Masham Ale
Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell, Derbyshire, England 🏴
Collab with: TheakstonStrong Ale - English Regular
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Score
7.38
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We invited Theakston for a special collaboration and together we’ve brewed their unique Masham ale, using the very best English malt and Fuggles hops. Fermented on our famous Burton Union set, this version of Masham ale is deep amber in colour, with rich aromas of dried fruit and cinder toffee and boasts a well-rounded, smooth finish.
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7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
From Bine and Vine, best before October 26th 2026.
Pours a clear amber brown, nice finger of foam, shrinks quickly but retention is good, lacing is excellent.
The smell is fruity, light roast, toffee, hoppy, very mild malt notes that don't lean towards the sweet.
Taste is fruity, toffee, rather strong bitterness, not much of any malt sweetness, very dry. Very dry, to me.
Good mouthfeel, I would drink this again. Similarly, iirc, to a Fullers Vintage Ale
Pours a clear amber brown, nice finger of foam, shrinks quickly but retention is good, lacing is excellent.
The smell is fruity, light roast, toffee, hoppy, very mild malt notes that don't lean towards the sweet.
Taste is fruity, toffee, rather strong bitterness, not much of any malt sweetness, very dry. Very dry, to me.
Good mouthfeel, I would drink this again. Similarly, iirc, to a Fullers Vintage Ale
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Mar 2026
at 13:05
7.5/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Loose off white head left a spotty top on a copper coloured body.
Malt, toffee & syrup aroma.
Medium to full bodied, smooth & soft with a cloying back.
Toffee, malt, berries & jam tastes with a bitter lightly hopped finish.
Excellent ESB.
Malt, toffee & syrup aroma.
Medium to full bodied, smooth & soft with a cloying back.
Toffee, malt, berries & jam tastes with a bitter lightly hopped finish.
Excellent ESB.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Jan 2026
at 20:07
7.8/10
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Appearance 9
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 9
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Cask at Hops, Crewe. Pours a dark chestnut with a small frothy off-white head. The aroma has raisins, stewed apples and a hint of toffee. In the mouth it is sweet and fruity with the alcoholic strength to the fore. Flavours are dried apricots, sherry, malts and toasted bread. Some spicy hints later, leading to a dry finish. This is quite nice, though it doesn’t have the expected Union set “depth” to it.
Tried
from Cask
at
Hops
on 24 Dec 2025
at 14:17
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
A dark reddish brown beer, a head is medium and beige. Aroma has sweet dried frutiness, apricot marmelad, hint of breadyness. Taste has dried fruitness, apricot, some bitterness, hint of dry roastiness in the end. Medium bodied. Pretty complex, dry enough, I like this.
Tried
from Bottle
from
K-Citymarket (Turku Kupittaa)
on 10 Dec 2025
at 11:07
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
3rd December 2025
Cask at Pigs Ear. Clear deep amber brown beer, small bubbly pale tan head. Smooth palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. Nice condition. Smooth malts, toffee caramel and a little cream, not particularly sweet. Good ripe fruits, well integrated, mild pear. A spicy and semi dry finish. Rather good.
Cask at Pigs Ear. Clear deep amber brown beer, small bubbly pale tan head. Smooth palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. Nice condition. Smooth malts, toffee caramel and a little cream, not particularly sweet. Good ripe fruits, well integrated, mild pear. A spicy and semi dry finish. Rather good.
Tried
from Cask
on 03 Dec 2025
at 13:58
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Gravity Cask at day 2 of the 41st Pigs Ear Beer Festival, 03/12/2025.
Chestnut brown topped with a beige cap that thins to a swirl.
Nose is toffee, biscuit, fruit cake mix.
Taste comprises dates, toffee, brown bread, prunes, toasted brown sugar.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, drying close.
Tidy cask offering.
Chestnut brown topped with a beige cap that thins to a swirl.
Nose is toffee, biscuit, fruit cake mix.
Taste comprises dates, toffee, brown bread, prunes, toasted brown sugar.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, drying close.
Tidy cask offering.
Tried
on 03 Dec 2025
at 00:00
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Pigs Ear 2025. Gravity. Smooth and rounded. Notes of ripening fruit, berries, faint toffee, toasted brown bread. Really drinkable.
Tried
from Cask
on 02 Dec 2025
at 22:39
7.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 5
Overall 8
Cask handpull at New Inn Canterbury. Clear dark brown colour no head. Some treacle on the flavour. Its very malty with a dusty hop finish. Rich fruits. Settles down a bit. Not great carbonation. Some pepper on tje finish. As I say very malty. A true winter warmer of a beer. Gives you rosy cheeks
Tried
from Cask
at
New Inn, Canterbury
on 29 Nov 2025
at 13:17
7.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 8
Cask@Dark Beer Fest 2025, The Hope, Carshalton (27/11/2025) - toasted and sweet malty with notes of caramel and toffee, dried fruit shredded, medium body, warming malty finish.
Tried
from Cask
at
The Hope
on 27 Nov 2025
at 19:55
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Cask. Thornbridge. Clear dark amber. Slim dense light tan foam. Nose has sweet nutty malts. Vine fruit. Some light burnt caramel. Taste is semi sweet with lots of leafy bitterness. Very smooth overall drinking under the ABV considerably. Bitter light dry finish. Good tasty cask.
Tried
from Cask
at
Thornbridge Brewery Tap
on 12 Nov 2025
at 12:40