Multiple cask pints at NERAX on 5/3 and 5/4/07
It’s a shame most people only experience this beer in the bottle. It was basically like night and day to me. While heather dosent display my favorite aromatic compounds, seeming a bit on the meaty/acidic/soapy side, this was easily the best aroma on a heather ale I’ve smelled. Very zesty and snappy on the end, with some powdery-like vanilla and lilac character. Big strength of aroma as well, with the heather jumping out at you and the malt base following suit. A lovely, very clean golden ale sits behind it, with honey and very light graham crackers. Soft and yielding to the heather, but still delivering enough malt backbone. Absolutely spotlessly flawless.
Again in the flavor, this stuff is one of the cleanest cask beers I’ve ever had. But the heather is a whole different story in the flavor, than in the aroma. For whatever reason, the meaty/acidic/soapiness dosent translate to the flavor for me, and in it’s place a more light herbal, lavendar-like flavor with pleasant bitterness, lots of floral notes and even a hint of snappy lemon on the finish. Perfectly attenuated flavor/texture, with honey and just a hint of graininess, though not tannic or overly attenuated. Soft, incredibly engaging carbonation and no alcohol perceived. Again, as with Hop Back’s stuff, the lack of a fun house character is the only drawback I can find, but that’s hardly a problem. Was still in great shape the next day (5/4) and the carbonation receded to show more honey, a bit of wet hay and soaked flowers. Delightful.