7.2/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Nifty that Chris at Redbones was able to get this (and yes, I did confirm that this was not just a nitro/low-C02 keg, but an actual cask). Drunk on 11/28/06 (less than 6 hours from being tapped)
Couldnt ask for much more from the appearance. I suppose, when a British cask ale is done correctly, ie "Bright", and has a perfectly retained head that provides full lacing, it’s difficult to give it a poor score, as it is technically perfect. The rest would be adjusting it based on subjective color preference, methinks, which I don’t do. So a 5 it is. Anyways, the head is white/off-white and the body is a very deep, heavily burnished brass with light peach and copper tints. Perfectly clear with light bubbles rising sporadically.
Touches of diacetyl grace a lightly biscuit-like pale maltiness, that provides some dough, wet straw/hay and watered down buttermilk, I suppose. Hops only seem to provide bitterness, adding a dusty, pepperiness probably indicating EKGs or Saaz. Light ester fruitiness in the nose, but I thought it was muted by the creamy/doughy maltiness. Though I shouldnt imply that the nose was too sweet; it was actually quite dry and attenuated. Medium to medium-low strength overall, no flaws (mild diacetyl is hardly offensive).
Very creamy in the mouth, with light plant-like notes from the leafy, dry, dusty hops that give way to a light poundcake sweetness. A touch of hay-like graininess (or perhaps hop bitterness) perks up towards the end and delivers a refreshing enough finish. Not much flavor lingering on, a touch of sourness/mineral-like notes. Sweetness does not build up, nor does the beer seem overly dried out, nor terribly undermalted. Interesting in its extreme plainness. Fully inoffensive. I don’t know what I thought as I drank it, other than to think that it was quite quenching and gone rather quickly.
Tried
from Cask
on 05 Jan 2007
at 17:04