Breakfast Beer Tasting: Green Jack Orange Wheat

One of the beers I’ve yet to try in the current Wetherspoons beer festival is the Green Jack Orange Wheat Beer. As a precursor to that, I thought I would try the bottled version.

The basics: A standard 500ml bottle that clocks in at 4.2%. It poured as a golden ale with poor carbonation and a very thin white head. Not much in the way of aroma except for a faint impression of marmalade.

Taste: Quite thin and bland really. You do get some orange, some dry bitterness and a slight sourness, but not in any great measure.

Finish: Slight orange dryness.

Conclusion: Disappointing really. I see that the Ormskirk Baron has rated it a 3/5, but I’d say 2/5. Whilst the American hops did lend it some bitterness, there simply wasn’t enough. Ditto for the East Anglian Wheat and the orange peel. One for the significant other.

Comments

Sue said…
Had it in the Tim Bobbin in Urmston last Thursday. Definitely orangey but not spectacular.
4 April 2011 at 09:30
steve said…
I also found this disappointing. You're expecting much more with the name and all the hype.But there's very little there at the end of the day.
4 April 2011 at 11:35
Barry said…
Not had the bottled version but the cask version is underwhelming.
5 April 2011 at 14:13
Anonymous said…
When you look at the awards this beer has won, and my previous tasting of this beer I really have to disagree with you all. Gold | Speciality Ales | Norwich 2000
Silver | Overall | Leicester 2005
Gold | Speciality Ales | Norwich 2005
Gold | Overall Champion | Norwich 2005
Gold | Flavoured Ales | Peterborough 2006
Gold | Speciality Ales | Norwich 2006
Silver | Overall | Norwich 2006
Silver | Flavoured Ales | Peterborough 2007
Gold | Speciality Ales | Norwich 2007
Silver | Speciality Ales | SIBA East 2009
Gold Speciality Ales Swindon 2009
Silver Overall Swindon 2009
Bronze Speciality Ales SIBA East 2010
10 April 2011 at 08:25
paul garrard said…
This is a great beer often found locally to me. Well it's not brewed many miles away. Old cliche but perhaps it doesn't travel.
10 April 2011 at 20:53
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Kimberley Club

Image
The Kimberley Workingmen’s Club in Stacksteads, Rossendale is the stuff of legend. Few, outside of those interested in such things, have heard of it and fewer still have visited it. Even many locals aren’t aware of its location and yet internet forums are full of people willing to travel across the country to visit a genuine slice of social history. Established in 1897, the KMC started out as an afterhours drinking venue for quarry workers. Legend has it that it was carried down into the valley on poles. There are various theories about its South African connections-there is a Kimberley Street close by, but what we do know is that surprisingly little has changed since those early days.
Once you have got up the steep hill, over the dirt track and through the gate; you are confronted with two very small rooms. There’s probably just enough room to squeeze all 36 members in. This helps to explain why visitation is strictly by invitation only. We were privileged to enjoy a special Sunday ope…
Read more

British Guild Beer Writers Awards & Camden Brewery

Image
London is a strange town. Or so the Jam said way back in 1979. And indeed it is. However, despite the early closing, congestion and lack of decent pizza, there are actually people who work and live there. And everyone from the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers to the British Guild of Beer Writers hold their piss-ups there.

So it was once again that I found myself wandering the lonely, mean streets of the Big Smoky with nothing in my pockets but hope and fortitude. Now, one has to make careful preparation before attending a function such as the BGBW awards. And, being one for correct form, I did my bit by having a little tour of the capital’s watering holes.

Conveniently, the Euston Cider Tap had just opened the previous week and I was the first in on that day. The very helpful barman kept me company until I was joined by some chirpy cockney sparrows newly arrived from Manchester. After sampling sparkling, still and some Normandy cider, the bonding was complete and I…
Read more

Breakfast Beer Tasting: Suke Quto Coffee IPA

Image
This is an unusual beer from the Kernel Brewery that I first tried at the Port St Beer House, Manchester, some weeks ago. That was after a few scoops, so I was looking forward to trying it fresh.

The basics: Kernel are a small brewery based in Druid St, London. This is a 6.5% IPA and is bottle conditioned. It poured a cloudy burnt orange/gold colour with little carbonation and only a slight head. A little like my last sample to the doctor. Thankfully the aroma was much better with definite marmalade, fruit and just a hint of coffee.
Taste: Full bodied and rich. This is not an easy drinking session beer for the uninitiated. Starts with a classic IPA taste of oranges and powerful hops before the coffee kicks in which gives it a fair smack of bitterness.
Finish: You really get the coffee effect in this. A sharp, lingering bitterness that sticks to the back of the throat.
Conclusion: A good attempt at something different. Not for everyone, but I enjoyed the level of bitterness. One to give…
Read more