Samuel Smiths Old Brewery Bitter (Cask)

[Cask at The Cock, London] A slightly hazy orange beer served thru a sparkler to give it some off-white head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of caramel. The flavo ris sweet malty with quite a lot of fruit and toffee, leading to a lightly bitter end. The mouthfeel is very smooth. A solid bitter.

Cask (handpump) @ Chandos, London. Clear amber body with a creamy small off-white head that leaves nice lacing. Aroma is medium sweet, spiced apple, some herbal, light wood. Taste is medium sweet, earthy/herbal, apple, some caramel, with a bit of wood in the finish. Easy to drink.

Pleasant bitter - from the wood! At least in some pubs.

<i>Cask Conditioned at Duke of Argyll, London</i>
Amber color, persistent creamy head. Light toffee aroma and toffee flavor. Balanced Bitter, refreshing but unassertive.

(Cask at Princess Louise, London) Clear amber body with a creamy small off-white head that leaves nice lacing. Aroma is medium sweet, spiced apple, some herbal, light wood. Taste is medium sweet, earthy/herbal, apple, some caramel, with a bit of wood in the finish. Watery light body.

Cask handpull at Cittie of Yorke, Chancery Lane. Amber with lasting thin beige head. Caramel aroma, no real yeast or hop on aroma. It’s ok in mouth but a bit thin. Bit bland overall. Drinkable. "It’s better when it comes in the mouth than when you swallow," as my Danish companion said. Not as good as I remember but also not terrible. It’s a bitter, some malty fruit towards the finish. Some drying hop on end.

Cask@Princess Louise, Holborn, London. Amber color, good creamy off-white head. Mild nutty nose - can’t get much out of it in the smokey pub. Fruity, mildly hoppy towards the end. Good session ale.

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.