Pippin Other Beers at the Post! (Copper Dragon Golden Pippin)

Member Name: tange

Product:	Copper Dragon Golden Pippin
Date:	03/11/05 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A tasty, light and golden beer.

Disadvantages: A good but not earth shattering beer.

Unlike me I'm still on a bit of a light coloured beer phase at the moment. We went to Burton on Trent beer festival a few weekends ago and, while looking through the beer list for a "new" beer, I found myself standing by the Copper Dragon Brewery bar! I had already tried a couple of their beers before, so I decided to have a Golden Pippin.

~~~THE BREWERY.

The Copper Dragon Brewery began life in 2002 in Skipton, Yorkshire and uses brewing equipment that was originally from Bavaria. Brewing commenced early in 2003. Since then the brewery has been building in popularity as well as size. They plan to start developing into the pub industry in the near future and will be buying pubs and inns in the North of England. At the moment their beer are available regularly within a 70 mile radius of the brewery, as Guest Beers nationwide and often appear at Beer Festivals.

As well as a range of Seasonal Special beers, Copper Dragon produce a range of bottled and cask ales. These include Dark Ale (a rich, roasty malt beer at 3.5% ABV), Pale Ale (a hoppy, full bodied pale beer at 4.4% ABV) and Best Bitter (an amber coloured traditional northern style bitter at 3.8% ABV).

The brewery has a motto "Good barley makes good malt which makes good beer" ~ they pride themselves on using fresh, top quality ingredients in their beer production.

~~~THE BEER.

***A Bit of Background***

A Golden Pippin is actually a variety of apple. This variety was popular during the 16th and 17th Centuries and is a highly flavoured, juicy fruit. They are also a bright golden yellow colour. Having seen the beer Golden Pippin I would say it is pretty like the apple that gave it its name. Originally it was intended as a seasonal beer, but its popularity prompted the brewery to make it a part of their regular portfolio.

Copper Dragon produce Golden Pippin both bottled and on draught ~ I have only tried the cask version so it is on this product that I base my opinion.

***Vital Stats**

Golden Pippin weighs in at 3.9% ABV (bottled it is a little stronger at 4.2% ABV) and is brewed using two different types of malt (Maris Otter and a brand new variety) and Cascade hops for a citrus aroma and taste. It is also the lightest gravity beer brewed by Copper Dragon.

***Look, Aroma & Texture***

Looks wise, Golden Pippin is a pale and clear golden coloured beer (almost like the colour of a lager) with a slight, almost white head. Aroma is quite subtle and is predominantly hoppy ~ a mixture of clean fresh citrus and floral, with a hint of elderflowers and grapefruit. Texture is quite smooth and creamy, with a light to medium body.

***Taste Test***

Golden Pippin is a light and refreshing beer. Its dominant flavour is a lovely zesty citrus that really wakes up the palate! The citrus ranges from a sharp lemon, through to a nice fruity grapefruit. Add to this a subtle flavour of elderflowers, a delicate sweet maltiness and an increasing bitterness, and you are left with a well balanced and easy drinking beer. The beer is pretty dry and this leads to a lingering rather bitter aftertaste.

~~~WHAT TANGE THINKS.

Golden Pippin is a good if not great beer. It is light, tasty and refreshing and makes a sound choice when looking for which beer to try. Generally I have never had a bad pint of Pippin, so count it as one of the staple beers that I go for when I am unsure of the quality of other beers on offer. It is easy to drink and the relatively low alcohol content puts firmly it in the category of a Session Ale ~ one that can be enjoyed over an evening's drinking.

The citrus flavours give it a rather nice zesty kick ~ rather like adding a twist of lemon (those of you who have tasted Harviestoun's Bitter & Twisted will notice many comparisons with Golden Pippin)! The dry, bitter finish and aftertaste help to balance out the flavours and make it a rather enjoyable beer throughout. It is a good, light beer that will appeal to a variety of beer drinkers ~ the light colour and citrus elements may even tempt in the lager drinkers out there!

The last time I tried Golden Pippin I paid £1.10 for a half at the beer festival. I have also had it in a variety of pubs in my local area. Most commonly I drink it in the Derby Tup (one of my local Real Ale pubs, just outside Chesterfield town centre on Whittington Moor) where I usually pay just over £2.00 for a pint. It seems to be getting more common and is available quite easily in my region.

I have no hesitation in recommending Golden Pippin. It tastes fresh, looks very nice, smells good and is rather yummy, especially with the grapefruit and citrus zing. It is drinkable, light and of consistent quality.

Recommended!

~~~BREWERY DETAILS.

Copper Dragon Brewery
Snaygill Industrial Estate
Keighley Road, Skipton
North Yorkshire BD23 2QR
Tel: 01756 702130
Fax: 01756 702136

web: www.copperdragon.uk.com

Summary: A zesty, light beer.