First published in BEER November 2007 as part of a piece about beers from Booths supermarkets. More Booths beers in previous post.
ABV: 5 per cent
Origin: Bedford, Bedfordshire, England
Website www.youngs.co.uk
Wells & Young's Young's Champion Live Golden Ale
Like many people I was sad to see Young’s quit Wandsworth but I’ve been impressed with the subsequent flavour matching at Bedford’s Eagle Brewery, including for the bottled specialities which had made the venerable ram trademark a brand to watch on supermarket shelves.
A case in point is Champion Live, a beer that, as a former Tesco Beer Challenge winner, actually owes its existence to another supermarket chain. Made simply from English lager malt and Styrian Goldings hops, this very drinkable rich golden beer with a good white head could be seen as a quality lager made with the techniques of a bottle conditioned ale.
A biscuity barley sugar aroma with hints of lemon squash, grapefruit, peaches and honey leads to a crisp but full malty palate that starts sweetish and turns tangy with a flinty edge. The detectable sour, slightly apply note is something of a house characteristic also found in the Young’s standard draught bitter, or “Ordinary”. A clean swallow leads to a dry mineral finish with chewy, slightly earthy hops and a very slight sulphur note. If not especially complex, this is a light-hearted, easy-going and very enjoyable beer.
For more Booths beers see next post.
Read more about this beer at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/youngs-champion/25540/
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