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Waitrose Duchy Organic Old Ruby Ale
Wychwood Brewery Company Ltd
- From:
- Wychwood Brewery Company Ltd
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Pale Ale
Ranked #154 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 78
Ranked #26,803 - Avg:
- 3.4 | pDev: 15%
- Reviews:
- 49
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 03, 2023
- Added:
- Sep 04, 2010
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 10
Formerly Duchy Originals Organic Old Ruby Ale 1905
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SgtStout:
Reviewed by SgtStout from Canada (ON)
2.13/5 rDev -37.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
2.13/5 rDev -37.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Pours a nice red/orange colour, a head of about half a finger which disappeared almost immediately, absolutely no carbonation.
When poured there was a faint aroma of strawberries and some small floral notes, but one in the glass and after the head was completely gone it was hard to really smell anything. Reminded me of the smell of flour, i guess it has a smell but it's not worth noticing.
The taste was along the same lines, there was some very faint hop bitterness and fruity notes but barely perceptible.
Overall not worth the try.
Mar 28, 2011When poured there was a faint aroma of strawberries and some small floral notes, but one in the glass and after the head was completely gone it was hard to really smell anything. Reminded me of the smell of flour, i guess it has a smell but it's not worth noticing.
The taste was along the same lines, there was some very faint hop bitterness and fruity notes but barely perceptible.
Overall not worth the try.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois
3.67/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.67/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a ruby tinged brown color. No head to speak of other than some minimal bubbles. Almost looks flat as its poured.
Aroma is very malty, with some dark fruit notes, a bit of stale white bread and some light brown sugary notes. Overall its odd in that it comes across on the nose more akin to a barleywine than what Id expect from a 5% ale. I am chalking that up to the likely but unverifiable (due to no date on the bottom) age of this bottle.
The taste reminds you quickly that this is a 5% beer as you get watery notes of stale bread, some toffee and caramel notes, lightly toasted malts and bitter earthy hops. The yeast in this comes across a bit spicy on the palate. I mentioned watery and that is how this presents - its flavorful, but the flavors themselves seem watered down to the palate. That being said, its a pretty drinkable and pleasant profile overall - an overly old English pale ale thats taken on some light barleywine character at this point - or perhaps it was meant to go that way. Either way its a surprisingly nice and enjoyable pint.
Feel is light and drinkable. Very light, minimal carbonation - to my tastes its definitely under-carbonated and would benefit from some additional carbonation. Semi-dry finish.
Overall, this was an interesting beer - I enjoyed drinking it and would like to have a chance to get
Jan 13, 2020Aroma is very malty, with some dark fruit notes, a bit of stale white bread and some light brown sugary notes. Overall its odd in that it comes across on the nose more akin to a barleywine than what Id expect from a 5% ale. I am chalking that up to the likely but unverifiable (due to no date on the bottom) age of this bottle.
The taste reminds you quickly that this is a 5% beer as you get watery notes of stale bread, some toffee and caramel notes, lightly toasted malts and bitter earthy hops. The yeast in this comes across a bit spicy on the palate. I mentioned watery and that is how this presents - its flavorful, but the flavors themselves seem watered down to the palate. That being said, its a pretty drinkable and pleasant profile overall - an overly old English pale ale thats taken on some light barleywine character at this point - or perhaps it was meant to go that way. Either way its a surprisingly nice and enjoyable pint.
Feel is light and drinkable. Very light, minimal carbonation - to my tastes its definitely under-carbonated and would benefit from some additional carbonation. Semi-dry finish.
Overall, this was an interesting beer - I enjoyed drinking it and would like to have a chance to get
Reviewed by Spike from England
3.98/5 rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This is the same beer as the ‘Old Ruby Ale 1905’ but you have to search the label to find out. 500ml bottle.
L: Clear, amber, no carbonation visible, two fingers of creamy head, lots of lacing. Looks very appealing.
S: Rich & malty right to the end.
T: A mouthful of sweet malt & caramel. Bitterness is moderate. Some spiced fruit in the finish.
F: Medium body, some chew, no carbonation.
O: A solid, traditional English Bitter with English hops and Plumage Arthur barley. Loads of malt flavours with hops taking a back seat.
Dec 07, 2018L: Clear, amber, no carbonation visible, two fingers of creamy head, lots of lacing. Looks very appealing.
S: Rich & malty right to the end.
T: A mouthful of sweet malt & caramel. Bitterness is moderate. Some spiced fruit in the finish.
F: Medium body, some chew, no carbonation.
O: A solid, traditional English Bitter with English hops and Plumage Arthur barley. Loads of malt flavours with hops taking a back seat.
Reviewed by Offa from California
4.54/5 rDev +33.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.54/5 rDev +33.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Red copper, small pale tan head slowly shrinks to lasting ring & creamy thin top.
Aroma nice tea, wood, toasty barley, caramelly.
Taste wonderful fruity character, juicy, woody lemony, caramelly with nice light sweet-bitter balance, feel is zesty and engaging.
Nov 04, 2018Aroma nice tea, wood, toasty barley, caramelly.
Taste wonderful fruity character, juicy, woody lemony, caramelly with nice light sweet-bitter balance, feel is zesty and engaging.
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
2.28/5 rDev -32.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2
2.28/5 rDev -32.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2
L- Mid chestnut, slight haze, pours with 5mm white head quickly reducing to lacing.
S- Indistinct. I'm congested for sure, sadly I register nothing at all. Hence neutral rating there
T- I usually expect the prominent style/flavour to come through right on the front; that didn't happen here. Slightly dry and hoppy. Nothing much else to report here.
F- a dry/hoppy edge, but also rather thin/watery for 5.0%
O- The lable suggests it is a 'robust blend of hops and malt' but it really isn't; it seems an unusually remote beer to nail down IMHO. Disappointing, and given the '1000 choices' in London I won't bother buying this again.
Aug 06, 2018S- Indistinct. I'm congested for sure, sadly I register nothing at all. Hence neutral rating there
T- I usually expect the prominent style/flavour to come through right on the front; that didn't happen here. Slightly dry and hoppy. Nothing much else to report here.
F- a dry/hoppy edge, but also rather thin/watery for 5.0%
O- The lable suggests it is a 'robust blend of hops and malt' but it really isn't; it seems an unusually remote beer to nail down IMHO. Disappointing, and given the '1000 choices' in London I won't bother buying this again.
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York
3.82/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.82/5 rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours murky, dirty copper (SRM 15-17), with a thin clingy off-white head. Fine lace coats the Cicso fisheye pint glass while modest random carbonation percolates within.
The aroma is malty with caramel, followed by slight grass and straw.
Light bitterness is well balanced against sweetness with an earthy background. The finish is brief, modest and white bread.
A medium to light body with soft texture is accented by light carbonation. There is no presence of alcohol in this beer that finishes moderately dry.
This is one of the better organic beers I have tried. It worked well while winding down in the shade on a perfect summer day.
Jul 19, 2015The aroma is malty with caramel, followed by slight grass and straw.
Light bitterness is well balanced against sweetness with an earthy background. The finish is brief, modest and white bread.
A medium to light body with soft texture is accented by light carbonation. There is no presence of alcohol in this beer that finishes moderately dry.
This is one of the better organic beers I have tried. It worked well while winding down in the shade on a perfect summer day.
Rated by Svingjo from Canada (BC)
3.49/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Nice orangish hue with a sweet malt taste that has well balanced hoppy aftertaste
Dec 23, 2014Reviewed by Maryobeerian from Illinois
2.75/5 rDev -19.1%
2.75/5 rDev -19.1%
I have been a fan of Duchy for years, especially when there was less choice in the American craft market. Was disappointed in this Old Ruby Red. To be fair, this is partly because I don't particularly like the style but I also think the execution is less than inspired.
Lovely amber honey color, no head to speak of and nice mouth feel. Slight bitter in the front which moves to a plum, raisiny center. Mostly, however, it tastes like a fruit nectar that has been diluted by melted ice cubes. Not going to finish the pint.
Sep 24, 2014Lovely amber honey color, no head to speak of and nice mouth feel. Slight bitter in the front which moves to a plum, raisiny center. Mostly, however, it tastes like a fruit nectar that has been diluted by melted ice cubes. Not going to finish the pint.
Waitrose Duchy Organic Old Ruby Ale from Wychwood Brewery Company Ltd
Beer rating:
78 out of
100 with
109 ratings
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