Battle Axe - Rudgate Brewery Limited

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.03/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A 500ml bottle with a BB of Dec 2011.

Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. A clear reddish-amber colour with good carbonation. Forms a small head of white foam that lasts for a minute or so before collapsing to a thin surface layer. Aroma of grainy malt with hints of wheat, yeast, caramel and stewed hops.

Tastes of lightly roasted malt with a dry, bitter finish. Notes of earthy yeast, roasted malt, a hint of caramel and leafy stewed hops. A lingering bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is tingly and astringent - dries the palate. Body is decent. Aftertaste of bitter stewed hops.

An OK bitter, but the flavour lacks malt and hop aromas. Very dry. Nothing to go out of your way for.
(I suspect that this bottle has been sitting around for too long - if I get a fresher one I will re-review)

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 03:03:51 | More by jazzyjeff13

revdrjbob

Australia

4.03/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This is, before I go any further, an awesome beer. If there was but a few beers that I was allowed to take with me to a desert island, this'd be one of them. Shared this bottle with Teaser, poured into goblets. I noticed that the bottle mentioned "may contain traces of fish products", which made me laugh. I didn't realise that isinglass was still big in the UK. Best before 05/2006 (just out of date) Batch 1257.
Poured initially with a thick off white head that sank back to faint whispy layer of bubbles. Slighty hazy, possibly a chill haze, dark amber in colour, working well.
Aroma of caramel, big maltyness, slightly musty, earthy Goldings or Fuggles hops. Slight fruityness, a touch of the nutty.
Tasted sweet, malty, slightly chocolately, fruity, very easy bitterness for an ESB, went down so smooth.
Finishes dry and malty, with hints of sweet toffee from the liberal use of crystal malts. Bloody brilliant!

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2006 09:02:13 | More by revdrjbob

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From hand pull at the New Inn in Appletreewick, North Yorkshire.

A: deep, rosy color, clear, great northern head that held nearly the entire glass
S: roasted malt, dry, medium nose
T: good balance but with hoppy British finish, roasted, earthy malt
M: extremely drinkable

Serving type: cask

11-10-2012 04:53:35 | More by wisrarebeer