Brewery: Wychwood Brewery, Witney, Oxfordshire, England

Brewery Description: “Hobgoblin is a powerful full-bodied copper red, well-balanced brew. Strong in roasted malt with a moderate hoppy bitterness and slight fruity character that lasts through to the end.”

Brew Style: Strong Dark Ale, 5.2% ABV

Recommended Glassware: English Pint

The Ugly Truth: Another offering from the brewery that brought you Scarecrow (or Circlemaster), Hobgoblin is good stuff, plain and simple. It pours nicely, with a good-sized head and a deep reddish color to it. The aroma is not overly strong, but is pleasent, with a faint roasted hint to it. The taste is very enjoyable. Fairly smooth, mild bitterness to it that is just enough to be noticed but not enough to interfere with other flavors. The roasted taste is subtle, and balances well with the bitterness. I didn’t really get the fruity character, but that doesn’t surprise me since I always seem to have trouble isolating that aspect in a number of beers. The finish is fairly clean, with the bitterness carrying through for a little bit, but all in all it’s a good drink. I definitely recommend going out and trying Hobgoblin. Its not the most outstanding dark ale I’ve ever had, but it is very good and it shouldn’t disappoint.

Verdict: I’ll allow one of their marketting posters to say it all, but Hobgoblin gets an 8 out 10 bottlecaps.