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Waterloo Bottle Conditioned Ale
Freeminer Brewery Ltd.
- From:
- Freeminer Brewery Ltd.
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Bitter
- ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 74
- Avg:
- 2.9 | pDev: 25.17%
- Reviews:
- 17
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 15, 2014
- Added:
- Aug 22, 2005
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by OWSLEY069:
Reviewed by OWSLEY069 from Pennsylvania
3.32/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.32/5 rDev +14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a cloudy orange-ish color with a white head. Aromas are fruity and hints of bananas. In the taste, fruity, with green apple hints and a small bit sour. A smooth fruity mouthfeel, and a dry green apple aftertaste. Malty, smooth, a nice session ale.
Oct 03, 2007More User Ratings:
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington
2.87/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
2.87/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a hazy medium orange amber with a big three finger off-white head with good retention and tons of lacing. Aroma is mild sweet malt with a light cola like spicy sourness. Flavor is light malt, sour with wild yeast notes. Light bodied with less carbonation than I'd expect from the massive head. There seem to be multiple reports of infected bottles, but I don't know if this wild yeast sourness is intended or if this is another infected bottle. Either way, not really very great; too watered down and boring for a wild ale and too sour, dry and not malty enough for a bitter. I wanted to like this, but it's a miss.
Jul 06, 2013Reviewed by Sallerj from Illinois
3.11/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.11/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This beer is dark orange-brown and murky. I pretty much always give beers 4 in appearance. The bottle notes seem to be written by people who don't speak English, which is odd for a beer produced in the UK, imported to Oregon, and sold in Illinois. "The beer has a wide spectrum flavour notes. [sic]"
I wouldn't really say that it has a wide spectrum flavour notes, or "flavor notes" here in the US of A. It has a musky, winey, pruney aroma. It has a slightly tart, toasted sugar, grape, kind of flavor. It has more residual sugar than seems necessary for a 4.5% beer.
Feb 17, 2010I wouldn't really say that it has a wide spectrum flavour notes, or "flavor notes" here in the US of A. It has a musky, winey, pruney aroma. It has a slightly tart, toasted sugar, grape, kind of flavor. It has more residual sugar than seems necessary for a 4.5% beer.
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York
2.71/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.71/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Bottle. Pours a cloudy dirty orange with a thick off-white head. Aroma is sour--infected?? Flavor is also sour with some bland malt in the background. Seems that infection is common in these bottles. Would like to have gotten more of the base beer from this but unfortunately the infection covered it up pretty much completely. Somewhat drinkable, I guess...
Aug 27, 2009Reviewed by BretSikkink from Mexico
3.21/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.21/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Orange brown color, tanned cap looks really nice. Tons of lace that really coats the glass, while the cap sticks for the duration.
Nose is unfortunately both really weak and buried by that head. Mostly dark fruit notes, with a big sour component. Also unfortunate is the abject lack of hops reported by my olfactory sense.
Just a little boring; an English mild that gives no indication of stepping up in the world. Some dark fruit, only hints of bitterness, and a little bit of apple skin make up the flavor.
Working together to pull down the score however is a combination of sourness, high carbonation, and a bone dry finish. These really suck the life out of a brew with not much life to give.
Not a very tasty beer.
Hmm. I just noticed that it's supposed to be a bitter. That's very confusing - I feel like I'm going to disregard that because it's much closer to a mild in terms of malt-hops balance. Weird.
Jun 18, 2009Nose is unfortunately both really weak and buried by that head. Mostly dark fruit notes, with a big sour component. Also unfortunate is the abject lack of hops reported by my olfactory sense.
Just a little boring; an English mild that gives no indication of stepping up in the world. Some dark fruit, only hints of bitterness, and a little bit of apple skin make up the flavor.
Working together to pull down the score however is a combination of sourness, high carbonation, and a bone dry finish. These really suck the life out of a brew with not much life to give.
Not a very tasty beer.
Hmm. I just noticed that it's supposed to be a bitter. That's very confusing - I feel like I'm going to disregard that because it's much closer to a mild in terms of malt-hops balance. Weird.
Reviewed by pmcadamis from Illinois
1.71/5 rDev -41%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
1.71/5 rDev -41%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
A - This foam-beast roiled over my giant glass mug and all over the counter top. I popped this bottle and turned around to replace the bottle opener, and while I looked away the bottle slowly foamed over like a volcano in a high school science project. The beer itself is murky brown with a ridiculously huge head with excellent retention. Lots of pretty lace is smattered about the glass.
S - Buttered toast and marmalade. This smells really English...I mean you could probably define the term "English ale" with this nose. It's malty, toasty, and dirty...not malty, toasty, and clean like an O-Fest. I think English hops are really floral and less pine and citrus oriented than American ales. I prefer the hoppy brews from our great nation, and this isn't all that awesome to be honest.
T - Uh, diacetyls all up in my face. This tastes like rancid butter on stale toast. Not good, not good.
M - Lighter side of medium with an acrid finish.
D - Not good, not good. I was excited about this one. When the English do a cask ale right, it can be an amazing thing...Old Speckled Hen, Bombardier, and Tetley's to name a few. This however, is a flop.
Oct 06, 2008S - Buttered toast and marmalade. This smells really English...I mean you could probably define the term "English ale" with this nose. It's malty, toasty, and dirty...not malty, toasty, and clean like an O-Fest. I think English hops are really floral and less pine and citrus oriented than American ales. I prefer the hoppy brews from our great nation, and this isn't all that awesome to be honest.
T - Uh, diacetyls all up in my face. This tastes like rancid butter on stale toast. Not good, not good.
M - Lighter side of medium with an acrid finish.
D - Not good, not good. I was excited about this one. When the English do a cask ale right, it can be an amazing thing...Old Speckled Hen, Bombardier, and Tetley's to name a few. This however, is a flop.
Reviewed by tempest from New York
1.8/5 rDev -37.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
1.8/5 rDev -37.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1
Oh man, this beer looks great with a slightly hazy body and big off-white head followed by creamy lacing. Unfortunately, this is infected big time. There's a hint of grain and earthy hops in the aroma and flavor, but this tastes like a straight-up lambic. What a shame, I was looking forward to a nice bitter. Alas, twas a drink pour.
Be warned.
Mar 01, 2008Be warned.
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa
2.26/5 rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
2.26/5 rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Rusted orange peel with a chaotic amount of carbonation. The sandstone colored crown had no choice but to fill the entire glass on the initial pour. The shrinking head is styrofoam stiff, rocky and unsticky. Surprisingly, more lace ends up adhering than I'd have guessed.
The nose is both pathetically low on power and too sour for the style. If this is an English bitter, then why don't I smell the hops? For that matter, why did the brewery use American hops? (variety not named). Is is possible that Waterloo tastes drastically different than it smells? Let's just say that I'm skeptical.
I don't know what this beer is supposed to be, but an English bitter it ain't. At least not a good one. There is an underlying bitterness present, but it's hopelessly buried beneath a puckery sourness that paints the flavor profile with the ugly brush. Think unripe peaches, little green apples and lemons.
The flimsy, minimally caramel-like backbone doesn't stand a chance against twin tidal waves of sour and bitter. I can sorta taste what Freeminer was attempting to do. On second thought, that's probably giving both them and me too much credit. This just isn't good beer. Why Rogue is importing it is anyone's guess.
The mouthfeel, amazingly enough, isn't overly bubbled. It looks like the carbonation has a fairly short half-life. With more heft, I might have been tempted to nudge the score up to average. More malt guys. How hard is that?
I've seen both Waterloo and Trafalger IPA, here and there, for the past year or so, but held off buying them due to the ridiculous price tag. In a regrettable moment of weakness last month, I plunked down $5.79 for this bottle. Big mistake. I'll feel better about things if this review keeps even one BA from wasting their hard-earned money like I did. Shame on you Rogue.
Oct 07, 2007The nose is both pathetically low on power and too sour for the style. If this is an English bitter, then why don't I smell the hops? For that matter, why did the brewery use American hops? (variety not named). Is is possible that Waterloo tastes drastically different than it smells? Let's just say that I'm skeptical.
I don't know what this beer is supposed to be, but an English bitter it ain't. At least not a good one. There is an underlying bitterness present, but it's hopelessly buried beneath a puckery sourness that paints the flavor profile with the ugly brush. Think unripe peaches, little green apples and lemons.
The flimsy, minimally caramel-like backbone doesn't stand a chance against twin tidal waves of sour and bitter. I can sorta taste what Freeminer was attempting to do. On second thought, that's probably giving both them and me too much credit. This just isn't good beer. Why Rogue is importing it is anyone's guess.
The mouthfeel, amazingly enough, isn't overly bubbled. It looks like the carbonation has a fairly short half-life. With more heft, I might have been tempted to nudge the score up to average. More malt guys. How hard is that?
I've seen both Waterloo and Trafalger IPA, here and there, for the past year or so, but held off buying them due to the ridiculous price tag. In a regrettable moment of weakness last month, I plunked down $5.79 for this bottle. Big mistake. I'll feel better about things if this review keeps even one BA from wasting their hard-earned money like I did. Shame on you Rogue.
Reviewed by jayfarley3 from Nevada
3.53/5 rDev +21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
poured from a 16.9oz bottle into a pint glass.
A- pours a dark brown amber color with a big fluffy off white head that clings to the side of the glass.
S- the aroma is spicy and slightly malty, it doesnt smell very strong at all.
T- starts off sweet and spicy and ends with a slightly dry bitterness.
M- medium bodied, light carbonation and goes down really smooth.
D- not a bad beer at all, i was hoping it would be a bit more bitter, but worth a try if you ever come across it.
Jul 01, 2007A- pours a dark brown amber color with a big fluffy off white head that clings to the side of the glass.
S- the aroma is spicy and slightly malty, it doesnt smell very strong at all.
T- starts off sweet and spicy and ends with a slightly dry bitterness.
M- medium bodied, light carbonation and goes down really smooth.
D- not a bad beer at all, i was hoping it would be a bit more bitter, but worth a try if you ever come across it.
Reviewed by albern from Massachusetts
3.83/5 rDev +32.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.83/5 rDev +32.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This is beer is a bit of surprise given the low ABV. At 4.5, it has more taste and mouth feel than I imagined. It pours a cloudy copper, with a little bit of orange tinge. Although the bottle does mention live yeast, you won't find any swimming around, so there is some filtration. Having said that, it is naturally carbonated, and the carbonation stays around for awhile. You'll get at least a one inch, if not more, head. It doesn't lace as much as the puffy parts of the head stick to the side of the glass as you go down. The smell is good, not brilliant, but what you would come to expect from a British style ale. The taste is good, lots of different malts going on in here, and there is a hoppy after bite. I can't pin down the taste to anything in particular. It's a little on the dry side, an ever so hint of sweetness, but not overly sweet, the hops are only noticeable on the end, not so much in the nose. I don't think you can go wrong with this one. I would go back to it, but I wouldn't seek it out. L'Chaim
Mar 18, 2007Reviewed by merlin48 from Kentucky
3.78/5 rDev +30.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
3.78/5 rDev +30.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
An odd find at Roof Brother's Liquor store in Paducah, this attractively labeled 16.9 oz bottle pours a hazed amber body with a large and creamy white head. Excellent retention with attractive patch lacing clinging to the pint glass.
Aroma is that of freshly baked biscuits, accented by spicy and floral hops. Label says American hops are used, but the profile is elusive.
Mouthfeel is light medium with a smooth, almost creamy,carbonation.
Taste is biscuity pale malt, slightly sweet caramel, balanced by spicy and earthy hop bitterness. Slightly metallic. Finishes dry and bitter with a white pepper aftertaste.
Tasty and very sessionable.
Oct 20, 2006Aroma is that of freshly baked biscuits, accented by spicy and floral hops. Label says American hops are used, but the profile is elusive.
Mouthfeel is light medium with a smooth, almost creamy,carbonation.
Taste is biscuity pale malt, slightly sweet caramel, balanced by spicy and earthy hop bitterness. Slightly metallic. Finishes dry and bitter with a white pepper aftertaste.
Tasty and very sessionable.
Reviewed by DESTRO from Nevada
2.19/5 rDev -24.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
2.19/5 rDev -24.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
interesting looking bottle. pours out a brownish amber. "brownish amber" dosnt sound very attractive, but either was this beer. decent head. it smelled ok, yeasty and somewhat malty. a little "spicy" as well. taste wise? bland. boring. just not very good. nothing stands out, and while i guess that could suggest balance, it was a let down. medicinal and metallic, sour and just bad. felt solid in the mouth, medium bodied, but that dosnt do much when it dosnt taste very good does it. drinkable? no. this maybe be someones cup of tea (beer) but it isnt mine. tasted spoiled, bad bottle? lets hope so.
Jun 23, 2006Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire
3.38/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a three finger, light cream head that fades to a thin layer leaving some lacing. Cloudy amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Yeasty nose. Starts well balanced between the malts and hops, some yeast. Slight sour finish. Decent English bitter. $5.85 for a 500ml bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.
May 11, 2006Reviewed by RenoZymurgist from Nevada
3.66/5 rDev +26.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.66/5 rDev +26.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured a nice rich amber with an off-white rocky head with amazing stamina. Even when i refilled my glass the original head rose back to the top like whipping cream.Vigorous carbonation also helpsl head retention. The aroma reminds me of Cascade hops with a touch of a mineral water scent.
Sharp piney, earthy bitterness begins the flavor which segues into a distinct high lovibond carmel malt flavor that always reminds me of grapenuts cereal. The bitterness fades and the malt flavors being of a more toasty flavor also fade and this beer finishes very clean.
The carbonation is a bit prickly and it emphasizes the hops a bit more than I would expect from an english bitter. With such great flavor and a clean finish and such a low ABV i think this is definetly a great beer to have a few of at a time.
Apr 06, 2006Sharp piney, earthy bitterness begins the flavor which segues into a distinct high lovibond carmel malt flavor that always reminds me of grapenuts cereal. The bitterness fades and the malt flavors being of a more toasty flavor also fade and this beer finishes very clean.
The carbonation is a bit prickly and it emphasizes the hops a bit more than I would expect from an english bitter. With such great flavor and a clean finish and such a low ABV i think this is definetly a great beer to have a few of at a time.
Reviewed by PorterLambic from Florida
2.19/5 rDev -24.5%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
2.19/5 rDev -24.5%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Pours a nice, dark copper color with a good tan head.
Smell is nearly non-existent, just a slight malt note.
Taste is light malt, an apple cider vinegar tartness/sourness and nothing else to speak of.
Light-medium body with not much aftertaste noticed. I won't be trying this again.
Mar 06, 2006Smell is nearly non-existent, just a slight malt note.
Taste is light malt, an apple cider vinegar tartness/sourness and nothing else to speak of.
Light-medium body with not much aftertaste noticed. I won't be trying this again.
Reviewed by BeerResearcher from Massachusetts
3.33/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.33/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
16.9 oz dark brown bottle. No freshness date.
It pours a dark tannish amber with a medium-sized, lasting off-white head.
The aroma has an odd spiced cider-like smell upfront. A light whiff of a grain bin lingers on.
It even has a mulled cider-like taste to it, which carries over into the mouthfeel on fine champaigny effervescence. Flavors of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg lasts throughout.
The hops have a peppery spiciness with a taste of watery lemonade sneaking in behind.
As it warms the fine bubbles are more subdued. The ale sweetens a bit and the malty characteristics become more noticeable.
This is an oddball brew.
Sep 16, 2005It pours a dark tannish amber with a medium-sized, lasting off-white head.
The aroma has an odd spiced cider-like smell upfront. A light whiff of a grain bin lingers on.
It even has a mulled cider-like taste to it, which carries over into the mouthfeel on fine champaigny effervescence. Flavors of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg lasts throughout.
The hops have a peppery spiciness with a taste of watery lemonade sneaking in behind.
As it warms the fine bubbles are more subdued. The ale sweetens a bit and the malty characteristics become more noticeable.
This is an oddball brew.
Reviewed by Reidrover from Oregon
3.53/5 rDev +21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Comes in a pint bottle purchased at the Rogue Pub, Newport. Apparently Rogue are the soleimporters in America for this and another Freeminer beer called Trafalgar IPA. Very pretty looking amber coloured ale, it is very slightly hazy. Great looking ,well proportion creamy thick off white head. It has an attractive aroma, quite well balanced between the caramel English style malts and the American spicy hops..slight yeast also apparent. mmm..quite an odd taste to this one..its all hoppiness and carbonation as i start the glass..the malts barely noticed..lending to a rather unbalanced fizzy mouthful..but after it heats up the malts appear and lend the much need balance. The finish is rather sweet and mellow. Intrigueing mouthfeel..keeps you coming back to see what else is going to happen. Odd beer it really only shows its excellent flavour if it is at quite warm room temps..but I would probably try it again.
Aug 22, 2005
Waterloo Bottle Conditioned Ale from Freeminer Brewery Ltd.
Beer rating:
74 out of
100 with
20 ratings
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