UPDATED: JAN 28, 2022 Cask Handpump at Penny Black, Northwich 10/10/2011 Fruit and big grain aroma. Small beige head. Black very smooth and a little rich on the palate. Fruity with a hint of dryness and bitterness in a creamy malt finish. (JDW Festival beer # 07)

Cask Pint – JDW Fest Autumn 2011 in Nov 2011 - Black in colour. Very Malty; roasty malts, liquorice, hint of chocolate, some coffee. Hoppy; hop bitterness. Fruity; hint of dark fruits. Sour/bitter roasty malty throughout. Fairly thin. Drinkable. (2011-11-08)

This review is of a hand pulled half taken in a Wetherspoons pub in London during the 2011 Autumn festival. Dark brown, almost black body with a tan coloured crown on top, looked fine. Malted oats were used, along with Fuggles and Cascade hops, this gave the beer a smooth feel and taste. Dark chocolate smells and flavours oozed out of the glass, very pleasant and very easy to drink. The hops were there, but in the background throughout, no bitterness but maybe some hop fruitiness towards the end of the tasting.

Weak bodied craft porter, lacking good taste or a decent aroma as a result.

5th October 2011
Crosse Keys Spoons. Opaque deep red brown beer. Residual tan head. Light dry palate. Mild carbonation. Okay medium dark malts. Mildly fruity undertone - traces of cherry and orange. Mild tangy dark malt. Dry finish. Okay.

[Cask at the Monk’s Retreat (JDW), Reading] Black with a moderate tan head and a slight fizz. Good rich mouthfeel. Milk chocolate dominates through and through, balanced against a light roastiness and a little smoke. This was very soft and gentle on the palatte, verging on a mild. But a good mild. Very mellow and relaxing, I liked this.

Dark with a lasting beige head. The malted oats are in strong evidence, giving it a porridge-like quality, with some fruit in the finish. Decent enough, but not really by the standards of porters.

Hand pulled cask at the Moon on the Hill (JDW) Harrow. Dark brown/ruby with a loose bubbled off white head. Very disappointed with this. Watery malt with more of a caramel burnt bitterness than hops. It might pass off as a regional brewers mild in good nick but Ican’t see that Bells will be too proud to see their name on this stuff.

UPDATED: OCT 22, 2011 Ok...starts well, bits of roast and vanilla. Silky it is with roast not too harsh, possible balance from oats. Given what else we had on offer, a decent pint. Too cold!

Something went wrong I think - harsh edge and unpleasant bitterness. Though to be fair my palate might have been wrecked by that lemon and lime monstrosity ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone