Additional notes: 09/29/2022 (Pictured).

Another beer where the nots from 14 years ago match the current experience almost perfectly. It’s hard to find any discrepancy at all. Great sticky lace, biscuity moreishness, and great English Pale Ale (yes, I know how this is classified) character. Utterly delicious, utterly tremendous.

Original notes: 12/07/2008

500 mL bottle from Tower on Piedmont, Atlanta, GA, USA. First time I’ve seen this in GA. $4.99 for the bottle.

Complete clarity on the pour with good carbonation, a nice, bone-white head and nice retention and lace. Tidy beer to look at.

Nose has very light hops and a soapy undertone – typical for the origin and for the style.
This is a pretty dry beer and to be honest has NOTHING to do with “Christmas” or “Winter” (at least in the American sense of the words).

More reasons (as if we needed any) for this brew to be misnderstood in the USA! (By that I mean no spice elements).

Hops and the malt base are in perfect harmony here, and both are understated (more confusion for the American drinker!)
Drinkability is enormous and the subtle balance here is the key.

As I said above, this is a drier beer than many of the style and the typical, sweet maltiness is well under-played. Becasue of the balance and clever working of the style, this does NOT make the beer a hoppy one. It makes it a clever one.
This is a great beer IMO, but on cask and closer to the source would probably knock my socks off!