Coniston Bluebird XB

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

July 2016: 500 ml bottle, from Det Gode Brygg, Sandnes. ABV is 4.4%, Deep golden colour, moderate white head. Surprisingly dull aroma, notes of grain and dust, only the faintest hint of fruity hops. The flavour has a much better presence of hops, notes of citrus and berries. Nice to drink. The finish is not very bitter though.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

After an initial pleasant blast of citrus fruit hops, this beer falls a little flat. Not literally as the feel is thin but prickly, but even within style the flavor is a bit boring. For 4.50...never again.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

NorCal tasting Apr 07 - Not sure about this beer. Apparently this was made with American hops. Hmpf. It was? This was easy drinking for sure, but it didn't have much of a flavor profile at all. Aroma was really soft, nearly non-existant but there was a touch of grassy hops. Very unassuming. Appearance was dark gold in color with a white foamy head. Mouthfeel was clean and crisp. Flavors were light, almost seemed diluted to me somehow. Nothing bad, but damn if I wanted to drink something this light I'd have a N/A. Nothing spectacular at all. Perhaps when you want to session something, this might fit the bill.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours a hazed amber that clears as the beer warms. Very large-bubbled head, and sediment in the bottle. The label says this is bottle conditioned. The beer starts off with a big hoppy aroma, a little on the grassy side with a touch of lemon. The body is a bit thinner than I’d hoped for and the malt much drier than expected. Tasty, but I would love to see that maltiness beefed up and perhaps not be quite so dry.