3.2 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 12/20
Cask (Red Bull, Cambridge)
Smooth, almost keggy. Nice, but sweet and simple. Bit thin on the hops, and a bit dull.
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.
3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
From cask @Edgar Wallace, London. A thin grayish blond lace, over deep amber colored body. Toffee/caramel aroma. Some dusty and lightly spiced hops as well. Light malt body. Light caramel and rounded toasted bready malts. Noticable bittering hops, faint spicy hops for flavoring. Softly carbonated, gentle on the palate. Super drinkability, a more than decent Bitter.
2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
Sweet malt, fairly heavy texture, hints of caramel and vanilla. decent beer.
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.
3.2 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Cask at The Anchor at Tintern Abbey. Amber pour. The aroma is leafy and woody. Deeper malt flavour than the last one with a bit of buckwheat honey flavour. Moderate bitterness and a little bit of light toast. Fuggles hop flavour. A touch of soapiness but it’s not obnoxious in any way. Decent bitter, but I prefer the last one.
3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 10/20
Amber ales with a thin white head. Malt, caramel toffee aroma. Slight malt flavour. Syrup smooth texture. Medium body.
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.
2.4 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 2/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 10/20
On tap, pours bronze. Aroma and flavour of toasted malt, light hops, with a bitter aftertaste. Drinkable.
3.3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Cask at the Euston Tap. Clear auburn pour with a light film. Bready malt aroma, lightly toasted. Doughy bread flavor with faint toast, caramel, plum, light earth bitters, but really light. Light to medium in body with fine carbonation. Malty finish, some sugary caramel. Nothing special but totally drinkable.
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