Burton Bridge Bramble Stout

Cask at the Smithfield, Derby. Polished magohany with a creamy tan head; milky coffee aroma; flavour is fruity and sweet to start, with traces of blackberries, but also plum and damson, thick and chewy; moving to a dry roast coffee finish.

500ml bottle from Nelson Wines. Fruity notes overlaid on malt on the nose with blackberries evident in the mouth. Dark brown with a fluffy cream coloured head at first. Some chocolate in the taste too but a rather watery palate. Dry finish though.

Fruity aroma doesn’t make up for a lacklustre stout. Body was too watery, and the flavour was noticable in its absense. Disappointed

A Mes rate: 50cl bottle from Kris Wines.
Solid black with no light penetration what so ever and a lasting beige head. Sweet and fruity aroma carried on a nice malty base with the blackberries being totally obvious along with a really pleasant chocolate note. Similar flavour with a little liquorice and a really nice dry bitterness. Something very dandelion and burdock about it, especially in the finish. Tasty and interesting.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 4     Light Brown(1)->Pitch Black(5) : 4     Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 2
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 3   Off-White(1)->Dark Brown(5) : 2   Lasting: 2   Lacing : 2   Nitro : XX
Aroma:
Intensity : 3  
Yeast : 2   Bread : XX   Apple : XX   Tropical Fruits : XX   Ink : XX   Tar : 2   Olives : XX   DMS : XX
Malt : 4   Biscuity : XX   Burnt Toast : 3   Caramel : XX   Nuts : XX   Pumpernickel : 2   Cereals : 2   Coffee : 3   Dark Chocolate : 3   Vanilla : XX   Grapes : XX   Blackberries : XX   Cherries : XX
Hops : 2   Noble(1)->American(5) : 1   Leafy : XX   Floral : 1   Lemon/Lime : XX   Grapefruit : XX Orange : XX   Herbal : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : XX
Notes :   Earth : 1   Wood : XX   Mint : XX   Smoke : XX   Soy : 1   Bourbon : XX   Anise : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 2   Sourness : XX   Lactic : XX   Bitterness : XX   Complex : 2   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 4   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 3   Clean : XX   Sharp : 2   Watery : XX   Oily : XX   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : XX   Mineral : 2   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: Well balanced, nicely aromatic, well roasted stout with the pleasant Burton Bridge yeastiness.

Bottle. Dark brown with a huge light brown head. Berries and espresso nose with a hint of chocolate. Berries flavours to be met by coffee and cocoa powder. Slightly watery. Decent.

Bottled. Black with a rich beige foam. Dryish, salty aroma of black coffee, burnt malts, black chocolate and dark berries. Dryish flavour of dark chocolate, anise, fudge, roasted and blackberries. Medium-bodied with strong carbonation. Burnt finish of black coffee with touches of grass, nuts and salt.

Cask (Kitty’s, Helsinki) Black, and with a thick bready head. Sharp crisp hoppy aroma, hints of coffee too. Smooth coffee-like initial taste, fills in with sharp sour bitterness. Slight saccharin feel but not in a way that detracts from the beer. Wonderfully full and pungent. (Allegedly, it’s like "snus")