Shepherd Neame Early Bird

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

500 ml capped and translucent bottle, as a 4.5 ° ABV. Poured a clear copper-brown coloured ale with a generous one finger slight beige creamy foamy head that had a very long retention and tons of micro bubbles. Mid-sized carbonation. Good lacing. The aroma is emphasized grassy hops, faint caramel malts. The flavour is caramel malts, a roasty touch, dried fruits with nuts and of course the overwhelming grassy hoppy bitterness. The mouthfeel is creamy and a bit sticky. This medium bodied ale has a dry bitter finish. Quite a one-way ale, as well on the nose as on the palate, the hoppy bitterness is clear on the power.

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

500 ml clear bottle, from Systembolaget, thanks to OleR! ABV is 4.5%. Deep golden colour, big white (possibly slightly off-white) head. "Skunky" aroma when opening the bottle, not unpleasant though. Nice hoppy aroma in the glass, grassy and slightly woody notes. Light mouthfeel, moderately hoppy flavour with hints of toffee. "Dusty" and moderately bitter finish. No masterpiece, but refreshing and highly drinkable.

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

Bottled (4.5%). Deep orangeish golden colour with mediumsized creamy white head. Aroma is grainy, ashes, zest, some mild notes of nectar. Flavour is grass, citrus and some mild paperyness. As it warms up some nuttyness and mild herbal notes also become present. Not much aftertaste.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Amber coloured, rich creamy white head. Metallic aroma of cookies, leaves and spoiled hops. oranges, toffee and hops with a skunky undertone. rather watery finish.

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

Bottle. light amber colour with foamy, quickley disappearing, off-white head. Hoppy, flowery aroma. Refreshing, hoppy taste, but with a bit of a stale-ish yeasty aftertaste. Thin bodied. Not bad.