Old rate discovered when I was trying to work out why my spreadsheet total didn’t match up with RB. Had it on cask at the Hobgoblin, Reading on 23/1/2008. This beer has a bit of history for me – I’d avoided bitter since being but off it by Wadworth Henry’s IPA when I was 16 (still don’t like that beer!). Drank lager for the next few years before trying this when I was at Uni & loving it so much that I switched to bitter from then on. So – on re-trying it, it’s fruity with orange, caramel and a bit of bread. Sweetish and smooth. Pleasant enough bitter, but my tastes have obviously matured since I originally had it – it’s no world beater!

Backlog. From cask at Kings Head, Huddersfield, on The Transpennine Real Ale Trail with KL and LH 09.05.15. Clear pale golden. Persistent white head and lacing. Rather non-deScriptive aroma, with some English hops and malt. Similar taste, but with more hops and some biscuit. Slightly metallic.

Cask at the Bridge, Kingswinford. Pours dark gold with a small head. Aroma is slightly eggy straw. Taste has light bread and straw.

Cask-conditioned a the Hobgoblin, Bristol 3/06/08. deep amber in colour with a slight, white head. aroma of barley sugar and red fruit. Flavour had some caramel before an earthy hop & marmalade finish. Ok stuff.