Country of Origin: Great Britain
Availability: A limited-edition ale. This bottle was #355 of the 1998 vintage.
Price comparison: About three times the price of everyday beer.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 8.1% at bottling.
Cute bottle/label? 275 ml standard shaped brown glass bottle. Metallic label with the year 1953 marked prominently, referring to the fact that the Lizzie (as it's known colloquially in Sussex, its hometown) was originally brewed to honor the coronation of the queen.
Appearance: Dark cloudy brown, not heavily carbonated. Little head, quickly disappated, and no lacing to speak of, just a few scattered specks on the glass.
Scent: Smoky and deep, like sherry. Toffee, raisins, malt.
Flavor: The first flavor that this ale reminded me of was grilled steak, oddly (and pleasantly). It was definitely more like sherry than like beer, with a rich caramel flavor emerging as it warmed.
Impressions: This is stronger than it leads one to believe; its higher ABV is camouflaged by the heartiness of the flavors. It's earthy and comforting, but I'd be cautious about drinking it on an empty stomach. Fortunately, the balance of this ale is such that it would hold its own with almost any entrée (seafood, I'd say not, unless it was fried, but certainly any strongly-seasoned poultry, pork, or beef dish).
Will I buy this beer again? At three times the price of regular beer, this is a bit costly for regular consumption; there are other ales available, more reasonably priced, that are more special than this. I'd buy this again if I knew, for instance, that I needed something to serve with prime rib or leg of lamb; otherwise I think I'd just buy either beer or sherry.
Rating:
3 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: December 16, 2003
