Old Golden Hen
I've had this one before, and I get confused between it and Old Speckled Hen. I don't know if I like this one more, less or the same as that other beer though.
Details
- Golden ale 4.1% ABV
- 500ml bottle
From the website:
Old Golden Hen captures a celestial ray of sunshine in the form of a rare and very special Tasmanian hop called Galaxy. The result is a triumph for its sheer powers of refreshment.
Hold it up to the light before tasting, and savour its bright golden glow. Spot, if you care to, the note of grapefruit and mango on the nose and then sip. Malty sweetness, a hint of tropical fruit and a clean finish: out of this world.
Tasting notes:
Very fragrant from the aromatic hop varieties used, light and easy to drink with a good level of bitterness to provide a crisp finish to balance the sweet impact of the quite intense tropical fruit flavour.
Expectations
I've had this one before, on occasion, but I don't really know what the difference is between Old Golden Hen and Old Speckled Hen. I think this is going to be a good one.
Experience
The colour could be quite accurately described as golden. There is quite a lot of fizz in it, lots of bubbles and quite a thick, foamy head. The smell is quite sweet, and it might be because I have just read the tasting notes but it does slightly remind me of mango or something similar.
The first sip was just foam, with a bitter and tangy taste. The beer itself is refreshing, and it does have a hint of fruit in it. It almost feels like it is cleaning my mouth as I drink it.
The strength of this beer is only 4.1% ABV, but it creates quite a warming sensation at the back of my mouth that made me think it was stronger.
Unlike some other beers that got more fruity as I drank them, this one seems to get less fruity. I'm sure the fruity element is still there, just getting drowned out by the bitterness.
Verdict
3/5 : Not bad, but just a bit too much fruitiness for me to really like.
