Saffron Muntjac

Brewed by Saffron
Style: Bitter
Bishops Stortford, England

Serve in English pint

500ml bottle at home on 19 June 2011. Vintage bottle, best before November 2007, unintentionally tucked away in the “cellar”. Opening the bottle it’s immediately obvious there’s something not quite right – we have a gusher! When things settle down there are tart, acidic notes and some woodiness – presumably the result of an infection. Not for the first time with a bottled UK bitter it comes over not unlike an accidental geuze. So it all ends up OK, to me at least, even if unintended. Probably should re-rate though. Also dry with a distinct bitterness.

Bottle 500ml.

A guscher .. Clear medium yellow orange colour with a average to large, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, sour. Flavour is moderate sweet and light acidic with a average duration. Body is medium, texture is watery to oily, carbonation is soft. [20110619]

Bottled. Hazy amber colour, with particles floating around. Mediumsized white head. Aroma is fruits, nectar, sweet malts, mild wooden notes. Flavour is fruits, floral malts and some sour fruity and wooden notes.

A Mes rate: Cask at Chelmsford Beer Festival. Nice clean mid amber colour. Dusty tobacco nose that is a little on the bland side. Citric hops with lots of grapefruit and some more tobacco in the flavour. Nice creamy bitter finish. Reasonably enjoyable and very drinkable session beer.