22/04/2010. KING OF WESSEX, 5-10 James Street West, BATH, Bath & North East Somerset, England (WETHERSPOONS)

7

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

Cask (handpump) @ The Bankers Draft, 1-3 Market Place, Sheffield, South Yorkshire England S1 2GH.Clear dark dark brown black color with a average to large, frothy to creamy, good lacing, mostly to fully lasting, beige head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, roasted, burnt, oat, chocolate and coffee notes. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and moderate to light heavy bitter with a average to long duration, dark flavors, oat, roasted. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat. [20100424]

6.5

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

14th April 2010. Opaque black stout. Apologetic head. Light semi dry palate that is reasonably smooth as Oatmeals stout usually are. Dark malt, very lightly toasty balanced with some lactose sweetness. A touch of tangy dark fruit rounding things off before the dry finish.

6.9

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

[Gravity cask at the Back of Beyond, Reading] Black with a moderate tan head. Chocolate dominates, with a touch of coffee, cough mixture and sour fruits (plums?). General impression very smooth with a good body, pleasant stout although the flavours lack punchiness.

7.2

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

Cask at the Monks Retreat (JDW), Reading. Mahogany in colour with a dense coffee coloured head; lactic and grainy aroma; soft and sweet in the mouth, lactic with a touch of smoke at first, then sharply bitter with some nice roasted grains; then a long lasting, pleasant, dry bitter finish. A rather nice stout.

6.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 5.5

Cask handpull at Society Rooms, JDW, Maidstone. Black with lasting tan head. Milky choc and some roasted malt on aroma. Quite pleasant in the mouth, some more choc, a lot of roasted malt, almost too much, too harsh and roasted. Touch of tar and liquorice. It’s a half decent stout. just a bit too harsh for my liking. Excellent choc flavours though.

7

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

Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms (JDW), Bristol 13/04/10. Near black in colour with a tight, tan head. Aroma of dark chocolate and black coffee. Flavour had more chocolate, porridge oats and tobacco, with a decent dry finish. Very good.

7.8

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

cask at standing order JDW ... black ... creamy tan head ... soft roast malt with little oat in nose ... nice soft toasted malts ... light non bitter roast malt ... little chocolate ...