28/12/1995. LONDESBOROUGH ARMS, Middle Street, METHERINGHAM, Lincolnshire, England (BATEMANS)

5.4

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

Retro review from Spring 2012 Wetherspoons Beer festival; Dark brown colour, woody taste with peat like smokiness.

5.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5.5

It has a heavy peat aroma and taste, which does takes some getting used to.

6.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

14th March 2012
Crosse Keys Spoons. Clear amber beer. Light dry palate. Minerals. Medium strong smoke with a nice counterweight of tangy fruits. Trace of bubblegum before the smoky dry finish. Bold!

6.9

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

I had a hand-pulled pint of this in my local Spoons in Wellington during the festival. Deep bronze/copper body with an off-white head on top. I had lacing layers around the glass from the head as the beer level sank: impressive condition then. I was transported back to Bamberg in my mind as I drank in the aroma and taste of this smoked brew. Really enjoyed the flavours, but I could only manage one (just like when in Bamberg): it is an acquired taste that I have yet to gain. If you like smokey stuff this is for you: if not, leave it alone!

6.8

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

[Cask at the Hope Tap, Reading] Chestnut with a light white head. Woah, this is much smokier than I expected - it was almost on the harsh side until I got used to it! There’s dry woodsmoke from the off with a hint of bacon. The mouthfeel is on the thin side, yet oddly chewy. There’s some woodland fruit behind - maybe a blackcurrant and apple crumble, with a bit of toffee sauce. In fact, now I come to think of it, it’s like eating toffee apples by a smoky bonfire on a crisp Autumn evening. It would make a cracking beer for late Autumn, but it felt distinctly odd drinking this whilst sat outside on a hot Spring day. The smoky aftertaste lasted for much of the afternoon. It’s pretty good, and a welcome change from the usually insipid Batemans. c7

7.1

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

Cask at the Masque Haunt, JDW, London. Pours clear gold with a foamy, white head. Some faint smoke in the nose, along with a bit of ham. Medium sweet flavor, lightly smokey with lots of bacon notes. Light to medium bodied with fine carbonation. Some toasty sugars to finish with more bacon, mild leafy bitterness and faint caramel. A respectable smoked beer.

7

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

cask at standing order ...copper .. thin off white head ...soft smokey malt nose ... dark malt roast ... definite smokytones ... light fisy smoke ... pretty decent for batemans ... though im not a smoked fan

6.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Cask and Montagu and Peyk. Frothy white fair mostly deminishing head. Orange colour. Moderate malty and hoppy aroma. Moderate bitter nice smoked flavor. Average moderate bitter finish. Creamy palate.

6.5

Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Cask @ Montagu Pyke, London. Small head with short duration. Color is amber. Aroma and taste are smoke, bacon, caramel, fruits and hops.