Bottle conditioned beers are alive. That is, they contain yeasts inside that are still alive and chomping away on malt sugars after the beer leaves the brewery. This helps preserve the beer, one reason for doing it, can add complex flavors, another reason, and adds carbonation, the main reason homebrewers do it. It can be a tricky science, since an insufficient amount of sugars in the bottle can lead to under-carbonation, too many and you have other problems.

What are these other problems you ask? The best case is called a gusher. When you open the bottle, it will literally gush foam over the top and make a pretty big mess. It doesn't leave much beer to drink either. This is an unpleasant situation, but as I said, it's a best case. The worst case is the bottle will actually explode. This is much more common in home-brewed beers than it is in commercially packaged ones.

What made me think of this? Well here I was, sitting at my computer writing about beer (what else?), when I heard a loud POP! coming from the bedroom, where I happened to be keeping some beers I made at the Brew-on-Premise (a place you can go to brew your own beer). Sure enough, a bottle had exploded, and there was beer and shattered glass everywhere. Of course, this inspired me to review a bottle-conditioned beer.

Worthington White Shield was not available in the United States until recently, and was a highly prized ale in England. Formerly brewed by Bass, it is now contracted out, brewed and bottled under license by King & Barnes LTD, in Horsham, England.

This has always been a much sought after beer for me, though I'm not sure how the current King & Barnes version compares to the original. The label proclaims White Shield "The real ale that matures in the bottle". Mine was purchased warm from the store shelf. Pours to a murky ruby color, nice creamy head formation, slightly fruity malt nose. There is a smooth, rich mouthfeel, firm malt body, fruitiness hinting at fresh cantaloupe. Rich and sweet towards the finish, hop bitterness takes the beer from there and punctuates it nicely. A truly fantastic brew, and a steal at $3 for the 1/2 liter bottle.

Update 7/25/2013: White Shield is only slightly more expensive today at $3.99 a bottle, though it is now brewed by the Molson-Coors conglomerate. Still tasty though with a slightly buttery, flinty nose and a firm chewy maltiness in the palate. I do like the hints of butter and toffee, but the fruitiness is lacking for sure. The beer reminds me of Bass Ale with more hops I think, and while tasty with a pleasing hop aroma and grassy bitterness at the last, I am missing the old fruitiness. That said, the hops seem more pronounced, surprisingly bitter on the tongue at the last with a pleasant herbal grassy aroma. This is said to be an IPA after all, though at 5.6% a rather light one.

My bottle has a best by date of March 6th, 2014, but as this is real ale and bottle-conditioned, it might last longer if properly stored. My sample was certainly very fresh tasting. From the label:

William Worthington first started brewing in 1744, becoming a pioneering figure in the industry. The secret to Worthington's success was the purity of Burton's water helping to create superior beers desired by many. To this day the William Worthington's brewery continues to brew exceptional, quality ales at the heart of British Brewing-the National Brewery Centre, Burton-Upon-Trent. White Shield is the longest surviving India Pale Ale and one of the UK's most heavily decorated ales, having won numerous Campaign for Real Ale awards (CAMRA).

The famed water of Burton-Upon-Trent does make a difference here. It's a major claim to fame for Bass Ale and was a key component in the original India Pale Ales. White Shield is a treat that should not be missed, and at the price, won't cost you a lot to enjoy.



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