對！如果要開個『絕對避免』的啤酒單的話，這支肯定上前十名！

Marston’s PLC 集團為英國大大小小超市釀了太多合約產品，有些都顯得定位不明甚至粗製濫造；像這款透過旗下 Wychwood 酒廠，為以便宜著名的德國連鎖超市 Lidl 作的 Hatherwood 品牌系列，我就在想是不是用 second/third/fourth... mash 在搞啊？喝起來簡直像水了… 在英國旅遊時，建議真是要完全避過這 Hatherwood 系列… 

Wychwood, Hatherwood Golden Goose, 3.8%abv. (Bitter)

Purchased at the Lidl supermarket, coming in a 500ml clear bottle; BB 31/07/14, served cool in a straight imperial pint glass. Note: The back label gives some information on the ingredients, that Pale and Crystal malts are used, balanced with English Fuggle and Styrian Golding hops. The Head Brewer is Jeff Drew, although the label doesn’t specify which brewery makes this beer for the Lidl supermarket chain.

3.5/5 Appearance: pours a light amber colour, coming with fine carbonation and a thin off-white head settling to a thin rim on the top.

2.75/5 Smell: light yeasty notes come behind the otherwise aromatic gristy pale malts, with a light whiff of floral hops on the side; given a very good swirl, earthy elements from Fuggles come to the fore, as well as a lightly stinky-sulphuric edge as of hard-water based pale ales. Overall, very timid, comes the aroma.

2.5/5 Taste: very gassy on the entry, the flavour is… well, quite neutral on a palate that is watery and faintly slick, showing weak maltiness, some signs of earthy hops, a little boiled root veggie like sweetness possibly as a result of pasteurisation, and a slightly more noticeable tail of dry-ish and sulphuric undertones. Not bitter but rather dry-ish in the finish, without much of an aftertaste.

2.75/5 Mouthfeel & 2.5/5 Overall: initially fizzy but softening as it goes, this light-bodied pale bitter is dull in flavour and not bitter at all, altogether tasting like some drink utilising maybe the second/third…(!) wash and very random manipulation of hops. Given the fact that this watery beer even comes in clear bottles, maybe the dark golden hue is the only selling point all in all? Not recommended. 

--Yau (24/08/2013)