Hobgoblin Ruby Beer
This one rings a bell, but of course it's a bell that I don't remember hearing before. I know I have drunk some Hobgoblin beers previously, I'm just not sure about this one.
Details
- Ruby ale, 5% ABV
- 500ml bottle
From the website:
A liquid legend, this ruby-red gem is an epic blend of hops. Expect delicious toffee flavours and a full-bodied finish of figs, raisins and dates. It’s mercilessly moreish, so consider yourself warned.
Smell: Toffee, slight citrus, chocolate Taste: Toffee, dry, biscuit Hops: Fuggles, Styrians & Goldings Malt: Pale, Crystal & Chocolate
Expectations
I have a feeling that I have drunk this before and I think I probably liked it, though obviously not enough to remember it better. I tend to like darker beers anyway, so I'm looking forward to something with a strong beery taste.
Experience
It smells a bit sweet and hoppy. My initial thought was something autumnal, but I couldn't put my finger on exactly what. Damp leaves and random fruits perhaps. The beer is a really dark red, with a thick foamy head on top. I don't have a colour chart, but I would say it's more burgundy than ruby.
The taste is strong, slightly bitter, and really hard to put into words. The blurb describes it as figs, raisins, dates and toffee, but those are all really sweet things and this isn't. Maybe if you extracted the sweetness from some of those it would be closer to the taste I get.
It is a really nice beer though, and I'm tempted to give it a 5/5 score. The only thing holding me back is that I'm saving top scores for beer that makes me want to rush out and buy more, and this one didn't quite do that.
Verdict
4/5 : Really nice, tasty beer. I would happily drink this again and again.
