Review: Wychwood Hobgoblin

Wychwood Hobgoblin 
5.2% ABV
Wychwood Brewery, Witney, Oxfordshire, England
18.7 oz bottle
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 3/6/13 

This dark English ale, as indicated on the label, pours a dark amber color with a bubbly ivory-colored head that has decent retention.  Nice carbonation.  Decent lacing. 

Smell consists of malt, hops, caramel, hint of chocolate, sugar, hints of wood, some dark fruit. 

Taste consists of malt, dark fruit, caramel, hops, sugar, some spice, touch of citrus. 

Mouthfeel has a good mix of bitterness and dryness.  Earthy with a good balance of flavors. 

Overall, this is a good tasting English ale that's fairly lively with a nice profile of flavors.  Malty with nice undertones of dark fruit.  Has characteristics of a winter warmer type of ale, but it's deeper tasting and more substantial on the palate.  Nicely done.

My score: 90

Review: Samuel Smith's India Ale

Samuel Smith's India Ale
5.0% ABV
Samuel Smith Old Brewery, Yorkshire, England
18.7 oz btl
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
Reviewed on 1/27/13

This India pale ale pours a pale golden amber color with a frothy bubbly white head that has decent retention.  Decent carbonation and lacing.

On the nose, aromas of light hops, malt, floral, citrus, slight lemon, slight sugar, mild herbs.

Taste has hops, malt, wheat, floral, some citrus along the lines of grapefruit and lemon, some sugariness, mild herbs.

Mouthfeel is light, crisp, smooth, with good if mild strands of bitterness and dryness.

Overall, this is a light and crisp tasting pale ale with a decent if mild profile of flavors. Not bold and flavorful like other hoppy IPAs, but still a decent beer, particularly if you're in the mood for something on the milder side.  Fairly sessionable.

My score: 88