3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Tasted this in the Saltcot, Saltcoats (JDW) in May 2010. Cask, handpump dispense. Clear ruby black in colour with a thick buff creamy head. Black treacle present in the short aroma. Thin but creamy mouthfeel and superb lacing throughout. Dark malts give a rich sweet note of black treacle toffee, damsons and bramble. Bitter chocolate notes appear later. Dusty hop resins give a short bitter aftertaste that fades fast. Finish has sweet raisins and caramel notes to it. A very good mild and highly recommended..
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Cask at the Monks Retreat (JDW), Reading. Deep espresso coffee black in colour with a ruby hue and a beige head; intense plum aroma; the body is soft but fully bodied and creamy with purple fruit flavours; the finish is dry and gently bitter. An excellent mild.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Cask, handpump at The Four Candles, JDW, Oxford 25-05-10 Pours black actually its not totally black there are some reddy glints towards the bottom. There is a creamy (textured) off-white almost cappucino coloured head. Nutty and caramel on nose, touch sweet but pleasant. Taste is a little nutty but smooth, creamy and with some toffee and lightly roasted flavours, really likeable and served in bloody good nick. A7 A4 F7 P4 Ov14 3.6
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Cask at The Regal (JDW), Cambridge. Very dark red brown with a small off white head. Sweet blackcurrant fruit aroma. Sweet fruity taste with some ripe apple. Slight bitterness. Very acceptable, though served a trifle warm.
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms (JDW), Bristol 24/05/10. Near black with attractive red hints and a decent, off-white head. Dark fruits, some caramel and a lick of liquorice with a gentle, bitter finish. Enjoyable.
3.2 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 12/20
Cask at The Metropolitan (JDW) by Baker St tube. Deep red-brown with a clingy fine tan head. Tart plums on the nose, plus a little red wine. Smooth and fruity, with plums and redcurrants and more vinous hints, soft bitterness in the finish, along with notes of dark chocolate and roast nuts. Rather more-ish.
2.9 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 11/20
Cask @ Hengler’s Circus, JDW. Colour is dark reddish-brown with a medium foamy off-white head. Aroma of slight roasted malts and fruits. Flavour is sour fruits, hint of roasted malts, a bit of licorice, red wine.
A bit disappointing, keeping in mind the high ratings so far (although the most recent is from 3 years ago). Not enough roastiness, not enough body.
3.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Cask
Dark brown, thin head. Sweet burnt malt aroma. Surprisingly hoppy for a mild. More like a porter, but that’s not a perfect match either. Very well-rounded combination of burnt and roasted malts - sweet and a little spicy - with subtle, but quite emphatic, hoppiness. Great mild.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
UPDATED: MAY 25, 2010 1. Cask Handpump at the Penny Black, Northwich (JDW) 31/10/2001
Dark coloured smooth on the palate with earthy aromas. Very bitter. Dry hop finish.
2. Cask Handpump at the Penny Black, Northwich 12/05/2003
Dark red and sugary sweet. Slightly dry roast finish.
3. Cask Handpump at the Penny Black, Northwich 15/10/2004
Dark coloured and fruity. Slightly dry pleasant malt finish.
4. Cask Handpump at the Palladium JDW, Llandudno 03/05/2010
Fruit and some liqorice aroma. Small white head. Black smooth and a little rich on the palate with a hint of dryness in a liqorice roast finish.
3 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 12/20
Cask Conditioned @ JDW, Soton. MAlt liqourice and nut against a faint fruity background. Falls between refreshingly dry and sumptuously sweet and fails to satisfy on either count.
|
