10/01/2003. GREAT WESTERN HOTEL, St. Davids Station Approach, EXETER, Devon, England (FREE HOUSE)

22/12/2005. ROYAL OAK, Lower Bristol Road, BATH, Bath & North East Somerset, England (FOUR COUNTY INNS)

15/06/2015. BEER ON BROADWAY XVI (2005), Ealing Town Hall, New Broadway, LONDON, W5, England

Historic check-in

7.8

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

One of those ’didactic’ ales for hopheads featuring one single hop variety each time (Mikkeller, Alvinne and others have done the same thing before or after this American-style English brewery). Pretty orange blond beer with loose, off-white head and soft pale maltiness, but of course it’s the hops that stars, spicy, citrussy and herbal, ensuring a long, very agreeable finish. Great brew - and obviously a stimulus to try and find all versions.

6.6

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

Cask conditioned handpull at The Knights Templar, JDW, Chancery Lane. Pale chestnut colour with lasting beige head. Looks in cracking condition. Crystal clear, lively head. Like all Grand Union beers, it’s solid. I will miss this brewery when it goes in the next week or so. Not sure if anyone will buy the brand and recipes, but the brew kit is going up north to the Wirral apparently. Hoppy aroma with some toffee/candy sugar. Absolutely fine in mouth, good sherberty hop finish. Toffee/nutty, good balance of ingredients. Solid

7.5

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

Cask at the Plough and Harrow (JDW), Hammersmith.
Bright pale gold with a thin creamy white head; citrus and floral hop aroma; grapefruit bite with honeyed sweetness, slightly grainy moth feel; lingering grapefruit palate. Sharp and refreshing. Very well made.

7.5

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

Cask handpull at Simple Simons, Canterbury. Chestnut colour with lasting beige head. Fruity malt and pepper hop aroma. Bit of toffee in the mouth. Good condition. Aggressive leafy nettle hop on end which I could still taste halfway through the next pint of Nelson beer.

5.6

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

Cask @ Wenlock arms. Pours a clear very pale yellow color with a small white head. Fruity hoppy citrus aroma. Sweet fruity hoppy citrus flavor. Fruity hoppy bitter finish.

5.1

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at the Oxford, near Kentish Town tube station.
Pours a pale golden colour with small white head, dusty nose. The taste is fruity, hoppy and slight malty with cereals and citric notes. Quite watery palate.