 | More by brheuer

KStark

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

02-09-2013 04:11:04 | More by KStark

matjack85

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%

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

Chrily

Norway

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

01-28-2013 11:05:04 | More by Chrily

Bix

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

01-27-2013 14:03:18 | More by Bix

phishbone23

New York

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

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

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.96/5  rDev 0%
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 +7.3%

01-19-2013 08:14:53 | More by KalanM

spycow

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

01-14-2013 04:24:27 | More by spycow

cliff1066

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

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

Pecan

California

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

12-20-2012 17:55:50 | More by Pecan

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
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 -5.3%

11-05-2012 16:47:18 | More by kurgan3

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

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

BrazilianAussie

Brazil

4/5  rDev +1%

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

FLima

Brazil

4.15/5  rDev +4.8%
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 +4.3%
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 +1%

09-15-2012 10:55:08 | More by cammo84

Viceroy

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

09-15-2012 00:08:37 | More by Viceroy