4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
I was at the 30th CAMRA Cotswold beer Festival when I reviewed this beer (July 2006). The fest is held in a 15th Century ’Tithe Barn’, which is a full mile from the nearest road, nor is it on a flight path to anywhere, so peace and quiet is the order of the day, unless the local town band are playing.
Gem in my opinion, is a gem. Gravity poured, straight out the barrel in such wonderful surroundings, how could it not look, smell and taste fantastic?
A slight hint of chocolate, because of the crystal malt used during brewing, can be detected if you only take a small mouthful, but who wants to do that, when there are over 40 other beers to sample?
It is fruity and also hoppy, in fact it is a fine example of a good British Strong Bitter.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Cask at blue blazer edinburgh ... Deep copper ... strong slightly sweet malty nose ... young fresh green wood ... nice toffee fruits ... little sweet hoppyness... good mouth feel.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Cask conditioned & on hand Pump from The Alex in Derby on Sat 29th Jan.
Dark / mid brown colour.
Deep, rich, matly flavours. Not to strong tasting but very drinkable. Decent session ale.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
had this brew at the Bathampton pub on the riverside of the Avon in England (see: http://www.thebathamptonmill.co.uk/), as it was the most local on offer ... not a classic ale at all, being rather dry and smoky in the palate ... a very interesting brew, which is rather suited to accompany a meal than be enjoyed on it’s own ...
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
@ Salamander, Bath. Deep auburn with small but nice head. Diacetyl in aroma is like a buttered dark bread smell. Sweet and soft with malty caramel and toffee, that sort of thing. Pretty clean finish, though, rounds it all out well. Score seems generous.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Tried this at The Lord Moon of the Mall, Whitehall, London in July 2008. Cask, handpump dispense. Pale copper in colour with a thick buff tan head. Distinct vanilla fudge and crunchie notes in a lingering sweet aroma. Smooth and rich flavoursome mouthfeel. Mixed malt complex gives an initial roast flavour of toasted almonds and coconut. Main malt component gives a good whack of molasses, overipe figs and vanilla toffee. Slight hop presence in the brief aftertaste but vanilla makes an appearance right at the finish. Superb complex porter, full of robust rich flavours. Tastes far stronger than og suggests. Highly recommended.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Pint in Anchor Bleu, Bosham. Pours toffee amber. Thin head. Nose is sweet toffee malt, fruit hops and musky grain. Taste is nicely balanced toffee malt and fruit hops. Very little bitterness on the finish and quite smooth.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
[cask]
Strong caramel aroma with some pleasant diacetyl and fresh walnuts. Almost clear bronze with a bubbly, white ring. Biscuity caramel flavour with very low diacetyl and a good level of bitterness. Also some nuts and very little hops flavour. Corriander note. Light body, low to moderate carbonation, moderately bitter finish.
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Cask @ Oliver Twist, Stockholm
Red/brown. A bit nutty aroma and flavour. Slightly sweet and a bit caramel in finish. Nice session beer on the sweet side.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Cask conditioned at The Woolpack, Banbury, Oxon. Brown amber with white head. A rich malty body with a touch of sweetness and caramel, the flavour is full for a light bitter with a hint of prunes and a wet graininess. Hops do come through quite late, a little peppery and dusty, but not to any great extent. An accomplished bitter without reaching greatness.
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