20/03/2012. HOPE TAP, 99-101 Friar Street, READING, Berkshire, England (WETHERSPOONS)

7

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

Cask at the Crosse Keys. Blond colour, very clear, small off-white bubbly head. Aroma is lemon citrus hops, floral and lots of grain. Taste is malty and hoppy bit of creaminess, sweet malt and a touch of caramel. Bitter citrus finish. Not bad. --- Beer merged from original tick of Libertine on 09 Sep 2019 at 15:54 - Score: Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7. Original review text: Cask at the Crosse Keys. Blond colour, very clear, small off-white bubbly head. Aroma is lemon citrus hops, floral and lots of grain. Taste is malty and hoppy bit of creaminess, sweet malt and a touch of caramel. Bitter citrus finish. Not bad.

4.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5

Retro review from Spring 2012 Wetherspoons Beer festival; Not really complex, hardly any hops, American style APA it isn’t.

5.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Has hints of mixed fruit in its aroma and flavour, with a nice texture when drunk.

6.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 5.5

14th March 2012
Shakespeare’s Head Spoons, Holborn. Clear amber beer, small off white head. Light crisp palate. Minerals. Mild but fresh marmalade hops. Bitterness punches above it’s weight. Light crisp finish. Strewth! A drinkable Greene King!! Whatever next?

5.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5.5

Cask @ JDW Inverness
Amber, clear, thin white head, good lacing
Aroma - almost nothing, hint of spicy hops
Taste of caramel malts, light soft toffee, bitter spicy hops, some GK yeast there, some citrus zesty hops, bit of toasted malt, bit of a hotch-potch
Palate - soft carb, medium body. Finish - strong bitter, over long lingering, yeast mineraly tang, too bitter.
Overall - It’s OK, but too bitter finish

6.5

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

[Cask at the Monks Retreat (JDW), Reading] Deep gold with a moderate white head. Little baby tropical fruits (especially apricot) dance gently on your tongue. The flavours are very light, and the hop rate could do with upping a little, but it’s undeniably pleasant. It’s maybe a little strong if they were aiming for a Spring/Summer refresher, but it’s a welcome change from the usual GK style. Well done - let’s hope it’s a permanent change of direction for this much maligned brewer.

6.9

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

Cask at the Gig House (JDW), Wokingham. Amber coloured with a tight cream head; tropical fruit aroma; soft and smooth with some sweet fruit at first that becomes slightly sour, then a slow building, warming, peppery, bitterness giving a sustained finish. I drank this head to head with the Moorhouses APA, and this won hands down.

7.1

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

Cask at The Crosse Keys, JDW, London. Pours clear, dark gold with a foamy, white head. Ripe citrus in the nose with some wet hay and faint toast. Mediums sweet flavor, some toasty bread, bitter citrus, citrus rind, dry grass and sugar. Medium bodied with fine carbonation. Sweet finish, some toasty and doughy bread, light citrus rind, orange, dry dirt, grass and wood. Not bad, really.