Dark, smooth, bitter – Hobgoblin (5.2%) from Wychwood is a delicious pudding of a beer! The bottle says “Traditionally Crafted Legendary Ruby Beer” – their capitals, not mine. It’s darker than ruby – at least I’ve never seen a ruby this dark – it is very like a porter or a stout. It has a rich malty aroma, a chocolatey – almost chewy – taste, and a dark bitterness, like bitter chocolate or espresso coffee, with a little bit of a fruity tang, and a long-lasting bitter finish. I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle, and it is definitely up there among my current favourites.
Although the bottled version is 5.2%, the cask version comes in at 4.5% – which would make it possible to drink two or three in a session. With the bottled version I’m afraid it’s one at a time for me!