Hydes HPA
Hydes Brewery Ltd

Tasted this beer by half-pint at my Wetherspoon local on 20/05/05, when I surprisingly found all twelve handpumps at work just for the May Beerfestival range!! The name HPA actually stands for "Highly Presdigious Ale" and is one of the Festival beers. Yet, this beer turned out not so fresh as the others I tasted, and it's struggling for me to decide whether to review this beer in such condition... Maybe I'll re-review it again in the near future; to do it some justice, that is (if it ever deserved it?!).

In a straight half-pint glass it pours a clear copper colour, with no head whatsoever...really there is nothing (good) to write home about. It smells like it's almost off!!--with some sourness on nose and quite faint hoppyness. Not so sure about this beer and I was wondering whether to ask for a replacement or not... On palate, there is suggestion of some hayish hops and very very faint malty flavour, while the sour taste still prevails. The finish has slightly better taste of bittersweet dialogue b/w hops and malts and therefore slightly balances the negative elements on palate. Overall the mouthfeel is way too flat and the body overly light for a cask ale produced by such a quality brewery. It's not delicious by any means, but if there is another chance to try it again in the future, when it's fresher, I won't hesitate to give it a go.