17/01/2014. BRIDGE TAVERN, 7 Akenside Hill, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, Tyne & Wear, England (UNKNOWN)

6.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Cask at the Earl of Essex. It pours dark brown with a small dark beige head. The nose is toasty, earth, dirt, pepper, cocoa and citrus peel. The taste is bitter-sweet, roasted malt, earth, cocoa, toasty sugars, some citrus peel and soft fruits with a dry finish. Medium body and soft carbonation. A bit dirty so to speak, but not bad. OK CDA.

6.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Cask at the Earl of Essex, 11/03/14. Murky mahogony brown with a light tan head of bubbles that retains well, has that look of stale toliet water, only the excellent head retention prevented this dropping to a 2 on appearance! Nose is light roast, earthy hops, bitter orange, mineral tones, jammy berry fruit, light pine, hint of spice. Taste comprises grapefruit, Frank Coopers dark orange marmalade, earthy notes, light roast, subtle pine jacket. Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, semi drying close with earthy hop bitterness. Adequate CDA but not one I’d revisit, a little muddled.

6.5

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

Cask at the Earl of Essex - London. Pours clear brown wity a foamy, tan head. The aroma holds burnt pine, earth and subtle roast. Medium seeet flavor with sugary burnt toast, burn wood, light toffee, dried orange, faint spicy pine. Medium bodied with fine carbonation. Moderat sweetness to finish with decent resinous pine, sugary burnt bread, bitter earth, citrus rind. So so.

7

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

Cask at The Antelope, Surbiton, Surrey. A dark brown coloured pour with a thin off white head on top. Hoppy, malty, coffee aroma. Tastes similar, hoppy, malty, coffee, slightly nutty. Good one from Arbor.

7

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

The beer to complete my Arbor double century. Cask-conditioned at the Three Tuns, Bristol, December 2013. Deep brown with a decent, frothy, off-white head. decent, fruit cake malts, a touch of mandarin, piney hops and a soft, yet slightly dry, finish. Enjoyable.