Beer Review: Harvey's Tom Paine

Name: Tom Paine

Brewery: Harvey's

ABV: 5.5%

Style: Pale Ale

Location: Lewes, East Sussex

Aroma: Notes of lemons, oranges, caramel and lashings of malt.

Colour: Dark brown with a one finger off-white head.

Flavour: Bitterness is immedieitely noticeable in the foreground, the mouthfeel gives it a geltanous, cloying effect that coats the taste buds. The background is notably malty with lacings of caramel toffee like sweetness present along with a hint of tangy fruity hops bring up the rear. A slight oakiness is detetced through the malt mixture, that is a tad dry on the tongue. The strength is notable, and helps bring give depth and character to the flavour profile. 

Verdict: A decent flavoured beer, it is notably bitter without it being too overwhelming, strength adds to its advantage, though the hops seem rather muted in comparrison, adding little to the distinct maltiness going, that gives it much of its flavour. The use of dry hopping seems rather prudent in this case, as the added hops don't give much edge to the flavours, aside from some tangy grassinness. If you like traditional pale ales then beer is ideal as it is easy drinking and devoid of any citrussy grapefruit flavours that often are associated with this style of beer. It is well balanced no-frills sort of a drink. It may lack in distinctive flavours, but it won't dissapoint.

Rating: 7/10