By Jeff Evans

Nose

Spicy, grapefruit-cum-orange and resin notes from the hops.

Palate

Potent and warming, but also crisp, with dry, piney, bitter citrus flavours. Alcohol shows through in hints of varnish.

Finish

Bitter citrus fruit at first, quickly turning hoppy and bitter. The hops last well into the finish.

Comment

A golden ale, hoppy by name and nature, but too strong for its own good. 8.5% ABV says the label and it tastes every bit of it.

By Sally Toms

Nose

A powerfully floral aroma with a slight dustyness about it. Like pollen. Discernable alcohol like varnish or fresh cut grass.

Palate

More sweet than hoppy, with a flash of that syrupy Belgian malt character.

Finish

The strength hits you first, with bitter hops fading into the distance.

Comment

Not as bitter as expected from the name, but a well balanced strong ale just the same.