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.

Cask handpull at The County Hotel, JDw. Ashford. Very dark brown with lasting beige head. It’s a bit like an ESB/Dark ale, some toasty roasty malts. Some decent fruits. Some ok hop. Nice coffee hints. I like the malts and fruit.

Cask handpull at County Hotel, JDW, Ashford. Yes, nice hoppy aroma, but just a bit watery in mouth and the hops are just too cheesy. Its ok but the malt and hops let it down, too watery on malt and too much cheese on hops. Attractive copper colour lasting white head. Grapefruit leafy hop aroma, ok caramel malt in mouth. 3.3 RE rate at Samuel Peto. Better than first time I had it. Less cheesy, but ok. The cascades really came through more.

Cask handpull at Samuel Peto, Jdw, Folkestone. Black, virtually no head. Tar. It settles down into a choccy, dark Belgian choc bitter flavour. Takes a little bit of getting used to, but had far worse. Alcohol is well masked I thought. Quite interesting.

Cask at Standing Order Edinburgh (JDW) in ’Spoons Real Ale Festival, April ’09 ...amber ... thin off white head ...little grapefruit hop nose ..bright sharp hop little creamy juicy grapefruit .. not as hoppy as expected but nice balance.

Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms (JDW) 19/04/09. Amber with a slight, off-white head. Sweet malts and citrus hop aroma. Flavour was similarly sweet, with more citrus and a touch of gooseberry, leading to a decent bitter finish. Pretty good.

Cask at Counting house Dundee (JDW) in ’Spoons Real Ale Festival, April ’09 ... Deep black ... medium creamy tan head ... light sweet toffee roast malts ... little meaty ... rich sweet treacle malts ... slightly odd something ... quie a lot of pervasive hops ... little coffee... light bitter linger.

Cask-conditioned at the Knights Templar (JDW), Bristol 18/04/09. Near black in colour with a decent tan head. Roast aroma with some dark fruit in the background. Easy drinking, with more roastiness, dried fruits and a lingering, charred finish. Very enjoyable.

Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms, Bristol 16/04/09. Black with a deep tan head. Roast malt and chocolate truffle aroma. Flavour was sweet, with coffee, toffee and a decent dry finish. Good stuff.

Cask at the Samuel Peto (JDW), Folkestone. Bright gold with a thin white head; grapefruit aroma; rather thin and woody to start then developing fruity grapefruit flavours followed by a long lingering bitterness as promised.