BOB
Wickwar Brewing Company

Not retired. From draft at a pub in Broadway, UK. From the brewer’s website: Our award winning Classic Amber Ale. 4% ABV. The connoisseur’s session ale. Brewed using locally sourced ingredients and 3 varieties of malt with Challenger and Fuggle hops to produce a well balanced hoppy palate. Our own unique strain of yeast plus our pure Cotswold water completes the story making Bob a rounded moreish ale. A drinker’s favourite.

A 500ml clear glass bottle with a BB of Aug 2017. Picked up recently from B&M. Described on the label as a classic amber ale; apparently named after someone called Bob White.

A: Poured into a tulip pint glass. A clear coppery-amber hue with good carbonation. Yields a large head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a surface layer.

S: Aroma of grainy malt with hints of mild caramel, barley, subtle stewed hops and ale yeast. Perhaps a twinge of sulphur in the background. OK.

T: Tastes of light caramel malt with hints of stewed hops, vague husky grain, ale yeast and faint cooked veg. A moderate, leafy bitterness upon swallowing.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry. Crisp carbonation; body is alright. Aftertaste of bitter stewed hops, ale yeast and mild grainy malt.

O: A decent if unexciting ale. Looks about right, while the aroma and flavour aim for a traditional balance. Body is OK. Drinkable enough, just nothing to write home about.

 

 

Clear 500ml bottle; best before Apr 2013, poured into an Abbot Ale glass tankard on 14 Aug 2012.

The beer label asks for the beer to chilled (very slightly), so it has been.

Amber body, clean, clear and healthy looking: off-white to cream coloured head of bubbles set it off nicely.

Weak nose of mild maltiness and mini hoppiness, even as the chilled beer warmed it still didn't produce much in the way of an aroma.

I enjoyed the uncomplicated taste: a pleasant blend of flavours, understated hoppiness and some semi-sweet malts (toffee and caramel notes) to give the brew a well balanced feel.

Smooth mouthfeel and an easy drinking beer: had it cask in Gloucester many years ago, enjoyed it then too.

Selection from a CAMRA beer club shipment...

Appearance: pale copper, slight haze, no head really

Aroma: very subtle aroma so you can barely detect anything, but there are wisps of asian pear and malt

Flavor: light malt sweetness with a delightfully light fruity note similar to asian pears and lychee fruit; subtle hop bitterness; finishes dryish with a lingering light bitterness

Mouthfeel: medium body, low carbonation, soft texture

Other comments: I'm not sure if the carbonation should be this low, but it's actually quite nice this way. One of the more interesting bitters I've tasted.

500 ml brown bottle, BOB Original, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 4.0%. Brown colour, slightly hazy (bottle conditioned - the non-b/c version is called "BOB Sparkling"). Moderate off-white head. Pleasant fruity aroma with notes of English malt vinegar and leather. The flavour is slightly acidic with light malty and fruity notes. Low bitterness, soft mouthfeel, easy drinking. Light bodied. No masterpiece, but nice enough.

I tried this beer at the Fountain Inn pub in Gloucester. It's a Cask Marque accredited pub so I should be assured a good pint. It was. The beer is a crystal clear amber, head is well formed and lacing is in the form of glass coating sheets. Fresh and inviting hop aroma led to a very smooth yet hoppy finish. Light bodied easy drinking beer with good conditioning. Very enjoyable.

Tasted this beer by half-pint at the Red Lion pub, Isleworth, London, during the pub's mini-beerfest. on 28/08/05.

A: it pours a dark-amber hue, with literally no beer head and very low carbonation. Looking dull, especially given that it's served by handpull...
S: deeply hayish hops dominates the nose, laced with a mild, malty body. Not too bad but a little overly restrained.
T: lightly malty with a slightly savoury flavour, a mildly-dryish aftertaste lingers with more hayish hop aroma--long finish has a subtle nutty kick at the back.
M: very smooth mouthfeel throughout, while a lightly savoury touch provides a little extra pleasure.
D: overall this is a medium-bodied and medium-flavoured traditional bitter; quite quaffable, but in need of more complex flavours.