Gravity cask at the Bree Louise. Pours clear auburn with a fading film. Has a very weak aroma with faint, sugary fruits. Flavor was a little odd at first but has grown on me. Lots of whole grain toast, nuts and light fruits provide a nice sweetness, while leaves and subtle earth give light bitterness. Light bodied with fine carbonation. Pretty dry on the finish with some bready sugars and dried fruits. Decent.

Cask at the Bridge, Kingswinford. Pours dark amber with a medium head. Aroma is slightly spicy apple. Taste is some fruitcake to start. Warming slightly spicy malt finish. Damn good beer for Marstons.

12th October 2007
Warning! Early amateur rating! Thin ale. Inoffensive but lacks any complexity. Very standard dull bitter. Bitter finish.

[Cask at the Red Lion, Reading] Pours amber-red with a thin but lasting white head. No carbonation; quite a smooth texture. Aroma & initial flavour is that Marston’s sulphur, but there’s a syrupy sweetness that Pedigree lacks. This is actually quite well balanced against a dry hop bitterness, but there’s some mud flavour there too. Leaves rather a sticky mouthfeel afterwards. Far, far better than Pedigree, but still not great. c7