Beer review #1 : Morland "Hen's Tooth"

I'm intending to review any beer that I drink that is worth reviewing, for two reasons. The first is that it might help anyone who reads this blog to get an idea of what I like and don't like, and compare it with their own preferences. For instance, if I describe a beer as 'so full of hops that my head fell off', and you felt it could have done with a couple more tonnes of cascade in there, then you can adjust my opinions of my own brewing efforts accordingly. The other reason is that it fills my blog out a bit and gives me something to prattle on about. Hope someone finds them useful.

Brewer: Morland

Brew: Hen's Tooth

A.B.V. : 6.5%

Format: Bottle

Score: 5 / 10

Review: A darker 'copper coloured' bottle conditioned ale, that pours to a 1-2 cm head of fine bubbles rather than foam. Hoppy aroma, that has a light body, similar to an American Pale Ale. The hops add an American Pale Ale type bitterness, but no fruity flavours. The head disappears quite quickly leaving only a thin layer of bubbles as the pint is drank. I found this beer a bit odd, it's dark enough to fool you into thinking it might have a bit of body or obvious malty taste, but it is actually quite crisp. Not an unpleasant beer, but I can't help feel it is neither one thing or the other, and doesn't succeed as being an interesting new style. If your Gran has just given you 20 bottles of this for Christmas, don't despair, it is quite drinkable, but I wouldn't intentionally seek it out, which is a shame, because I kind of like the idea of bottle conditioned ales, and no, not just because I want to re-culture the yeast in them!