Downton New Forest Ale

Brewed by Downton
Style: Bitter
Salisbury, England

Serve in English pint

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9th December 2011
Pigs Ear. Clear amber beer, tiny off white head. Light dry palate. Slightly floral malt. Okay tangy dry marmalade hops. Dry finish. Okay but utterly standard fayre.

500ml Bottle - Copper coloured. Malt, sultanas and caramel in the aroma. Refreshing taste with hops, apple, malt and a hint of spice.

Cask (handpump) @ 28th Pigs Ear Beer and Cider Festival 2011, at The Round Chapel in Hackney, London, England.

Clear medium to dark amber color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly to fully lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, caramel, dark fruit, sugar, light roasted, nutty aroma only, light to moderate hoppy, dark orange - citrus. Flavor is moderate to light light heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a long duration, sweet malt - fruit, sugar, woody notes. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat. [20111209]

Cask (gravity) - The Trafford Arms, Norwich. Fine, lacy and lasting white head clear bright golden coloured body. Crisp and toasty citrus aromas with a biscuity malt note and pale malt sweetness. Similar flavour profile: nicely zesty and bright with yeast and orange touches. Light to medium body, crisp carbonated mouthfeel, medium length light hop bitterness.

Cask at the Priory Arms, Stockwell, London on 21st January 2012. Copper with bubbly off white head and plenty of lacing. Richly malty in aroma, then liquid is packed with herby and spicy notes. Zingy mouthfeel. Spiciness remains in an aftertaste that also gains a bitter touch.

Cask@The Junction Tavern, London. Amber colour, small off--white head. Aroma is sweet malts with some fruity and floral notes. Also some crystal malty crispyness. Flavour is crystal and caramel malts, toffee and some fruity notes as well. Quite nice and refreshing.

Gravity cask at the Bree Louise. Clear, dark gold pour with a filmy surface. Toasted malt aroma, some ripe fruits. Light sweet flavor, some toast, smoke, light leaves. Light bodied with fine carbonation. Semi-sharp finish, mild burnt sugar and earth, dry malts. Pretty alright.

Hand pulled at the Wellington, Birmingham. Ooooh, sampled this at the end of an evening when already not in the mood. Despite this, I trust my sampling instincts. Taste is full of brick and burnt malt, approximating toffee on top of stem, branch and watery sweet cereal. Let down and coming round.

Cask at Wellington Arms, Bedford. Amber with a small white head. Sharp hairy malt aroma and taste. Mid bitter finish. Not complex, but a decent sessioner.

(Cask at Bricklayer’s Arms) This looked and tasted like an ordinary bitter. Nothing wrong, no edges and nothing special added. Good, balanced and easily quaffable brew. Perhaps molasses was the only thing I don’t usually find in bitters.