11/07/2015. CROSSE KEYS, 9 Gracechurch Street, LONDON, EC3, England (WETHERSPOONS)

7

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Cask at Olde Dolphin, Derby. Pours the classic “bitter brown” with minimal off-white head and good lacing. Aroma is malts mixed with orange peel. In the mouth it starts off watery with bead and malts, then progresses to being fruity with apricots and spices, before finally grains and traditional bitter hops come through. Finish is spicy but sweet. Wasn’t too keen on this at first, but it’s a grower.

6.2

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

Cask at the Old Manor (JDW), Bracknell. Straw coloured with a loose white head; sweet grainy aroma; spicy taste, with a sweet grainy body; and a biscuity finish. Satisfying, but not very exciting.

6.8

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

Cask at the foot of the walk... Copper.. Thick white head... Soft sweet toffee fruit nose... Soft fruits.. Light orange.. Light bitter.. Little bittervwushy washy linger

6.5

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

Cask in the Hope Tap, Reading. Light amber with a thick off white head and a moderate, prickly carbonation. Caramel and fruit aroma. Taste is caramel with dry wood, a little lemon and plenty of spice. Moderate bitterness. Not bad actually.

6

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

Cask handpull at County Hotel Ashford jdw. Clear gold amber lasting cream head. Light malt on the aroma. Some biscuit souring yeast and dryness in the mouth. OK interesting bitter.

5.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Hand-pulled half-pint on 23rd Nov in The Old Blenheim, Oxford. Deep golden amber body, minimal head. The nose was mild, some caramel biscuit hints if you sniff hard enough. The taste was also caramel led, though this isn’t a sweet beer: it’s balanced with subtle hop influences intermingling with those malt molasses. Nothing strong or heavy, just a pleasant tasting beer.

6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 6

Golden bitter with a lovely smooth feel in the palate. Lightest of malts in the aroma. No real flavour but this is a texture ale. Small thin head.

6

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

Cask @ 3 Judges. Clear copper colour, off-white head. Aroma of caramel malts. Flavour is caramel malts, some hops and fruits. A bit harsh and bitter finish.

6.5

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

Cask (handpump) @ Magpie & Crown, TW8 Brentford, London. Clear medium amber color with a small to average, frothy, fair lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate hoppy, lemon, light malty, caramel, toffee. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a long duration. Body is medium, texture is creamy, carbonation is flat.