HOBGOBLIN it's put a spell on me
Written: Apr 09 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Interesting flavours, very drinkable
Cons: hard to find on draught
The Bottom Line: A fun ale from a fun brewery, serious beer drinkers will love this one too.
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| proxam's Full Review: Hobgoblin Traditional English Ale |
Brewed by Wychwood Brewery in Oxfordshire, this English ale is 5.5% alcohol and is brewed using a combination of strongly-roasted pale malt with a touch of chocolate malt.
The Wychwood Brewery in Witney, Oxfordshire, England began life in a small way in 1983. These days it is a well established brewery, still small but growing in stature daily. They now produce around 600 barrels of beer a week.
Their beers are brewed with local water from the river Windrush and they use English malt, hops and yeast. No additives are used in any of their products.
Enough of that....what about the beer.
The Pour
Hobgoblin pours to a dark, coppery, ruby-red colour - rather like a tawny port. More like a brown ale than a pale ale, it is medium-to-full bodied, is lightly carbonated and settles with a good but light head at the top of the glass.
The aroma is of hops with definite chocolate overtones and a little fruitiness - somewhat smoky.
The Taste
The first taste sensation is slightly sweet, and a little nutty. The beer has a roasted maltiness to it and a dry-ish, mildly bitter aftertaste from the hops which balance the brew beautifully. The fruity flavours are there - apples and pears - but are somewhat subdued. The smell of chocolate is stronger than the actual flavour.
It has a strong aftertaste and leaves a toffee/syrupy coating in the mouth which can be quite soothing.
This is a well rounded and full flavoured beer.
Hobgoblin is very drinkable, but seems much stronger than it is. (5.5% ABV) The draught version is 4.5% ABV and is much easier to deal with.
The draught version is vastly superior - as you would expect, but unless you live in Oxfordshire you are probably out of luck. Luckily, the trend of introducing guest ales in pubs means that it is possible to sample some of these brews on draught without travelling 350 miles to do so.
Thanks for reading,
Slainte
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
proxam
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Location: De Leving's Toun
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About Me:
Alcohol & calculus don't mix. Don't drink & derive
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