28/10/2014. KING OF WESSEX, 5-10 James Street West, BATH, Bath & North East Somerset, England (WETHERSPOONS)

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3

Cask at the Hope Tap (JDW), Reading. Amber with a white head and a mild sparkle. Big bold piney hops up front are instantly overwhelmed by vomit, nail varnish and floral soap. The alcohol is very evident. A bit of spice and some orange and lemon gamely try to battle through but fail. Yup, my least favourite regional brewer have buggered up yet another beer. This is grim, feed it to the tramps.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Cask at William Stead JDW, Darlington. Gold amber colour, white foam head and flowery tropical fruit & citrus hop resin aroma. Taste is malt caramel with floral & fruity mango, sweet orange and grapefruit citrus, plus woody pine bitterness. Oily mouthfeel, medium bodied, soft carbonation, dry woody bitter finish. Very drinkable.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Cask at the Victoria Station Spoons - London. Pours perfectly clear gold with a frothy white head. The nose has lots of dank grass and pine, along with ripe orange and grainy bread. Medium sweet flavor with super oily and bitter hop character, some citrus rind, more grains, earth. Medium to full bodied with fine carbonation; good condition. Highly resinous and moderately warming to finish with strong bitter grass and pine, toasted grains, earth, tangerine, orange rind. Lingering grass and rind on the aftertaste. Pretty punchy stuff overall. A bit heavy-handed but not bad.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Cask at the crosse keys, city. Impressed by the wicked weed colab, cudos to whomever arranged that one. Orange / light amber in colour with a steadfast podgie off white head. Aroma is subdued grassy lemon, apricot and a weird Sicky note. Maybe some grapefruit? Flavour is full uncut and punchy, grassy, sharp lemon rind and hop resin / varnish. Rough round the edges and the alcohol is present in a fairly big way. Palate is full sticky hop resin, moderate carbonation. Lingering lemon and grapefruit.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at the White Lady. Pours clear amber with no real head. Light pine aromas, light citrus notes. Taste is light sweet and not very bitter. Oily texture, bit disappointing.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Appearance is clear amber, with a foamy white head. Aromas of fruit, pine and hops. Bitter hoppy taste, juicy, some citrus fruit. Nice.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Cask at the AGBELL... amber... Small white head.. Soft sweet orange passion nose... Soft sweet fruits.. Juicy hop... Sweet floral fruit.. Juicy hop.. Orange.. Passion.. Soft fruits 3.8 Cask at foot of the walk.... Golden amber... Soft sweet oily fruits... Juicy fruits... Soft oily zezty fruits... Oily sweet fruits 3.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

19th October 2014
Playhouse Spoons. Cask. Light haze on this deep gold beer, small pale cream colour head. Palate is very slightly viscous but has decent fine carbonation. Sweet malts, trace of honey. Nice orange - tangerine marmalade, trace of lemon. Bitterish and spicy pine on the back end. Semi dry finish. Bitter linger. Unfortunately running through out is a soapy streak. Quite strong to start with, some gentle agitation gets rid of the worst of it, but it’s always there dragging down an otherwise very good cask DIPA.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Cask at the Masque Haunt, Old Street, 24/10/14. Clear golden orange with a decent off white head that retains. Nose is caramel, biscuit, light tropical notes, bitter orange wash. Taste comprises pine, grapefruit, tangerine, orange pith, light boozey licks. Medium + body, soft carbonation, touch of booze and hops in the close. Decent enough for a cask DIPA, way better than expected, this was in top condition which was a bonus.