Western Newfoundland Brewing Co. Wild Cove Old World Pub Ale English Brown Ale at 5.7% ABV | 35 IBU (Gift – thanks, Blanche!, 946 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-Aug-2018, reviewed 27-Aug-2018)
Appearance: hazy pale amber with a short off-white head diminishing gradually to a thing cap and ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel & toffee, smoke, toasted malt, butterscotch. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: moderate body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly smoky finish. (3/5)
Not entirely convinced. I had this a couple of months ago, out at the cabin, and was a little more generous scoring-wise than I feel tonight. (That’s not entirely unexpected, given the typical behaviour out at the cabin.) However, I’m puzzled by the prominent smoky note I’m getting here now, that was apparently completely absent the last time I had this. Or, at least, that I completely failed to discern. (Again, entirely possible, out at the cabin.) It isn’t terrible, and it sort of grew on me, but it had a big hole to dig out of after the initial “what the serious hell is THAT” moment I had upon first smelling it. One thing it very much isn’t is what it says on the label: the only “old world” pubs that would have an ale like this would be ones that served Rauchbiers, so classifying this as an English Brown is misleading at best. It’s not terrible, but that’s hardly the ringing endorsement you look for in a tipple, is it? (12/20)
6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
