01/05/2010. ORIGINAL PLOUGH, 28 Duke Street, CHELMSFORD, Essex, England

7

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

Cask @ Sunningdale Hotel, Elgin
Caramel brown...clear....dense white head with good lacing
Aroma of soft roasted malts, dark caramel, soft dark fruits
Taste of dark caramel malts, bit of soft roasted malts, dark fruits, some hedgerow fruits, touch of christmas cake spices
Palate - soft carb, medium body, smooth. Finish as main flavour, the soft fruity malts and hint of spice comes through more.
Overall - I don’t see this very often, but it’s one of my favourite Cairngorm beers - should be available all year round

6.6

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

Cask at the Old Manor (JDW), Bracknell. Hazy reddish amber with a thick cream head that heavily laces the glass; citrus aroma; zingy in the mouth with orange fruit flavours and chewy roasted malts; fruity gently bitter finish. Very pleasant. One of the best of the JDW festival ales.

6.9

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

Cask handpull at The Monk’s Retreat, JDW, Reading. Copper, slight haze, lasting beige head. Cascades really show through on aroma and then the fruity Willametter enhance and develop the malt, the finish is pure stinging blackcurrant Willamette. One ofthe better ones of the 50 festival beers.

6.8

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

Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms (JDW), Bristol 21/04/09. Copper coloured with a decent, off-white head. Hoppy aroma and flavour, with some balancing fruity malts. A lingering dry finish added to the pleasure. This Wetherspoons festival has, to date, been a big improvement on the last one.

7

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

Cask at cloisters ... copper ... sweet bright hop .. rich bitter fruits ... little toffee.. big hop ... little pine resins/