Marigold
Clifford Brewing Co.

Can from the LCBO - pours a hazed pale gold brew with a 2 finger white cap that lasts most of the way through the drink....aromas of fruit, citrus, biscuits and yeasty funk..... medium bodied, sharp mouth feel....Flavor is lightly complex with succulent fruits, herbaceous tones, a bit of caramel and dusty biscuit malts, goes dry and bitter in the finish...a pleasant fruity hoppy golden ale for summer patio sipping.

473 mL can from the LCBO; dated May 9 2023 and served slightly chilled.

Pours foggy golden-blonde, its body containing finely visible sediment; it's capped with nearly an inch of soapy, sudsy white head that melts away with a few minutes. A respectable swath of arcing lace clings to the glass, with a frothy collar and filmy cap holding fast. Grainy aroma accented by bubblegum, pears, honeydew melon and apricot, with hints of bready malt, clove spiciness and floral hops.

It's a serviceable rendition of a Belgian pale ale, with the flavour profile leaning toward sweet & malty: I'm getting candi sugar, bready malts, bubble gum and orchard fruit. Spicier on the back end, with hints of clove, orange peel and banana prior to a sweet, slightly boozy aftertaste; faint but lingering yeast spiciness. Medium-full in body, with very fine, assertive carbonation that contributes to this brew's luxuriously smooth, plush mouthfeel, as well as its exceptional drinkability. I could go for another can, but I wouldn't want to drink it all night.

Final Grade: 3.82, a B+. Clifford's Marigold is a decent stab at a Belgian pale ale. A little on the sweet side - and I get that Belgian abbey-style ales tend to be saccharine, but this beer is only 6.2%, so it lacks the depth and warmth to integrate all of that sugar. Still well worth a try, and something I wouldn't be averse to revisiting.

473 ml can served col into a pint glass. LCBO purchase for around #3.50 CDN.

Appearance - Hazy rich golden color with multiple fingers of white head.

Smell - A little earthy and musty with some yeasty aspects mixed in with grain and hints of candi sugar. Quite subdued and a bit funky and not necessarily in an enjoyable way.

Taste - Similar to the nose, but more robust and a little sweeter than expected. Sufficient bitterness to counteract the sweetness.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, smooth and with crisp carbonation.

Overall - Decent Belgian Pale Ale, the nose could be a little more potent but otherwise a pretty solid brew.

Pours a nice gold colour, very small head with no retention. Smell is tart and spicy as is the taste. Add to this hoppy bitterness and the typical Belgian flavour, making this a crisp and clean Belgian style ale
Aug 5 2021