Samuel Smiths Old Brewery Bitter (Cask)

Cask at Cittie of York, London. Copper-amber color with creamy head unusual for a cask ale. Ultra smooth and very drinkable. Little fruit and malt in the aroma. In fact, the aroma was so light that I had difficulties in sensing it. Light malt, fruit and hop flavor. Finishes with light bitterness, aromatic malt, vanilla and woodyness. Not unpleasant, but has disappointingly light aromas and flavors.

(Cask at Princess Louise, Holborn, London 20 Mar 2006) Copper colour with a firm white head. Nose is malty, fruity with apricots and citrus. Taste is malty, creamy and somewhat sweet, with a drier, medium bitter finish. Refreshing, smooth and easy to drink, but lacking some personality.

A lovely, endlessley drinkable creamy session bitter when stored and served well, but beware; on draft this sours very easily if the bar staff aren’t on the ball. If it doesn’t taste right, it probably isn’t; don’t be afraid to send a bad pint back.

1. Cask Handpump at the Malt Shovels, Altrincham 09/06/2001 Smooth on the palate and creamy. Malt finish. 2. Cask Handpump at the Whipping Stocks Inn, Over Peover 14/09/2001 Mid brown coloured and smooth on the palate. Malt finish. 3. Cask Handpump at the Boot Inn, Chester 17/04/2004 Golden amber coloured with some sour fruit flavour. Smooth slightly bitter lasting malt finish. 4. Cask Handpump at the Queens Head, Stockport 09/06/2007 Fruit and hop aromas. Copper amber fruity and slightly sour with some bitterness in a crisp full malt finish. 5. Cask Handpump at Sinclairs Oyster Bar, Manchester 21/12/2007 Amber coloured smooth on the palate and malty with a crisp and slightly dry bitter finish. 6. Cask Handpump at the York Arms, York 20/02/2008 White head. Fruity aroma. Amber coloured and fruity with a crisp and slightly bitter malt finish. 7. Cask Handpump at the Golden Lion, Frodsham 11/04/2008 Floral aroma. Thick white head. Bronze coloured and fruity with some alcohol present. Hints of dryness and bitterness in a crisp full malt finish. 8. Cask Handpump at the Britannia Inn, Tadcaster 06/02/2009 Hop aroma. Golden coloured smooth on the palate and hoppy with a crisp and slightly dry malt finish. 9. Cask Handpump at the Golden Ball, Scarborough 08/02/2009 Floral aroma. White head. Golden coloured smooth on the palate and fruity with a little bitterness in a crisp full malt finish.

Cask at some sidestreet pub in Sheffield. Cheap stuff, decent enough light malts, thick collar head.

Cask, from the Chandos in Covent Garden. A brilliant white creamy head, artficial taste, not nice-I could only manage a 1/4 of the pint after drinking a pint of delicious Landlord. No comments about the character I just couldn’t drink it, my drinking partner said the same, maybe it wasn’t stored properly, maybe I will give it another shot when I am home again.

While not one of the best I’ve ever had, I really enjoyed this one. I enjoy almost all Samuel Smith fare. The company I had over at my house seemed to enjoy more than I did.

Pint pulled at The Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street (London), a milky white that settles to an orange body with a full creamy head. A floral aroma with hints of citrus. Citrus strong again in the flavour (oranges I think) with further hints of melon. Very smooth on the palate with a slight bitterness left on the tongue.