500ml bottle: best before Oct 2013, poured into an Old Speckled Hen badged vase shaped pint @ home on 16 Nov 2012. Very pale indeed: almost lager/pilsner in it’s golden colour, not as bright, clean or clear as a lager/pilsner but simular in initial looks. The thin white left the scene fast, just like a lager/pilsner too. The nose is mostly of resinous hops, but a biscuity maltiness is just about sniffable as well. Sptrizy feel to the brew: taste wise it was hops again to the fore, like the smell, with the malts just below the surface releasing a slighlty nutty, cereal flavour to prevent the hops turning the beer to bitter. As the beer warmed a little I began to notice a mild orange aroma and taste: those Pacifica hops were begining to work their magic, I must have chilled the beer a little too much before opening the bottle. The second half of the glass was a lot better then the first half.

Bottle from Appleyards Deli, Shrewsbury, Saturday 25th August 2012 consumed the same day outside Frank (camper) at Shrewsbury Folk Festival. Pours dark reddy/brown, didn’t notice much of a head. Not as sharp or tart as I expected or hoped and therefore I think that the Old Ale was more prominent than the cherry addition. However tasty and very suppable, I was however shocked at the strength, as it really didn’t taste this strong. A6 A3 T7 P4 Ov13 3.3

Brown 500ml bottle: best before Aug 2013, poured into an Abbot Ale glass tankard during Aug 2012. Slightly cloudy orange colour: dull old gold maybe. On top a thick head os white foam. The nose and taste were both fruity and hoppy: a good blend of flavours with the hops being the strongest influence giving the beer a dry and extremely hop finish. This brewery produces some lovely beers: not their best but still a very fine beer.

500ml bottle: best before Apr 2013, poured into a UK pint sleeve on 13th Aug 2012. pale golden body, clear, bright and lager like in appearance, full head of white bubbles sat proudly on top. Nose was weak hops, floral more than piney or citrusy, but not much of anything really, even when the beer warmed in the glass. Add some hay and grass towards the end of the tasting. More malts in the flavour than the smell, underlying hop bitterness but with a medium sweet feel to it. Mini-oily texture, but easy to drink and a beer I’d like to try in cask form.

500ml Bottle: best before Jan 2013, poured into an ’Old Speckled Hen’ badged pint vase at home on 8th Aug 2012. Looked good: clear amber body with a lovely white head that stayed the distance. The nose was fairly sweet, as was the taste: biscuity malts, lightly baked, with the hops (Goldings and Fuggles) playing bit parts until the end of each sip where their bitterness came to the fore as the mouth dried. I like this breweries beers: it’s a pity more people can’t get to try them.

500ml bottle: best before Feb 2013, poured into a UK pint sleeve glass on 5th Aug 2012. Dull, old gold body with a full white crown of bubbles on top. Mini citrus nose with hints of a malty content below the surface. The taste followed the smell, citrusy hops leading the flavours with a mild malt influence trying to stop the tangy, spritzy hop content completely taking over. OK, but no world beater.

Tornado: 500ml bottle: best before Dec 2012, poured into an Old Speckled Hen badged pint vase on 3rd Aug 2012. Looked fine: a good amber body with carbonisation bubbles rising through, up to the full creamy head of an off-white colour. Some good lacing held onto the glass during this tasting. Resinus nose with hints of bread. Almost sour and certainly bitter, where have the malts gone from the bready aroma? To be fair, as the beer warmed in the glass it appeared to get a bit more maltier and less sour in the mouthfeel. My first beer of the evening and not too bad.

500ml bottle. Pours dark brown with a thin head. Aroma is chocolate, bitter coffee and dark fruity malt. Taste has liquorice to start with a strong coffee finish.

Bottle from Co-op Headington, Oxford 17.06.12 consumed at home the same day. Pours dark gold with white head, fairly standard bitter with a little soapiness in there and a bitter finish, dry towards the end. Its ok. A6 A4 T6 P3 Ov11 3.0