beer_name: Double Dragon
text: Pours a rich red-amber colour. Head is off-white and all big bubbles, hard to form any kind of crown, and lace is lacklustre, just a bit of whispy foam. Standard; not bad, not good. Smells very malty; too sweet, really with a mass exodus of malt aroma giving milky, creamy caramel with burnt sugar, praline and a touch of artificial vanilla. Slight metallic hop note at the back isn't enough to lend this gravitas. Taste doesn't have that sweetness. In its place is a fairly bland, dour bitterness. Largely watery, really, with a light cereal grain upfront, develops into very watery mid with whispers of grass and green tea around the edges. Bit of sweet grain pops up again late, which only serves to expose the distinct shortcomings of this beer's bittering plan. There's just nothing to this palate, a real quaff-ten-pints-with-your-mates ale of blah. Mostly thin and watery, slight drying twist towards the back which suggests more hops than does the palate. Can't say I expected much from this, so well done for delivering no surprises, beer. National ale of Wales? Is Wales a nation of blonde pigtailed girls who wear pink gingham frocks to work every day?