17/01/2014.ALUM ALE HOUSE, Ferry Street, SOUTH SHIELDS, Tyne & Wear, England (MARSTONS)

4.2

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 3 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4

Light copper colour clear sticky off white head. Aroma is bad apple tart and vinegar, stale malt and non descript spices. Flavour light candy apple stale malt and muddled spices. Tart finish. Christmas beer in February not good.

6.2

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

Cask at the Elm Tree, Cambridge. Pours clear gold with a creamy, off-white foam head. Lightly toasted, bready malts in the nose. Light sweet flavor with dry leaves, toasty sugars, dry bread, faint toffee. Light bodied with fine carbonation. Moderately sweet finish with toasted bread, light sticky toasted sugars, bitter leaves, faint dry caramel. Basic.

6.2

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

Cask at the Old Gaolhouse (JDW), Winchester. Reddish amber with a tight cream head; sweet, fruity, caramel, aroma; soft caramel flavour with a hint of spice; and some gentle grassy bitterness before a dry finish.

5.1

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 4.5

Clear copper coloured bitter with a frothy head. Crisp for a winter beer but with little flavour. Has a small maltiness in its nose.

5.9

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

Cask at the Station Hotel, Hither Green. Pours burnt orange with a white head. Citrus and light malt aroma. Bitter citrus flavour. Long bitter finish. Average stuff.

5.2

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6

Cask at the Bridge, Kingswinford. Pours dark brown with a medium head. Aroma is brown bread with a little spice. Taste has a little warm spice to start with brown bread and cardboard on the finish.