Samuel Smiths Old Brewery Bitter (Cask)

Cask at Cittie of York, october 07. Clear, shinny, golden color with a small, creamy, light cremé head. Sulphurous, slightly eggy aroma but a bit faint. Mild, slightly sulphurous flavor with some fruity notes. Acid, sparky, creamy, very refreshing medium to light palate. Good. Refreshing, mild bitter.

Throughout London, over a number of years. This beer is so variable, depending on how well kept it is, and on how well the pub maintains their lines etc, that it’s difficult to score it accurately. In optimum conditions, is an excellent session beer with a surprisingly warm and rounded malt taste. Very well balanced, neither too bitter nor oversweet. Pleasant soft mouthfeel. Not sure why so many people have this marked down as watery, must be badly kept, as it is anything but when in condition. NOTE: This shouldn’t be confused with the keg version, which is crap by comparison. I think, though will have to check, that Chandos and John Snow have keg.

On tap at Horse and Groom, Great Portlland Street. Reddish amber with a thick creamy, slightly yellowish head. Faint fudge aroma. Good bitterness, some caramel and milk. Smooth. Not over-exciting.

Cask @ The Chandos. Pours amber colour. Aroma isn’t anything great. Taste is a little thin but definitely drinkable. Can be a good session beer.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 3     Pale Yellow(1)->Dark brown(5) : 2     Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 2
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 3   White(1)->Tan(5) : 2   Lasting: 2   Lacing : 1
Aroma:
Intensity : 1  
Yeast : 1   Bread : 1   Apple : XX   Tropical Fruits : XX   Soap : 2   DMS : XX   Diacetyl : XX Sulfur : XX  
Malt : 2   Biscuity : XX   Hay : XX   Toasty : XX   Caramel : 1   Nuts : XX   Honey : XX   Cereals : XX   Grainy : XX
Hops : 1   Noble(1)->American(5) : 1   Leafy : XX   Spicy : XX   Floral : 1   Lemon/Lime : XX   Grapefruit : XX   Orange : XX   Herbal : XX   Grassy : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : XX  
Notes :   Peach/Apricot : XX   Earth : XX   Mint : XX   Butterscotch : XX   Smoke : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 3   Sourness : XX   Bitterness : 2   Complex : XX   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 2   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 1   Clean : XX   Sharp : XX   Watery : 3   Oily : XX   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : XX   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: Rather character devoid, little hops at all. Weak, weak bitter.

Cask (Cittie of Yorke, London) Dark red. Slightly woody malty aroma. Huge malty taste with massive mellow oak accompaniament. Buttery, woody, smooth and mellow. Wonderful, and I’m sure sessionable.

Aug 07 Cask conditioned @ York Arms, York. Thin watery malt, caramel and mild hops. Not exactly unpleasant but lacking in flavour and at this price its probably cheaper than buying a bottle of water to quench your thirst.

Cask. At Ye Old Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street, London. Why is this beer rated so low? It’s nothing world-beating, and yeah, they used a sparkler, but it always pleases. Oh well. Poured a hazy pale copper with a lasting creamy beige head (3+). Wheaty/grainy floral aroma, dry, light toasty malt. Taste, same - some green apple, with a pretty lush understated herbal/wildflower hop backbone, the malt is only there for stability, and the light green apple crispness comes further forward as a result - still crisp and refreshing. Chewy, grainy mouthfeel, quite cask-still, very light, very soft astringency, the graininess really sticks around on the back of your tongue - very good session cask pint, I have this whenever I find it.