Wadworth kindly sent through a nice selection box of their ales recently, this is the first out and opened.An unassuming bottle with a simple green label, Farmers Glory promises a "celebration of the hard work and fruits of our agricultural industry", so big love out to any farmers reading.
In the pour its Proper Standard Beer, a regulation but comforting chestnut brown. Malt and hops carry on the scent, and the smell promises balance.
First sup and through the sizable malty front door a sweet and orangey fruit hallway presents itself, along with light fixtures of strawberry and laced with a carpet of nuttiness. It's Christmas pudding tasty, if that pudding were to contain no dark fruit, or brandy. Perhaps another cake metaphor needed.
The alcohol (4.7%) isn't very prominent, and that's testament to the brewers guile. Unfortunately for me the end note is a touch crude on the hops, its a sort of gripey hop wallop which doesn't really extend with grace away from the initial sweet tastes. The final taste is a sort of mingled sweet-bitter. I'm a big fan of balance, but I do prefer it to be in the mid-taste and then pinch off gracefully or extend with clarity.
Make no mistake though, this is Good Beer, and certainly one I'd head for in a session at the pub.
6/10 - A solid opener from the Wadworth box. Good ale brewed with care.
- The Broadside
I'd rate this as 8/10 - one of their finest brews. I had this first on a brewery visit on the day that the first batch of the year had been finished - back in 1988. One of my favourite ales ever since.
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