First Anniversary Special IPA
Norris English Pub & Brewery

Dragging their british-style ale into the twenty-first century, the brewers of Norris English Pub celebrates their first birthday in a big way. Imperial in stature but with the taste and balance that's common to historic ESB or English IPA, the taste is modern, challenging and alluring; even in its bigness that registers somewhat barleywine-like.

Deep and hazy bronze, the beer's hues and dark and masculine while capped with a creamy and inviting froth. Fruit, hops and malt greet the nose with toffee richness that's laced with stone fruit, citrus, floral and pleasant herbal nuances. As the sweetness grasps hold, there's a toffee-rich taste with caramels, maple, biscuit, molasses and butter pecan medley that sings a robust British presence.

As the malt saturates the middle palate, its honey-sweet and toasted liquor insists on a slow and sipping affair. However as the hops charge in, their juicy peach, apricot, mango, orange and apple flavors suggests something more drinkable in its succulent yet brisk character. Hints of apple and butter add charm and challenge to the final flavors.

Full bodied and hinging on barleywine status, the complex toasted malts linger long on the palate- almost as long as the broad bitterness of woods, grasses and citrus that stem from the beer's heavy hop use. Its light jammy flavors balance the hops in a most charming way as the light syrupy malts keep the hops in check.