Salopian Shropshire Gold
Golden ales usually work well for me, so this beer has that going for it. Shropshire Gold is actually described as a bitter though, so I wonder if that is going to make much difference.
Details
- Bitter, 3.8% ABV
- 500ml bottle
From the website:
Golden, with a floral aroma and a full hoppy flavour that is balanced by a crisp dry maltiness and a rich finish.
Expectations
Hoppy and malty? I like the sound of that. I'm hoping for something with a lot of flavour, and also something that quenches my thirst.
Experience
It's a little bit paler than I expected, though "gold" is pretty accurate. It says "light copper" on the bottle, but it doesn't have the redness I would expect from copper. The head is about 10mm and quite stable, with plenty of small bubbles rising through the beer to join it. It looks quite inviting.
The smell is a bit of a fruity, hoppy one. My first sip was pure foam, and gave me an impression of lemon juice. Not a strong impression, just a hint that this is going to be citrussy.
Getting into the beer - it's bitter, of course, and it tastes of hops. I don't actually get any citrus-type of hops taste from it, just hops. The maltiness is there too, but it took me a few sips to find it.
There's a lingering aftertaste with this beer, but is is a good one. It's like a pleasant reminder to have another one soon.
Verdict
4/5 : I like this beer - it's tasty and refreshing, and I'd be happy to drink it again.
