Young's, Special London Ale (England) 
A former CAMRA Champion
bottle-conditioned beer, this is brewed with Maris Otter pale ale malt, "phenomenal amounts" of Fuggles hops (according to Young's) and is late-hopped with Goldings too. It pours a striking amber colour, with a thick
off-white head. The nose has a lovely grassy, herbal, almost minty quality with fine purity and depth. On the palate it is creamy and immediately chocolaty in both texture and dry, bitter darkness. There is fine plum fruit
with a plum-skin bitterness, and that racy, endive and chicory hop quality adding crispness and definition. This is undoubtedly one of my top supermarket English beers. 6.4% ABV, 50cl, £1.29 - £1.69, Asda, Booth's, Co-op, Majestic, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose.  |  |
