Draught Bass (Cask)

InBev UK
Brewed at Marstons (Marstons plc)
Style: Bitter
Luton, England

Serve in English pint

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

UPDATED: OCT 2, 2008 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]

Last time I tasted Bass was in August 1993 in Kilmalcolm, Renfrewshire. This is my tasting notes take at the time. Cask, handpump dispense. Clear amber in colour with a loose foam white head. Slight metallic aroma with thin mouthfeel. Weak pale malt base leading to a poor range of noticeable flavour. Slight sweetness of barley sugar and green apple noted. Hop resin in the aftertaste giving a harsh metallic flavour. Finish has a slight metallic taint with a sweet note of green apple still evident. A poor session beer.

Sat in the lord Burton in Burton on Trent. Mid amber, Burton snatch crisp malt. Good bitterness.

On cask at The Cask And Barrel. Pours a dark golden colour with a thick and creamy white head. Aroma is quite yeasty with biscuity malt and a creamy mouth-feel. Moderate carbonation.

UPDATED: FEB 29, 2012 On tap. Golden colour with a white head. Fruity nose. Medium sweet malty background, with floral and fruity hopps.

Fruity and floral aroma, taste is quite similar. Easy bitter to drink, nothing special.

In restaurant in London. Happy to find a beer I had not tried in a reataurant. A pretty decent beer. Nice golden colour, and a good head.

Red brown colour with thick creamy head. flavour has a little bit of woodiness, malt and the sulphuric edge quite typical to beers from the region.

I must have been trying a different beer to everyone else! Fruity, nutty, malty aroma, complex taste. I found it very satisfying even at £3.20 a pint.

Cask. Pale ambery golden colour with a small head. Aroma is mild fruity and floral notes along with some slight maltyness. Flavour is quite similar. Easy to drink, and no flaws.

UPDATED: SEP 16, 2011 Cask, The Cherry Tree, Leicester. A very temperamental beer. You need to get it on form. Unfortunately this was Bass in average condition. White head, brown body. Sulphur, malt, hop, fruity, caramel. Bittersweet, with a dry finish. 5 3 5 3 12 Rerate. Cask. The Craythorne Arms, Craythorne. In very good condition, can’t fault the conditioning here. Fruity. Citric notes. Malt, hops in good balance. Just a bog standard English bitter, no faults whatsoever. Bittersweet. Dry finish. 5 3 6 3 11