25/04/2001. RED LION, 206 Whitehall Road, Whitehall, BRISTOL, Bristol, England (WADWORTHS)

7.2

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

Bottle from The Goat & Tricycle, Bournemouth. Backlog rating from bottle collection and historic scoring. No tasting notes kept, just rating.

7.8

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

Brown 500ml bottle, obtained from the excellent ’Goat and Tricycle’ pub in Bournemouth. Best before 8th Oct 09, drank 22nd Jul 09. Poured into a vase shaped pint glass which was branded ’Old Speckled Hen’. Looked good, deep amber body, which was clear and clean. The thin off-white head sat on top for almost the whole tasting, impressive! Malts in the nose and the promise of something rich and creamy to follow. Rich and creamy it isn’t, the hop combination of Fuggles and Goldings ensure it is more hearty and earthy in the taste. Well balanced and crisp, this is a very good example of an English Bitter in a bottle. 4.7%ABV is fairly high for a standard UK Bitter, but this carries the strenght off very nicely. Very drinkable and enjoyable. I like this breweries beers, I have more in the stash to review, looking forward to it.

6.4

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

[Cask at Sweeney & Todd’s Pie Shop, Reading] Amber with a small white head. Slight carbonation. Smells like a farmyard (so it’s a true Waddy’s, then!). A spicy hop tingle at first with biscuity overtones. This is soon ovetaken by more farmyard, before sweet malt and autumn fruit arrives. There’s some sweetness in there, but nicely balanced against a robust bitterness in the finish. Not a bad ale, and certainly far better than the insipid bottled version.

5.4

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

[Bottle at Wadworth’s Brewery bar] Pours an amber-straw colour, no head. Tastes like it should be calles Wadworth’s Light - the standard farmyard/straw/egg flavours associated with Wadworths, but all toned down. Flavour is sweeter than other Waddy’s beers, and it lacks the dusty bitter aftertaste. Overall rather bland and watery.

6.1

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

Cask-conditioned at the Rising Sun, Frampton Cotterell, S Gloucs 17/2/08. Deep copper coloured with next to no head. Malty caramel aroma with a touch of earthy hop. Flavour of red berries and more sweet malt with a bitter finish. Good.

5.8

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

Cask at Duke of Ellington, Southampton. Nut brown. Syrup and minerals up front. Sweet and rather malty. Some grain ans salty sweat. Fairly soft with somewhat soapy mouthfeel, Medium bitterness. Not bad - if a bit unrefined.

6.9

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

Cask handpump at the Trigger Pond, Bucknall, Oxfordshire, 16-04-06. Dark amber, decent white head, great maltyiness and very chewy beer, very flavoursome not had this for a very long time really enjoyed this beer.

5.9

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

Cask hand pull, Wetherspoons Ashford, Kent. Reddish brown colour, with red fruit malt flavour and dry hop finish. Better than I expected

3.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 2 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 3.5

Cask Conditioned
Red color. Grass nose, I would say… it smells. Uninteresting taste, a touch of sourness, a lot of caramel. Long, strong final.