Belhaven 80 Shilling
I usually like darker beers, and this one is a bit on the dark side. That's enough to give me a positive feeling about this beer.
Details
- Ale 3.9% ABV
- 500ml bottle
From the website:
Belhaven 80 Shilling is a superb classic, with a deep copper hue and light bronze creamy foam at a satisfying 3.9% ABV.
80/- is brewed using Belhaven yeast and allowed to ferment at a slightly higher temperature. This delivers satisfying malt flavours and layers of soft fruit with a toffee finish.
Once described as ‘the burgundy of Scotland’, experience 80/- in an unhurried atmosphere to fully appreciate this satisfying and complex character.
Tasting notes:
Pale malt gives satisfying 'Horlicks' maltiness and black malt adds balance to the sweetness. Challenger provides the bitterness and base note herbal hop character with Goldings adding a hint of orange peel.
Expectations
I don't know what to expect with this one. The blurb says it has a deep copper hue, but I would call it brown - and quite dark brown too. I think I have had it before, so it obviously didn't leave much impression on me, good or bad.
Experience
It was in a clear bottle, so I could see it was brown before I opened it. The smell is that of a classic ale, very familiar. The small amount of head that formed dissipated very rapidly, leaving a glass full of something that looks like watered-down Coca-Cola.
There are plenty of bubbles rising through the drink, but they don't form a head at all. Weird. Maybe there is an anti-foaming agent in it, natural or otherwise, preventing the head forming.
Anyway, it doesn't taste like Coke - it tastes like a classic ale, malty and maybe a bit nutty. I'd say it is pretty good.
Verdict
4/5 : Another four star beer for me, I enjoyed its taste although the lack of foam was a bit odd.
