Christmas Ale 2004
Hepworth & Co. (Brewers) Ltd.

Purchased at the UTOBEER stall in the Borough Market, S. London around seven months ago. Knowing nothing about the 2004 vintage, I suppose this year's vintage (2005) should be similar in terms of ingredients with 2004? Bottle-conditioned in a 750ml clear bottle, BB 01/01/08, served cool in a straight imperial-pint glass.

A: pours a clear, bright reddish amber hue; the off-white beer head builds up slowly but surely to a 3cm frothy cap, then settles at the snail's pace... semi-lively carbonation. Looking great for a bottle-conditioned ale~~
S: a profoundly piney-yeasty plus prune-ish, peary and slightly fruit-vinegary sour-sweetness abounds, with an assertive edge of Goldings' citric fruitiness, but overall there're multi-layers of all kinds of aromas floating in the air... a slightly woody and nutmeg-spicy hints are there for grabs, although the beer label clearly states that there's no additive at all. Soul-lifting and utterly fresh on the nose...
T: quite sour fruity upfront, consisting of prunes, marinated star-fruits, a dryish edge of hops as if from nutmeg-like spices as well as a subtly piney tinge of yeasts--quite complex; turning more dryish in the aftertaste, and the malty flavour from the beginning to the end plays only the second fiddle, allowing the fruity-hoppy and yeasty flavour to roam freely... A soothing yet intensifying bitter-hoppy as well as mildly spicy tinge linger at the ends of the sides of the palate, with a bitter nuttiness to chew deep down the tongue.
M&D: the texture is well-crafted and the carbonation is simply ideal--lots of micro-scopic fizziness melt on the tastebuds, lifting the body and hiding the strength just cunningly... before I know it I've consumed 2/3 of this 7.5%abv. beer in just 10-12 minutes and I'm getting dizzy not knowing why!! This is surely a dangerously quaffable winter ale, one that camouflages just too well and is a live-witness to the high-quality craft-brewing of this nice brewery~~

A very sweet beer which came highly recommended from my favorite beer supplier. I was asking for a beer with a good amount of layers and flavors, and this was the first one he took me to.Pours a translucent amber color with a tiny head. Pretty sugary start, but as it goes down it morphs into a great winter-warmer... no doubt there are layers, a little like an English ale, but for the most part the sugar is what stands out. This beer will appeal to anyone who is looking for a multi-flavored beer that is sweeter and lighter than most that you will find on the market.