Bass (Cask)

Brewed by Marstons (Marstons plc)
Style: Bitter
Burton-on-Trent, England

July, 2002: Kings Head, Minster. The draught is unpredictable but tasty when it’s kept well. Often on special promotion and can be had very cheap. At its best it could be described as smooth, at its worst thick and artificial. [2.9]
Sept, 2003: The Ship On Shore, Isle of Sheppey. Lovely condition. 2nd day on. Some sulphur in the nose - pleasantly whiffy. Soft & fruity flavour, finishing with a gentle dry earthy tang. Very enjoyable. [3.3]
May, 2007The Mitre, Cambridge Bass is seen less and less in pubs these days. The last time I had it was when Marstons were doing trials - but I had one of the bad versions. I think this may be the first true Marstons version I’ve had. I enjoyed it. It’s a warm, embracing, inoffensive mid strength best bitter. There are hints of honey and a touch of burnt almond. The balance of malt and hops is good, though there is a slight sweetness about this that a few more hops might sort out. Not the classic you’d hope it would be - but it’s certainly quite drinkable. [3.2]
June, 2008 Coopers Tavern, Burton - considered the Bass brewery tap Ooooh yes! To have a pint of Bass in Burton. How glorious - and the best pub to drink it. Fresh as firestorm. This has a sexy snatch. Gives any red blooded man a firm and steady hard on for a week. [3.0]

Cask Conditioned at The Bowling Green, Banbury. Classic orange amber with solid soapy head, it has to be the best looking beer ever!. I wished it drank as good as it looks, still popular, but the chalky sulpher is no longer there, there is a sweetness and a dry hop, but I want more from this. Was once my favourite, now no longer so sadly.

Tasted 03/02/2005. Handled not quite a pint from Dog and Bone, Lambton Quay. That classic english creamy amber colour with a taste like an extra hopped Kilkenny. Pleasant hop aroma and flavour (fuggles and goldings at a guess). Lacks freshness but this is the pub’s fault not the beer’s.

Draught & Bottle: Bronze, copper color with a thick white head. Medium bodied. Aroma is malty, with mild notes of caramel, spice. Taste is toffee, malt, with some coffee/chocolate notes as well as some mild hops. When served fresh on cask it can be a very good beer.

Had this on tap tonight, in a bar that serves beer at its proper 40 degrees. It got me thinking. You know, Bass is really a pretty awesome beer. It’s dark brown and malty and pretty great. Sure, it’s nothing special like a Maudite or a Ommegang Rare Vos, but for an every day beer, this stuff is of the hook. Word.

Cask Conditioned, but from a jug behind the bar of The Vic in Derby. Mid Brown in colour. A good solid beer. Not sure it’s as good as it was before Coors bought it out but that could just be psychological. Anyway I believe Mardtons will soon be brewing it....

(draft) A nicely balanced ale that’s probably getting a bit of an undeserved backlash for being so prevalent. With that said, it is a little boring. I’d drink this to drink, not for the flavor, which is decent but average.

Cask@ Coopers pub Waterloo Station, Mutiple times bottled and keg in USA. Good Straighforward beer.