Swallow Ale
Nethergate Brewery Co. Ltd.

Tasted this beer at the Black Bull pub in East End London yesterday after a pint of Augustinian by the same brewery. In contrast to the previous beer, this one is served at perfect temp. and fully brings out the goodies of this bitter.

A: almost dark golden to very light amber hue, with a thin layer of tiny bubbles and very very low carbonation, which I could detect only by literally attaching my face to the pint glass~~
S: dryish smell of hops with tangy fruit like lime-peel—a balanced nose with a mineral touch of unoaked Savignon Blanc! Distinctive smell.
T: a lightly sweet maltiness and refreshingly floral+zesty hop flavour come in first, becoming dryish bitter at the back; slightly tangy in the aftertaste but not over the top, a clean, lingering finish of basically hop flavour.
M: it’s one of those bitters comprising both lively hoppyness and softness so beautifully… a well-balanced, delicate English pale ale this is.
D: like a less malty and more hoppy version of Augustinian, yet it’s much more thirst-quenching and enjoyable especially in a very warm summer afternoon!