Bristol Beer Factory Bristletoe

Brewed by Bristol Beer Factory
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Bristol, England

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

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Draught @ Euston Tap, 190 Euston Road, London, Greater London, England NW1 2EF.

Clear dark brown colour with a average, creamy, good lacing, mostly to fully lasting, off-white to beige head. Aroma is moderate to light light heavy malty, roasted, caramel, moderate hoppy, pine, orange - citrus, english licorice, light yeasty, UK yeast. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and bitter with a long duration, chalk. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20101231]

Bottled (from Ales By Mail). Coppery amber colour with a mediumsized beige foamy head, that leaves some lace. Aroma is the traditional "beer poop" (drink beers 2-3 days, including a bunch of yeasty ones, go for a poop and the sweetish strange poopy notes you get is close to this). Flavour is mildly spicy, herbal with some sweet malts and mild bittering notes. Quite watery and dull. Best Before 17/10/2013 (I rarely mention BBE’s, but I had to with this one, as if it’s rather crap now, it will be rotten crap by the BBE date). Funny enough about one minute after swallowing a mouthful of this, you get some slight cinnamon notes to it. This will be a no go for the future.

Bottle at Chriso New Year 2012/13. Some spice and herb. base veer is a bit thin. decentish

Bottle at Chriso’s tasting in London, 121230. Somewhat hazy amber/copper beer with a nice lasting beige head. Malty milky aroma, chocolate, caramel, fruity notes, citrus, vinous notes. Malty caramel flavor, raisins, toffee, floral notes, citrus, peach, notes of passion fruit, roasted notes, some raisins.

A Sim rate (cask at the Saaaaaaaafhampton): Aroma of leathery malt. Bit dull with some muted roasty notes. Colour’s a great autumnal auburn. It tastes like a bit of an assault: roastiness, smoke, with a ton of hops and malt. Definite metallic tinge which almost ruins it, but subsides just in time. Cinnamon and nutmeg make it Christmassy with a crisp roasty finish. Decent beer. Enjoyed it.

Bottle. Copper with a cream foam. Aromas are coffee and chocolate with yeast and citrus. Herbal and spicy with some burnt notes and grapefruit. Flavours are nutty, fruity coffee with grapefruit bitterness. Dark chocolate with festive spices. Good.

Draft at the Euston Tap. Pours clearish, dark amber with a frothy head. Malty aroma with some organic grains, light berries and earthy grass. Lightly sweet, lightly doughy malts, some odd butterscotch or something, maybe nuts, with some herbal bitters. Light to medium in body with fine carbonation. Finishes with lingering, mildly astringent hops, light bread and faint spiciness. About average.

Bottle at the Shoulder of Mutton 21.06.12 in company of Peter Fowler who cracked this open, cheers Peter. Chesnut in colour with a slim off-white head that swiftly departed. From the description I understand that there is ginger and coriander in here but they are pleasantly subtle enough not to ruin things. The hoppiness is still there this is lovely and fruity. Like this. A7 A4 T7 P3 Ov14 3.5

Cask-conditioned at the Royal Oak, Bath 3/1/09. Chestnut coloured with a decent, off-white head. Aroma had some caramel, red fruit and a hint of spicing. Malty flavour, with some sweetness giving way to cinnamon and other spices (nutmeg?), and a decent bitter finish. Drinkable.

500ml bottle from Beers of Europe. Oh this is nice. A good, roasty toasty beer. Very drinkable. very refreshing. Bags of flavours. Really fine, tip toe balance of sweet and bitter, sharp and comforting. The spices don’t really come through that much - the dark malts tend to overshadow them, but they add a little bit of warmth and depth, and fill in the corners. This is a very satisfying Winter Warmer.