5.8

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

Cask pint at the brewpub on 4/14/06
Red-amber notes throughout a mostly amber body, perhaps a little dull beige in there, with a small off-white head, quite creamy, sitting on top daintily and lasting. Light splotchy lacing forms as the liquid recedes. Settles out to a moderate level of clarity, but it should be completely clear.
Sweet yet earthy nose has a spicy mix of sugary pale malts and perhaps some British crystal malts, while the hops are very spicy, almost ginger-anise like and quite peppery on the nose. Fruity ale yeast notes bounce about as a soft, rich, even caramel sweetness grows in strength. A bit soggy-sweet and watery, but nothing out of style.
The flavor has welcoming, round caramel and pale malts, providing ample sweetness and texture in this warm, minimally carbonated beer. Cherries and apples are interrupted by punchy, grassy and spicey-like (I keep getting ginger and anise) hops. Zesty, peppery and minimally bitter, but still apparent enough to move the focus off of the malts, at least briefly. Live yeast nuttiness dulls the finish and all is consumed in a creamy, but mostly water-flavored finish. Maybe a hint of diacetyl, but it’s barely memorable and certainly not problematic. No alcohol apparency.