Twisted Thistle IPA
Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.

Twisted Thistle IPATwisted Thistle IPA
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From:
Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #3,214
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,954
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 14.17%
Reviews:
442
Ratings:
882
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 10, 2023
Added:
Sep 24, 2005
Wants:
  27
Gots:
  119
No description / notes.
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Ratings by jasonjlewis:
Photo of jasonjlewis
Reviewed by jasonjlewis from Texas

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nice 2 finger head with a good retention that last s for a nice while. Color is orange and clear. The intial head was awesome, but it doesn't stick around as long as I would like (about half way through the glass).

Smell is of buttery and caramel malts. Hops are also there but the malts dominate over the citrusy hops. There is a honey grape undertone as well that adds a little bit to the smell.

Taste has a caramel malt sweetness that provides a nice moderate sweetness. This is balanced by cascade and challenger hops which provide a nice citrusy hoppy bitterness to balance. Again there is a honey grape undertone to the beer which rounds it out.

Mouthfeel is slightly creamy and moderately carbonated. I'd like it to have more carboantion and a little less malt sweetness. However, judging by the style, everything is fairly decent.

This is a good english IPA. I'd like a little more hop bite and a little less malt sweetness. But then again, my preference is for American IPAs over English IPAs. That said, I could session this beer.
Jul 16, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
On tap at The Haven in Boston, MA.

This one pours a clear dark-ish orange, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like bready and caramel malt, some tea-like and grassy hops, and honey.

Like most IPAs made in the UK, it’s well balanced on malt and hop ratios, with a solid malt character, more malt than I typically want in an IPA. It’s caramelly, bready, and spicy, with a light but refreshing bitterness.

This is light bodied and very drinkable, with a nice smooth finish.

This is relatively well done for the style, but I do want a more solid bitterness here.
Apr 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.8 by QuintusHorace from California

Mar 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by jlmontague from Connecticut

Dec 07, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by Robertas from Lithuania

Nov 24, 2022
 
Rated: 3.98 by Curt3 from Ohio

May 21, 2022
Photo of aleigator
Reviewed by aleigator from Germany

2.92/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Yields a clear orange color with a rapidly collapsing, spongy head.

Aromas are of toasted hazelnuts, cakey malts and lighter lime rind.

Got a light and refreshing mouthfeel to it with a well developed effervescence on top.

Tastes of rustic malts, a glimpse of molasses and bakers chocolate, gently entangled into caramel and dried limes. Offers a well nuanced toffee backbone together with maintaining, slightly dry limes and a stony mineral quality. Finishes with more caramel, lingering limes and white bread dough.

Quite boring and heavy on the malts without being able to create an intriguing balance.
Mar 25, 2022
 
Rated: 3.74 by saymike32 from New Jersey

Feb 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.38 by Daneve76 from Australia

Jun 25, 2021
 
Rated: 3.21 by ThinkAgain from Canada (ON)

Dec 19, 2020
Photo of vernardico
Reviewed by vernardico from Mexico

4.43/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is similar beer has similarities with the Belhaven scottish ale. Caramel roasty malts sweetness, but with a stronger presence of hops, but not too hoppy for regular IPAs. Hops also gives a floral smell and fruity notes in the taste.

If you are expecting a good typical American IPA, you might be disapointed. If you like english bitters, or scottish ales with that nutty-toffee notes, this is by any means a nice enjoyable beer.

I like it, i will surely drink it again.
Aug 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.67 by Taenim from Maine

May 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4.16 by bryanzk from Canada (ON)

Mar 05, 2020
 
Rated: 4.12 by BoodahMoogle from Arkansas

Feb 24, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by beaulabauve from Louisiana

Feb 06, 2020
 
Rated: 3.77 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Jan 23, 2020
 
Rated: 3.71 by nullbort from Canada (ON)

Dec 07, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Unknown vintage; drank 3/28/16 @ the Yarchives.

See-through orange/red appearance.

A rough pour yielded a small white head; strong lace.

Grapefruit, raw sugar & caramel notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Grapefruit & caramel flavors; this is an American barleywine, not an American IPA.

I'm hoping this is old??
Nov 11, 2019
 
Rated: 3.18 by TheBigBoy from Pennsylvania

Oct 06, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by craigbelly from Iowa

Sep 09, 2019
Twisted Thistle IPA from Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 882 ratings