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HowTo
Taste Beer - 2
submitted by William Woolmer at BeerTimes
in Australia
These notes are compiled from a tasting by six judges. The beers were revealed to the tasters prior to sampling and only Cooper's beers were tried, all from bottles. Several aged beers were included, including Sparkling Ale, Dark Ale and Vintage Ale.
The judges tried the Sparkling and Pale Ales both untipped and tipped. In both cases the turned beer, with the yeast mixed in, scored well ahead of the clear version!
Note that the tap versions of the beers were not tasted (there are 6 Coopers available on tap). That's for another day!
COOPER'S LIGHT
Appearance: Clear, light gold, frothy low head
Nose: Fruity, mild hops
Taste: Thin body, slightly sweet at first, a long faintly bitter aftertaste
Combined score: 4 / 10
Comment: Most judge's thought this a weak version of Cooper's Draught. Not a favourite.
COOPER'S DRAUGHT
Appearance: Yellowed colour, not much head, fine bead
Nose: Fruity, malty
Taste: Bitter, consistent length, light mouthfeel, not much body, lingering bitter finish
Combined score: 4.5 / 10
Comment: Light taste, not very satisfying, but would suit a hot day well.
COOPER'S DRY BREWED
Appearance: Appealing light straw, not much head.
Nose: Floral or perfume, hoppy, slightly toasted
Taste: Hoppy, very dry, good lingering acid, clean mouthfeel
Combined score: 6 / 10
Comment: A good 'beer' taste, another one for a hot day.
COOPER'S PREMIUM ALE
Appearance: Deep golden hue, clear, fine head
Nose: Floral, toasty, sweet hops
Taste: Liquorice, medium bitter lasting taste, firm body.
Combined score: 6.5 / 10
Comment: A good dinner ale, tasty. Restrained but with some character.
THOMAS COOPER'S FINEST EXPORT
Appearance: Very pale and clear. Poor head.
Nose: Fresh cut grass, hoppy, mild fruit (apples)
Taste: Bitter, residual sugars show through, thin mouthfeel, lingering aftertaste.
Combined score: 6.5 / 10
Comment: A summer drink
COOPER'S PALE ALE - NOT TIPPED
This sample was careful poured so as not to disturb the sediment in the bottle.
Appearance: Superb golden colour!
Nose: Hoppy
Taste: Pleasing mouthfeel, long bitter taste and aftertaste.
Combined score: 7 / 10
Comment:
COOPER'S PALE ALE - TIPPED
The bottles for this sample were upended and turned prior to pouring, evenly distributing the yeast in the bottle.
Appearance: Cloudy
Nose: Yeasty, less hops then the unturned sample.
Taste: Less bitter than the unturned, more full and 'whole'
Combined score: 8 / 10
COOPER'S SPARKLING ALE - NOT TIPPED
This sample was careful poured so as not to disturb the sediment in the bottle.
Appearance: Golden colour
Nose: Bananas, fruity
Taste: Distinct 'ale' taste, bitter element
Combined score: 7 / 10
Comment:
COOPER'S SPARKLING ALE - TIPPED
The bottles for this sample were upended and turned prior to pouring, evenly distributing the yeast in the bottle.
Appearance: Very cloudy (understandable, really)
Nose: The fruit has mellowed compared to the untipped version
Taste: Strong, whole
Combined score: 8.5 / 10
Comment:
COOPER'S SPARKLING ALE - 7 MONTH'S OLD
These longnecks had been aged in a cellar for 7 months. They were served untipped.
Appearance: Very golden
Nose: Mellow bananas
Taste: Taste has grown, slightly metallic nature. Bloody good.
Combined score: 8 / 10
Comment:
COOPER'S SPARKLING ALE - 3 YEARS OLD
These longy's were purchase form the Edinburgh Hotel in Adelaide, which does the world a favour by cellar aging them prior to selling over the bar!
Appearance: Amber pea soup, massive head
Nose: Aged apples / scrumpy / fine malt whisky
Taste: Solid as a brick shithouse, Muscat on the taste, abso-bloody-lutley wonderful.
Combined score: 9.5 / 10 (5 out of 6 judges gave this beer 10 / 10 !)
Comment: Astounding difference, age this stuff if you can!
COOPER'S DARK ALE
Appearance: Dark yet still clear
Nose: Fruit driven, malt, very roasted
Taste: Mild coffee taste that doesn't linger.
Combined score: 8 / 10
Comment: Good!
COOPER'S DARK ALE - 2 YEARS OLD
These stubby's were stored in cellar conditions for two years by a small overstocked bar, before happily coming to the notice of BeerTimes!
Appearance: Stronger colour than its new brothers
Nose: Vegemite, caramel , powerful
Taste: Strong caramel, , furry mouthfeel, English Mild style.
Combined score: 8 / 10
Comment: Best not fridge cold. After aging the Dark has a far stronger taste, which would not appeal to all.
COOPER'S VINTAGE ALE - BATCH 2, OCT 1999
These Ales were stored in cellar conditions for 6 months prior to tasting (Tim Cooper recommends up to eighteen months!)
Appearance: Tanned, Opaque
Nose: Powerful, watermelon, mild hops
Taste: A very full, strong mouthful, slightly bitter, lingers long after the sip. Solid mouthfeel, full body.
Combined score: 8 / 10
Comment: Yummy, a brew to make your head spin (7.1% alcohol!). Still a way to go for aging.
COOPER'S VINTAGE ALE - BATCH 1, OCT 1998
These Ales were stored in cellar conditions for 18 months prior to tasting - the optimum age Cooper's recommend.
Appearance: Deep golden hue
Nose: Nose has become more subtle with age, promising.
Taste: Massive body, easily smooths over the high alcohol content. Lingers on the back of the tongue.
Combined score: 8.5 / 10
Comment: A unique taste, super powerful. A meal in every glass.
COOPER'S BEST EXTRA STOUT
Appearance: Black, dark coarse head
Nose: Strong roasted
Taste: Full body and mouthfeel, long, smooth, strong.
Combined score: 8 / 10
Comment: Reality bites. This is the good stuff.
COOPERS BIRREL
This is a super-light beer , sold through supermarkets. It's a bit harsh to compare it to the strong stuff, but that's life.
Appearance: Watery
Nose: Light, grassy, bitter
Taste: Thin, metallic
Combined score: 1 / 10
Comment: If you haven't tried a normal beer for a while, this would do. Otherwise it's a weak, watery comparison.
Coopers Beer Pages, for piccies and further info.
[Worth the trip to see their site design - Edna HTU]
submitted by William Woolmer Australia
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