Cask (handpump) @ Richard John Blackler - JDW, Units 1 & 2, Charlotte Row, Great Charlotte Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England L1 1HU.Clear medium yellow orange colour with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white to white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, caramel, light to moderate hoppy, fruity, warm citrus. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a average to long duration, fruity, wood. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat. [20120117]

First had this in my local Wetherspoons pub (10 Jan 2012) and wasn’t impressed, saw it again at the Wetherspoons in Liverpool (John Lennon) Airport and thought I’d give it another chance. It has been brewed purely for the Wetherspoons chain of pubs, so easy to find. This review is from the hand pulled pint I had in Liverpool: the beer is a deep amber colour, an off-white head sits on top, nothing exciting, but looks OK. The nose and taste lead with malts, semi-sweet caramel feel to both aroma and flavours in the mouth. A mild citrusy hop bitterness is just under the surface and exerts its presence more towards the end of each gulp or sip. Medium body depth and nicely balanced: it isn’t going to set your taste buds racing but it is decent enough to have more than one of. The first time I tried it the condition was poor, which is why I didn’t review it, this was a fresher pint and obviously well looked after.

Cask @ The Tyburn, JDW, Marble Arch W2. Pours a pale amber color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity malty caramel aroma. Fruity malty caramel flavor with weak hints of apples. Has a fruity malty caramel finish with a bitter aftertaste.

Cask at The Justice Mill, JDW, Aberdeen. Pours clear gold with a flimsy, white foam head. Very little in terms of aroma, only some mild, toasted malts. Odd flavor, some spices, perhaps gingerbread. Lightly sweet with leafy bitterness. Light bodied with fine carbonation. Dries out a good bit to finish, some bitter leaves, earth and grass, lightly toasted dough, gingerbread. Nothing special.

Cask, handpump at The Moon Under Water, JDW, Cheltenham, Glos weekend of Cheltenham Folk Festival Sat 11th Feb 2012 Gold in colour with a white head. This is quite soft in the mouth with some sweet citrus flavours and a light creamy vanilla flavour, easy drinking with some light caramel to the fore. Served in good nick this ok. A6 A4 T6 P3 Ov12 3.2

cask at AGBell ... copper ... thin white head ... soft orange toff emalt nose ... dry ... mediinal ... tofeee ... and odd musty fruits ... little caramel ... bit blah

[Cask at the Back of Beyond (JDW)], Reading] Amber with a moderate white head. Caramel with a decent citrus kick and moderate bitterness. Unfortunate soapiness in the finish, but still better than most Batemans beers.

Cask @ Sir Walther Scott, JDW. Amber colour, off-white head. Nose is light caramel, sour, bit of fruits. Flavour is sour, caramel, bit of wood polish. Sour finish.

Cask handpull at Ashford Spoons. Almost didnt have this as it had D Camerons ugly mug on the pumpclip but a rate is a rate i suppose. Its got Batemans eggy yeasty character which i dont mind in small doses. Condition is fine malts are ok with hint of toffee and there is a dusty hopy dryness on the finish. Its a british broen bitter a style i enjoy. And uts a straight down the line textbook example of that style. But i will go vack to the westerham british bulldog i think.