Wye Valley Dorothy Goodbodys Country Ale

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

I think my nose must be blocked, cant smell a whole lot here that isnt just.... beer. Seems a tiny bit skunky, I am suspect of the storage and transit of the bottle. Otherwise I think it is strane, a UK beer made for the American market. While interesting in concept, not sure quite what the result really is. Its not like brewdog or mikkellar, international breweries, its a small CAMRA brewery that is making something specific for the american market. Anyways, onto the beer. The malt character is distinctly british, with all kinds of sharpness, inherient bits of bitterness, a bit sharp. Reccomended serving at 12 deegree's but its getting way better as it warms. Rahter one dimensional american inspired citrus hops start to soften and give way to super sublte anise, wet hemlock and a bit of a dank pub smell (meant in the best way). Seemingly contradictory the beer is ridiculously clean tasting, almost lagerish. The wheat contributes little in the way of silky smooth or bigger mouthfeel, but it does provide a grassy note. I think there might be a german bittering hop in there somewhere, which would explain my suggestions at lager, skunky and cleaness. Little head, not much lacing, typical of a brit. Seems just like a brit beer that has had the alchola and hops jumped up a bit for the american market, strange but I dig it. Bit of carmel starts to show up nearing room temp (18.5 atm) I want to try more from this brewery.

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

Sampled on 1/9/2011. This English Strong Ale pours a medium brown color from a 50cl bottle. Large sized white foamy head, with long lasting retention and nice lacing. The aroma is caramel, fruity, bready and sweet. A medium bodied English Strong Ale. The malts are caramel, fruity, bready and sweet. The hops are herbal and floral. Nice carbonation, a touch soft for a bottled ale. Nice balanced. Seems a little dry at the finish, with a touch of hops. Decent beer. Mouthfeel is full, yet sometimes get a little thin. Finish is clean, crisp and dry. Aftertaste is slightly bitter

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

Bottle. Reddish brown with a huge off-white head. Fruity, bready, spicey aroma. Sweet malt, fruity taste with some nice hoppy bitterness in the finish. Full bodied. Good stuff.