Whirlygig Ale
Wychwood Brewery Company Ltd

BB date: 10/08/06.

A: pours into a goblet an amber hue with nice caramel hint; a thin white head dissipating fast, against low-carbonated body.
S: caramel, peach-like fruitiness, and flowery hop scent mixed of elderflower, peach blossom and a touch of honey (maybe), against the backbone of mildly sweet maltiness--refreshingly fragrant and heart-lifting.
T: very flowery and fruity upfront, gradually introducing a deeper, juicy flavour of caramel- or dark-malts; the fruity hoppyness stays in the mouth, awaiting the intensifying floral bitterness catching up. The finishing touch is slightly dryish and tangy, with a touch of crushed citrus seeds, leaving good amount of hoppyness and mild bitterness lingering down the throat.
M: pretty smooth, apart from the nicely-tuned tangy touch consistently on the palate. The body is a bit too light for me, though, but goes quite well with the equally light-medium flavour.
D: a refreshing and "clean" beer for me, but not so much my cup of tea as the profile sits rather awkwardly in between several different styles whereas being a lot lighter than most. Nice for a try.

Appearance: ruby brown, great clarity, medium layer of spongey off-white foam, OK head retention, lace

Aroma: big bouquet of malt, strawberries, and floral hops; touch of wood, caramel, and almonds

Flavor: gentle malt sweetness evenly balanced by a somewhat evergreen hop flavor and following citrus-rind bitterness, caramel, finishes dryish with a lingering bitterness and residual maltiness

Mouthfeel: medium body, pert carbonation, soft texture, slight astringency

Other comments: I'd gotten pretty down on this brewery after the last several beers I've tried, but this one brings back a little of their clout. It's a good beer, strangely sitting halfway between a typical American pale ale and the more malty/less hoppy English bitter.