Root and Branch
Oakham Ales in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England 🏴
IPA - Black / Cascadian Dark Special|
Score
7.05
|
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A black IPA firmly rooted in the hop forward Oakham tradition! Smooth, subtle, aromatic dark malts branch out into vibrant citrus, tropical and stone fruit hop aromas and flavours from skilfully combined USA and UK sourced hops.
For Wetherspoon’s beer festival October 2025.
For Wetherspoon’s beer festival October 2025.
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6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Tried
from Cask
at
The Barrel Vault
on 27 Feb 2026
at 14:37
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 7
Handpull cask at the Brunswick, Derby. Proper black with a swirl of tan head. Aroma of roast black malt, pine needles, some light citrus. Taste is bitter, almost charred after a very brief initial sweetness. Light sourness near the finish. Medium body and soft carbonation. An exciting beer.
Tried
from Cask
at
Brunswick Inn
on 31 Dec 2025
at 14:40
6.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Rather a dry and ashy CDA. Toothy roast, charred pine, bitter baking cocoa. Scorched earth and ashy dryness to finish. A sniff of dried citrus peel. Not bad.
Tried
from Cask
at
Cock Tavern
on 28 Nov 2025
at 15:43
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Tried
from Cask
at
Herbert Wells (JDW)
on 15 Oct 2025
at 20:42
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask at the moon under water Watford Jdw. A opaque black brown coloured pour with a lasting tan head. Aroma is earrhy black roast, liquorice, singed pine, grass,. Flavour is composed of big bitter roast sticky pine tar, liquorice, diesel, woody bark. Aggressive bitterness. Palate is semi sweet, oily, good cask condition. Big and bold.
Tried
on 10 Oct 2025
at 12:38
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Near black with a frothy tan head and an aroma which is disappointingly mellow, just a touch of roasted malt and a hint of citrus. Medium bodied, big coffee roasted malts up front, some notes of citrus before dry hop bitterness cuts in and stays to the finish.
Tried
from Cask
at
Shrewsbury Hotel
on 09 Oct 2025
at 17:10
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Cask at The Bank House. Pitch black with a dense tan head. Aroma of dark chocolate and roast malts, piney and citrus hops. Taste follows with nice dark malt flavours of chocolate and roast/coffee, hops are mostly piney with some citrus/grapefruit notes, good hoppy bitterness. Medium bodied, very smooth. Decent BIPA, easily my favourite of the few Spoons fest beers I had.
Tried
from Cask
at
The Bank House
on 09 Oct 2025
at 12:55
7/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask at the Cornfield Garage, Eastbourne. Poured a clear almost black colour with a mostly lasting frothy light tan head. The aroma is roasty, floral hops. The flavour is over moderate bitter, with a smooth, somewhat rich, roasty, earthy, light piney, dry hop bitter palate and a lingering bitter finish. Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Tried
from Cask
at
Cornfield Garage (JDW)
on 08 Oct 2025
at 21:59
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
8/10/2025. Cask at wetherspoon beer festival, at Cricketers, Ipswich. Nice pour. Aroma is citrusy, dark malts, roasted, chocolate, tropical, piney, soapy. Moderate sweetness, quite heavy bitterness. Medium body, soft carbonation. Dry and bitter finish. Good bipa.
Tried
from Cask
at
Cricketers (JDW)
on 08 Oct 2025
at 12:44
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Half pint on cask at the red lion jdw.
Medium creamy beige head. Clear almost black pour. Light bitterness.
Medium creamy beige head. Clear almost black pour. Light bitterness.
Tried
from Cask
at
Red Lion (JDW)
on 06 Oct 2025
at 17:08