Tasting Notes: Odells: 90 Shilling

Odells: 90 Shilling (USA: Scottish Ale: 5.3% ABV)

Visual: Ruddy red brown with a solid creamy off white head.

Nose: Raisins, brandy, cherries, dry hops and dried figs. Milk chocolate. Malt. Dried apricots and brown sugar.

Body: Thick texture. Fruitcake, bitter chocolate and hops. Red grapes. Raisins. Hint of liquorice treacle and marzipan.

Finish: Lime, hops and malt chocolate, dry powder, nuts and wholemeal bread.

Conclusion: So I presume the named 90 shilling tax wasn’t by bottle back then, or someone was taking the piss. Anyway, besides the ruminations on the origins of the beer styles name we find ourselves faced with a fruitcake style thick sweet ale that slowly coats the tongue with a syrup textured, treacle thick flavoured sheen.

Warming and delightful, with restrained hops backing it up. It feels very old worldly and give the impression the beer has travelled far to reach your taste buds (appropriate, as in my case it has).

It’s a beer that can set you up for a journey, or set you down after a hard days work. So well set then.