Bath Ales
5.0% ABV Bottled
I think it’s apt that I break my silence with a review of the latest offering from the mighty Bath Ales - freshly bottled from their new Hare Brewery in Warmley, Bristol. Having had some major expansion, the brewery seems to be kicking things up a notch, declared by their new presentation and beers added to their already formidable stable. I’m keen to get my lips around Sulis, their English Lager. However, today, I’m reviewing their West Coast IPA: Landsdown.
It’s definitely tipping a cap to the now prolific US tradition of highly-hopped, citrus inflected IPA brewing but there is still the essence of England running through its amber-gold body.
To sniff, Lansdown carries the expected almost grapefruit floral aromatics and this is coupled with zest, hops (but of course) and a hint of basil from the US style. After a while, though, the fields of England come rolling in with barley that seems to perfume the glass along with honey-scented sweetness which seemed to also hang around my tongue long after tasting.
The sip is nowhere near as bitter as I expected; it still is bitter but crisp rather than anything too acrid or like the fistful of rocket punched into your buds that some American IPAs can smash you about with. This delivers a dry yet quenching freshness with caramel notes spiraled by the pine of hops and exhalted with echoes of barley malt.
I’m drinking this on a hot day in May with sunshine blasting my pale, English face and this seems to be exactly how this beer is best enjoyed. The more I drink it, the more I start to taste the hops giving way to the aroma and reminiscence of goldening mown grass. It’s very drinkable. It’s making me look forward to summer. I hope this is a statement of their intent at Bath Ales: it's a very bold, delicious one!
