25/03/2011. HENRY BESSEMER, New Oxford Street, WORKINGTON, Cumbria, England (WETHERSPOONS)

5.4

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

Heavy textured ale, sometimes a little overbearing, with a dark roasted finish.

7.8

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

On cask at the Wetherspoons 2011 Spring Beer Fest, drank in Shrewsbury. Dark tawny colour, good off-white head which held together well and stayed. Peat smoke smell, with burnt malts within the aroma. Nothing from the hop content (Cascade, Fuggles and Styrian). Slightly cloudy (as it should be), it looked like a normal dark wheat beer, but the smoke effect noted in the name and aroma sent it more towards a Bamburger style Rauch style of brew. Unusual for the UK and most enjoyable. Certainly different and worth trying if brewed again.

6

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

30th March 2011
JDW Fest. Clear brown beer, decent pale tan bubbly head. A light touch of dark malt. Only a whisper of smoke!! A little sweet minerally dark malt comes to the fore with a vague hint of fruit in the background. Finishes dry. Ok.

5.5

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

Cask at the Capitol, Forest Hill. Very dark brown pour with a beige head. Chocolate and wood-smoke aromas. Quite meaty. Raisins, dark fruits and chocolate flavours. Very, very subtle smoke taste. Light fruit finish with a splash of smoke.

6.2

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

[Cask at Hope Tap (JDW), Reading] Deep russet with a slight white head and a slight fizz. Muted smoke up front, a little on the sweet side. Toffee is quite dominant with odd hints of salami. Rich mouthfeel with a slightly dry finish. An odd one for a spring beerfest, I would have thought it would have worked better in the autumn. Couldn’t decide if I liked it or not; on balance it’s OK, but the smokiness is far too weak and needs pumping up a bit.

6.4

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

From cask at Cross Keys. Pours dark brown with a small orange glare and a small off-white head. Aroma is caramelish and toffee. Solid roasted. Breadish and caramelish. Smoked? not really coming through - does have something beyond the malt and caramel - but not much. Slight bitter and roasted malty finish.

5.6

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

Half, hand pulled cask at JDWs Willow Walk Victoria. Good looking, deep mahogany coloured body. Fair amount of lacing-head. Sweet dark malted wheat to the nose. Lighter taste of smoked malts and herbal hops. Dry ending. Just alright, nothing special (London, 22.03.2011).

5.1

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

Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms (JDW), Bristol 25/03/2011. Hazy dark brown, with an off-white head. Sweet, caramel with a hint of berry fruit and dryish finish. Smokiness was non-existent. Disappointing.

6.8

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

Cask @ Counting House, JDW. Brown colour, beige head. Aroma is light roasted malts, bit of coffee. Flavour is subtle coffee, roasted malts, bit of ash. Dry and smoky finish. Very pleasant.