Big thanks go out to russpowell for the chance to sample this one. 22 oz bomber, red label that is very different to the one in the picture in the BA db (perhaps it changes annually?).
Pour is a dark, cloudy orange with a nice, noisy, creamy, dense head. Lace is apparent, but not to the extent that the head leads one to believe. Head fades quickly.
Nice, mild orange peel nose with some mild sinus clearing hops.
Medicinal like bitterness meets the tongue at first, and then slips into that aspirin aftertaste. Letting it linger in the mouth produces more bitterness. Dry ending with some metallic character and some unsweetened grapefruit.
Quite a bitter brew, in fact one of the bitterest I have had in sometime, with a good dose of malts that sustain it, but are missing in action in terms of taste.
Interesting beer, alcohol is well hidden, and the package just about comes together. I think I would visit this again, I’d certainly like to try it on draught, and as long as it was in small amounts I think I could grow to enjoy it.