A post-climb pint, drunk when I was knackered, aching and gasping for a beer - so it was always going to taste good! Served at room temperature in a very warm pub - the correct (ie cellar/ twelve degrees) temperature would have been nicer. Deep gold colour (fairly pale for a bitter) with a slight but lasting creamy white head. In the mouth the beer feels strangely thick, almost greasy, and yet despite this is startlingly easy to drink - I finished it almost before I knew what I was doing. It’s a little eggy at first, before clearing to reveal some malt, a hint of citrus and just enough bitterness to make it both refreshing and thirst quenching. It’s more like a golden ale than a bitter however, the flavours are fairly weak. In terms of actual flavour, this beer is rather insipid and unmemorable however, it’s so drinkable and refreshing that it would make a great summer session beer I could happily knock back a few of these on a hot day (although preferably served at a slightly cooler temperature!)

500ml bottle. Pours dark brown with a tight, tan head. Aroma of strong, sweet malt, with a touch of fruit and roastiness. The flavour started sweet with some chocolate before bitter, savoury edges took over ahead of a bitter finish. Very good.

Cask handpull at Shakespeare Head, JDW, London. Gold with thick off white head. Earthy, slightly ascetic aroma. Yeasty bitter. Fine. Some hop on end

Cask @ The Pommeler’s Rest, JDW, Southwark. Pours a clear golden color with a small white head. Fruity malty sulphur aroma with some hoppy hints. Fruity malty flavor with some hoppy hints. Fruity malty finish.

(Cask at Harp, Covent Garden, London 30 Nov 2007) Copper colour with brief, white head. Malty, fruity nose with dark fruit and toffee. Malty, fruity taste with notes of dark fruit on a solid malt foundation, dusty hops in a fairly short finish. Nice session bitter.

[i] Cask at The Penny Black, JDW, Bicester, 11-11-07 [/i] Poured mid golden with good clarity, some citrus on the nose but a rather watery tasting beer, bit malty and sweet and ultimately just a little disapponting.

Cask-conditioned at the Ship Inn, Porlock Somerset. Pale gold colour with a decent white head. Sweet malt and hay aroma. Flavour of biscuit malt with a dry finish. Ok.

Cask-conditioned at the Lord Nelson, Wheathampstead, Herts. A pleasant enough session bitter. Golden coloured with a moderate white head. Fruity aroma with some floral hops. Slightly sweet flavour with a brief, dry finish.

Copper beer with a lasting white little head. Malt dominated aroma with caramel and toffee. Dry and malty flavour with a hoppy finish.

Cask@GBBF2007. Deep golden colour, mediumsized head. Aroma is caramel, some earthy hops and perfume. Flavour is hops, wood and grass with some slight perfumeish hints. Quite watery palate.