Cairngorm Howler

Brewed by Cairngorm
Style: Bitter
Aviemore, Scotland

Serve in English pint

this beer danced all over my mouth, hoppy in places but not over the top, lot of citrus fruits more orange than anything else, nice creamy head, and boy does it satisfy your thirst.

[cask at Cloisters, Edinburgh] Clear copperish brown with a decent head. Malty aroma with plenty of dark fruit. On the palate, nice balance of bitterness and sweetness, good hit of bramble fruit with some citrus and spice. Interesting stuff, really very sessionable indeed [01042011] 400th rating

Cask, Kings Head, Carlisle. Good example of a Scots heavy. Sweet, malty, dark, good sharp tang at the back of the throat, verging on the spicy side.

A beautiful beautiful beer. Its a shame I have work tomorrow I could have drunk this all night.

Cask at the Old Manor (JDW), Bracknell. Hazy reddish amber with a thick cream head that heavily laces the glass; citrus aroma; zingy in the mouth with orange fruit flavours and chewy roasted malts; fruity gently bitter finish. Very pleasant. One of the best of the JDW festival ales.

Cask handpull at The Monk’s Retreat, JDW, Reading. Copper, slight haze, lasting beige head. Cascades really show through on aroma and then the fruity Willametter enhance and develop the malt, the finish is pure stinging blackcurrant Willamette. One ofthe better ones of the 50 festival beers.

Cask at ’Spoons, Milton Keynes, in ’Spoons Real Ale Festival. Dark copper with a small white head. Sweet spicy hair oil hop aroma, but with something else. Mandarin perhaps? Ginger? An interesting aroma. Orange marmalade malt in the taste and a corky, grainy background. Mid bitter finish. I like this.

The Briar Rose (JDW), Brum. Tawny amber with dense fine suds and dainty lace. Slight floral hop, malt and yeast aroma suggesting Turkish Delight; unexpected mellow lemon and rose notes beyond, softening into faint chocolate and digestives. Robust husky malts and a dab of quinine in a dry bitter linger. A bit useful.