Black Douglas Ale

Good looking red/brown pour that extends the color into the head to give a light mocha tinge to the froth. Good lacing apparent, leaving a thin layer of foam on the surface, but not spotty as I like to usually associate with a thin layer.

Everything about the aroma and taste is malt based. It’s not remotely sweet, but the malts serve to smooth out the beer to such an extent it becomes a little on the bland side. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, but it is a very laid back beer that will not suit the palate of someone needing a malt or hop jolt.

Some dry and bitter hops arrive in the very short finish, but these seems slightly out of place against the majority of the drink being so smooth and malt based. The bitter aftertaste is also really surprising for such a malty beer and is a bit of a shock to the tastebuds – not in a harsh way, it just seems a bit odd.

A little thin in the mouth, but still smooth, this is typical of a UK style, mild tasting bitter, but still a long way from the best that you can find in this group, even in the USA. I wouldn’t mind offering this up as an example of what can come out of the UK, but I think I would need to find better examples to impress the locals on this side of the pond.

Not bad, but far too many cheaper, better and similar beers to make this a regular foray.

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10/01/2005
Format:
bottle
ABV: 5.2 %
Appearance: 4
Taste: 3.5
Mouthfeel: 3
Smell: 3.5
Overall: 3.5
Total: 3.48
Series Name:
Year:

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