7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
(Cask at Penderel’s Oak JDW, Holborn, London, 15 Apr 2009) Copper colour with frothy, beige head. Fruity, malty nose with citrus and grapefruit. Fruity taste with notes of citrus, grapefruit, biscuity malt and a generous bite of Cascade hops in the finish. Balanced bitterness, fairly dry. Very nice beer with a fresh, hoppy taste.
Tried
from Cask
on 23 Apr 2009
at 14:18
7.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Cask at the Hope Tap (JDW), Reading. Tar coloured with no head whatsoever; aroma of spiced plums and ruby port; rich, purple fruit flavours with a trace of black treacle; leading to a finish that’s rather thin, but fruity and warming. Not quite as I remember the real thing in Helsinki, but pretty good none-the-less.
Tried
from Cask
on 23 Apr 2009
at 09:19
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
Cask at W’Spoons Heathrow Terminal 2. An amber coloured beer with smallish head. Quite fruity, sweet, malty. Hops barely noticeable though. Quite drinkable but also lacking in complexity. This particular JDW festival has produced some really plain beers.
Tried
from Cask
on 21 Apr 2009
at 17:28
6.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask at the Old Manor (JDW), Bracknell. Tawny brown with a ring of tan head; chocolate malt aroma; silky in the mouth with blackcurrant and blackberry flavours, then a sudden burst of sweetness, followed by a short bitter chocolate edge and finishing with a dry earthy bitterness. Too sweet for me.
Tried
from Cask
on 21 Apr 2009
at 16:59
6.5/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
[Gravity cask at Back of Beyond, Reading] Pours black with a small, messy tan head. Strong black coffee dominates, with hints of chocolate. Harsh bitter finish which obliterates the flavours somewhat. There’s no hint of smoothness, complexity or subtlety here at all - the contrast with the Baron’s Bushberry Porter I’d just had couldn’t be greater. Despite being a little thinner than I’d expect, it still feels like a real spit-and-sawdust, kick-you-in-the-teeth, frontier beer - you can imagine this being knocked up in the backwoods somewhere. As such it has a certain rustic charm - but I’m still not sure I’d want to make its acquaintance again.
Tried
from Cask
on 21 Apr 2009
at 08:21
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Cask at The Exchange, JDW, Banbury, Oxon, 20-04-09 Pours very dark brown with a light beige head. The nose was initially a little rubbery but then after a while I did get some dark sticky fruits but to be honest the aroma was the one weak point with this beer. Taste is laden with dark sticky fruits, I get the raisins, but also some really sticky dates plenty of dark brown sugar, there’s no denying this is sweet but its still very nice. Treacle, dundee cake marvellous its all there a most enjoyable beer and the best so far for me at this festival. A5 A4 F7 P4 Ov15 3.5
Tried
from Cask
on 21 Apr 2009
at 02:38
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 8
Cask at Counting house Dundee (JDW) in ’Spoons Real Ale Festival, April ’09 ... Crisp copper ... thin off white head ... sweet toffee nose... sweet malts ... little dry hop ... some toffee ... light dry linger.... bit blah.
Tried
from Cask
on 21 Apr 2009
at 02:37
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Cask a the Gig House (JDW), Wokingham. Chestnut brown with a scummy looking, cream coloured head; lacking any clear aroma; sweet and fruity to start with some caramel; some grapefruit bitterness to finish. OK, but unexciting.
Tried
from Cask
on 20 Apr 2009
at 16:33
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Cask-conditioned at the Berkeley JDW, Bristol 19/04/09. Deep amber with next to no head. Gentle fruity malt aroma. Flavour started sweet before some earthy hops and a dry finish. OK.
Tried
from Cask
on 20 Apr 2009
at 15:20
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask handpull at Society Rooms, JDW, Maidstone. In the style of an amber ale, but lacks the PNW hop kick. Malts are alright, some nice red fruit, some hop dryness, but as I say so disappointing that the brewer hadn’t brought more hops with her. My big hope for this festival dampened by a lack of courage and ambition. Not all of us like bland boring beers.
Tried
from Cask
on 20 Apr 2009
at 14:58