Nottingham Gold
Castle Rock Brewery

Tasted by half-pint at the Pembury Tavern, Hackney, N. London, 02/07/2006.

A: yellowish golden hue, coming with a fluffy white foamy head that settles only very slowly; great clarity and low carbonation. Looking tempting.
S: sweet orange as well as grapefruit-peel like fruitiness abounds, plus flowery hints of peach-blossom that enriches the intensity of the hop aroma... mixed with a profound edge of juicy pale malts firmly underneath. More enticing now...
T: bitter-ish and juicy citrus fruits followed by lightly peppery-spicy as well as aromatic floral hops (like Styrian Goldings)... leaving more tangy and bitter citric fruitiness (again, like grapefruit zest) balanced with bitter-sweet, juicy maltiness lingering at the back of the palate, with a soothing and refreshingly bitter finishing touch to hook the tongue...
M&D: the first sip makes a big entrance on the palate, truly impressive and delicious; as my palate gets used to the flavour, the body and texture do loosen bit by bit, but I take it as natural. Very fresh and cool as I taste it, this one is amongst the better Blond Ales/Bitters I've tasted this summer--refreshing, bitter, with a depth rarely found in a 3.5%abv. ale. Recommended!