13/11/2005. RAVEN, 7 Queen Street, BATH, Bath & North East Somerset, England (FREE HOUSE)

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

Notes found recently from a 2010 Wetherspoon Beer Festival. Not as strong a tasting bitter as expected.

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

From cask at Counting House as Edinburgh Strong Ale. Pours clear and golden brown with a small white head. Aroma is roasted malty, breadish and light hops fruity. Sweet malty to breadish flavoured. Distinct bitterhops note coming through giving the beer and overall bitter feel. Ends dry and bitter. Simple.

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

Cask-conditioned at the Van Dyke Forum, Bristol 31/10/10. Copper coloured with a frothy white head. Big aroma of butterscotch, bananas and marmalade. Flavour was sweet and sticky, with chunky caramel, more fruit and a touch of diacetyl in the finish. A bit overpowering.

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

Cask at the Claude du Vall (JDW), Camberley. Definitely in the "heavy" style. Reddish gold with a dense cream head; malty aroma; a sweet chewy malt body with some apricot fruit; that hides the finish, although there is a noticable alcoholic burn. Not something I’d try again.

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

[Cask at the Monks Retreat (JDW), Reading] Deep copper with a small off-white head and a slight fizz. Inviting malt and toffee aroma. Sweet toffee taste with a bit of cough mixture, some peardrops and a hint of vanilla and herbs. Comforting, lasting buttery finish - I know some people here moan about "diacetyl" (what’s wrong with "butter...?"), but personally I think it works rather well in some of the stronger UK ales. Overall it’s a decent winter warmer.

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

JDW Fest Autumn 2010
Cask @ Sir John Moore, JDW. Copper colour, white head. Aroma is caramel malts, bit fruity. Flavour is malty, some fruits, slightly sweet. Slightly dry finish. Not too special.

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

Cask handpull at Society Rooms, JDW, Maidstone. Very deep brown/gold burnished I guess. Thick lasting cream head. It’s a strong fruity tasting ESB. Quite bitter on finish. It’s pretty good to be honest. I liked it.

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

27th October 2010
Spoons Fest! (As Edinburgh Strong Ale). Clear darkish amber beer. Residual suddy white head. Sweet malt and sweet orange dominate a light sulphur note. Palate is low carb and dry. Light tones of sweet toffee and a whisper of banana. After 20 mins of swirling and standing the sulphur is mostly gone and whats left is a flat sweet strong tangy-fruit beer. Not bad.

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

Cask at Charlie’s Pub, Copenhagen
Dark amber color. Fudge caramel aroma. Sweet malty caramel and fudge taste, not enough bitter. Ordinary.