X Ale, 22nd November 1838
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

X Ale, 22nd November 1838X Ale, 22nd November 1838
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
English Strong Ale
ABV:
7.4%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 9.87%
Reviews:
41
Ratings:
83
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 17, 2015
Added:
Mar 17, 2012
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  5
So, these are our new historical beer releases: two beers from the same brewery, brewed under the same brand name, 107 years apart. X Ale, 22nd November 1838, and X Ale, 22nd February 1945. These beers were from Barclay Perkins brewery in London (now long closed). They were brewed & sold as the same beer over these 107 years, but the recipe and process changed dramatically. The beer changed from a golden, 7.4%, extremely hopped ale in 1838 into a 2.8% dark grainy beer in 1945. Probably a lot of factors came into play: wars, hop shortages, grain pricing, rationing, taxation, patriotism, the motorcar, the industrial revolution… I’m guessing these all played a role in the weakening and darkening of this beer. Interestingly, since 1945, Mild ale in Britain hasn’t changed so much: it’s still dark, and one of the weakest beers produced.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jlindros:
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Wow, much brighter and lighter colored than the 1945 version, this one pours a light fluffy 1/2 finger head that fades semi slowly with nice lacing, similar to the other, but the color of this is an opaque golden with a hint of a yellow-orange.

Nose is fairly light, much lighter than the 1945 as well, but completely different. This brings some light aromatic fruity hops, bit grassy as well, very light toasty golden malts, mostly missing on the nose.

Taste is bigger, almost golden Belgiany flavored actually... starting with the malts, the malts seem more complex than just 100% pale, and it has an interesting body feel. Some fruity flavors come through, most likely from the yeast, with a light estery flavor. then hops, decent bitterness with some grassy floral hops, and slight earthy flavors. The hops also seem to get slightly fruity, and eventually slightly herbal, but also surprised to see that just Kent hops. The bitterness builds to a big decent bitterness towards the finish, and lingers well past the finish. It dries a bit on the finish as well, with some light lingering malt and fruity yeast flavors, but mostly grassy earthy hop flavors. the booze is there, definitely gives you a warming and slight boozy kick.

Mouth is fuller bodied, almost abrasive gritty like, with a decent warmth of booze that almost starts to tingle, and decent carb.

Overall not bad, a much bigger and completely different beer from the 1945, bolder, hoppier, stronger, etc, but I think I prefer the complexity of the overall beer in the 1945. Interesting how much it changed, almost as if going down by so much in grains, alcohol, hops, etc should have made the beer worse, but at the same time they learned how to do more with less. This being a fairly simple recipe makes it a bit too bland overall IMHO, but still a fairly tasty beer.
Mar 18, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.69 by SABERG from Massachusetts

Apr 17, 2015
Photo of laituegonflable
Reviewed by laituegonflable from Australia

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a pale orange colour. HEad is off-white, decent when poured but now a thin crown of large bubbles. Decent pattern of lace left behind. Looks OK.

Smells sweet, but with a tangy edge. Rather citric like raw batter for an orange cake. Caramel, vanilla and orange peel, the latter all on the back, with mild bitterness and slight phenolic edge. Bit too subdued; what's there is quite nice and I'd like more prominence.

Taste is more bitter and hoppy. Mild battery malt on the front that develops a prolonged depth of hoppy bitterness: citric and slightly leafy with notes of earl grey tea, marmalade and a slight grassy edge at the back. Maybe a touch too much bitterness, especially on the back. Potential to be tangy and fresh and it sinks a bit at the end. Otherwise, quite nice.

Thinnish, but a decent foaminess. Fairly warm, stripping texture at the back.

Not bad, but methinks it could have been a lot better.
Aug 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by DGSchmitt from New York

May 18, 2014
Photo of DrJay
Reviewed by DrJay from Texas

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bright yellow/gold with the faintest of haze, fluffy white cap with sticky lacing. Pale malt and toasted marshmallow aroma, earthy hops, biscuit, and slight fruitiness. Moderate bitterness up front that really lingered in the finish and gave off an herbal character. Pale malt sweetness, sugar, light alcohol, a bit earthy. Medium to full bodied with creamy carbonation and mild warmth. Quite enjoyable. Not a lot of complexity, but well crafted.
Dec 24, 2013
Photo of wisrarebeer
Reviewed by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Brewed 13 Feb 2012. The style on Beer Advocate is incorrect -- this is an English mild not an English strong ale.

After reading Martyn Cornell's 'Beer - The Story of the Pint' I was excited to try the newer version of this style. Thanks to Dann and Ron for resurrecting it!!

A: clear, straw colored with nice thin laced but creamy head
S: medium nose, some fruit and malt with a hint of EtOH
T: Wow!, well made, held up to nearly 18 months in the bottle, vinous, grainy with pronounced hop bitter finish
M: thirst quenching, nice mouthfeel, creamy
Aug 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by drewone from California

Jul 09, 2013
Photo of RickS95
Reviewed by RickS95 from Indiana

3.71/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Doesn't look anything like I expected and not sure it fits the style, but it's still a nice looking beer. It looks like a cross between a wit and a pale ale. Pours a milky golden grapefruit color. Very hazy. The head is non-descript, fleeting and doesn't have much retention.

The smell is a combination of malted grains, Royal hops, with a lemony honey splash. When swirled, it releases a Sprite like waft.

The taste is strong. Very aggressive, but good. Bold flavors of grains and hops, with alcohol hitting in the swallow.

I think the mouthfeel could grow on me. I've had stronger, more bitter beers, but this was one of the boldest, most aggressive feeling beers. Full bodied. There's a citrusy sweetness before the hoppy bitterness shows. There's more bitter and some heat from the alcohol in the finish.

I'm not very familiar with the style or the brewer, but this old school beer is exactly what I expected English beers from two centuries ago to taste like. The look with throw you, but the taste is what you'd imagine. In between a drinker and a sipper, it's a good manly beer.
Jun 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by HattedClassic from Virginia

Jun 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Nachos4two from Illinois

Jun 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by FishHeadCukie from New Hampshire

May 08, 2013
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.81/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy honey color topped by a very impressive head; nice retention and some streaky lacing is left behind

Smell: Nougat and buttered popcorn, with hints of fruit

Taste: Rather malt forward, with an unusual blend of vanilla, nougat, buttered popcorn, pear, strawberry and apple; in the middle, the earthy hops build and the lingering bitterness extends into the aftertaste but the sweeter malts hold their own through the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Certainly an interesting historical anachronism but it makes me glad that I am a beer drinker in the 21st and not the 19th century as I am not a fan of diacetyl
May 04, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by becorwin86 from Massachusetts

May 02, 2013
Photo of TheFightingMongooses
Reviewed by TheFightingMongooses from New Jersey

3.77/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 22oz bomber into a pint glass. Brewed on Feb 13th, 2012...not sure if this is the bottling date or what.

Appearance - Light amber with a hazy orange glow, though I'm pretty sure it's filtered. Healthy bone-white head with lots and lots of lacing, carbonation is medium-low.

Aroma - Mild fruity hops, slight peach aroma. Malts bring to mind dark baked bread. Earthy and very nice.

Taste - Fruity hops and sweet malts combine to create a black licorice flavor. A tea-like herbal aspect is present throughout.

Mouthfeel - The mouth has an almost tannic fullness. Soft and full bodied, the mouthfeel works perfectly for this beer.

Overall - Straightforward, full of flavor, and easy to drink. This is just an all around good beer.
Apr 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by beertardis from Rhode Island

Mar 17, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by weonfire from Illinois

Jan 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by PEIhop from Massachusetts

Dec 15, 2012
 
Rated: 2.75 by Devi0us from California

Dec 12, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by mattparsons from New Hampshire

Nov 21, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by dunix from Vermont

Oct 29, 2012
X Ale, 22nd November 1838 from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 83 ratings