W. J. King Merry Ale
W. J. King & Co. Brewers

Best before 22 Feb 04. Whoops. Thanks to Jaimie at From the Vine for the bottle.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber copper color with a nice tan head. The head fades to a film and sticky lacings around the glass.

Smell: Apple juice, cloves, a hint of non-descript spicing.

Taste: Cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon with a nice wheat bread base. The balance between the spices and malt base is very solid.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and crispy.

Drinkability: If this were a tad sweeter it would be a dopplebock. Very complex and enjoyable. Winter warmers are hit and miss with me but this is a definite hit. I can imagine this fresh or sitting for a couple more years even. Worth a try for sure.

Bottled beer from Eagle Provisions, Brooklyn. Mid-brown, not much head but what's there hangs around to a degree. Malty, fruity aroma though not that prominent. Big malty flavour with dry fruit and plum-like notes; smooth and easily drinkable. Malty, slightly chewy finish with a bit of hoppiness; fruit there to the end which blends nicely with the dryness that the hops impart. Very enjoyable.

By far the best King beer I've had, including their cask beers (not including this one though) that I've imbibed when over in England. And, amazingly, this was on special offer in the shop as it wasn't selling!

Enjoyed at cellar temperature, this bottle-conditioned ale pours with a slight haze to its very deep amber but not quite copper body. It's short, light tan head dissolves readily to a whispy surface covering, and it leaves little lacing about the glass. The nose delivers some dark and red fruits (prune, raisin, cherry, black raspberry) over a caramel-drizzled, cookie-dough malt. The body is medium and its very fine and moderate natural carbonation gives just a slight caress to the palate as it passes smoothly away. The flavor is more malty than the nose indicates; but the fruitiness remains to a good extent, and it's not as sugary sweet as might be suspected. Fruit and some spicy (but not quite peppery) alcohol are apparent up-front before it warms to reveal more of it's caramelish maltiness. It finishes drying with the same alcohol and a return to its fruitiness amidsts a mild residual bitterness in the aftertaste. This is one incredibly well-balanced ale that's smooth from start to finish; yet it seems to loose some character due to exactly that as it's left kind of one-sided. Still, it's a cheery holiday beer with it's beautiful combination of rich malt; fruit; and delicate, alcoholic spice. An enjoyable pint!

The beer poured hazy orange with a low head. The aroma was sweet malt, almost a candy arom with a slight hint of cider. The flavor was sherrylike just as expected in an old ale with malty caramel sweetness a slight spiciness and then a dry finish. The body was med-full.

I could not drink alot of it, but I did enjoy it quite a bit.

16.9 ounce bottle, bottle conditioned, best before 19 Feb 2004.