Nethergate April Fool

Brewed by Nethergate
Style: Bitter
Sudbury, England

Serve in English pint

Late rate from Spoons spring fest. Handpulled cask at the Crosse Keys. Amber with a white head. Copper wih an off white head. A good solid bitter without any outstanding features.

Cask at The Fox and Anchor, Smithfield 28 Apr 08. Unclear. Amber colored. A small creamy head. Modest aroma of apricot. Fruity flavor with prunes in the foreground. Fruity bitter finish. Well rounded.

Cask, The Highcross, Leicester. Amber with a white foam. Aromas are biscuit malts with kentish hops. Spicy, dry and yeasty. Flavours are dry and yeasty with light toffee and chocolate malts. Some citrus and prickly pine hops. Long bitter finish.

Cask conditioned at a Wetherspoons. Amber colour with no head. I appreciate that this had been kept with the normal Spoons lack of attention, but these breweries will continue to risk it. Flat with a background toasted & vanilla note in the malt. Sweetish, really no better than ordinary.

Cask in the counting house. Aroma is fruity and floural, some sweetish malt character comign through. Taste is richer than expected, but very nice and juicey. A hottie foresure.

Cask handpull at Willow Walk ’Sporks. Copper colour with a slight haze and thin beige head. Slightly sweet juicy bitter, with earthy hop. Rather a good fruity/floral/juicy bitter. I like it, good solid 4.1% bitter.

Cask (handpump) at the Knights Templar (JDW), Chancery Lane, London. Amber colour with a loose white head. Very slightly hazy. The US hops are evident in the aroma but are very subtle. Some flowery hop notes in the flavour but, again, quite subdued. Mouthfeel is mellow and smooth, with a light herbal bitterness. A decent beer but could use a bit more punch. I like the US hops but would have preferred a rather bolder deployment. Perhaps the Stone beer coming from Shepherd Neame has temporarily conditioned my palate in this respect.