Cask pint at NERAX on 5/4/07
Big, foamy white head shows strong retention. Bright, copper-golden body. Moderate lacing.
Lots of perky tangerine in the nose. Huge, lush, fruity (and sweet) nose with a fuzziness from the hops. Sweet malt shows moderate caramel that really helps create the mandarin-like nose. Some snappy citrus character on the finish, but otherwise not a whole lot of bitterness/acidity. Malts are soft and easy on the nose. House yeast character is present and enjoyable (musty, earthy, damp, rather intangible notes). Maybe a touch of yeast doughiness? But no flaws other than that (if you’d consider that a flaw).
Sweet flavor immediately seems somewhat underattenuated. More mandarin oranges, light caramel-honey suggestions and lots of doughiness. Very creamy consistency, with tons of peach, orange and lemon notes that make it seem like you’re biting in to one of said fruits. Bitterness follows on the end, though not quite enough to balance all the malt and clear the heavy hop flavors. More intangible yeast character (aside from the doughiness) sits on the end as well. Medium to medium-full bodied for a bitter. Fun, as always from Bank Top.

I’d like to dedicate this rating to Kanye West
Cask pint at NERAX on 5/3/07
Bright golden-marmalade colored beer is clear, with a small white head that fades quickly, leaving some wispy lace behind.
A smattering of citric hops, mostly light grapefruit and lemon provides a clear shot of dryness and light bitterness, while grainy, very attenuated malts are left on the finish. Bank Top yeast is always interesting and leaves a very estery, distinct character on both the nose and palate. Gummy, slightly earthy and with hints of damp leaves and dew. That’s my best stab at a description; I find it nearly impossible to describe the subtle nuances of English house character. Anyhow, malts never deepen or get overly sweet, leaving crackery, somewhat dusty and tannic notes behind, but there’s always a slight touch of light pale malt sugar and the hops have a moderately lasting effect, though ultimately succumb to minerals. Medium strength of aroma, no flaws.
Dry and almost scratchy on the palate, there’s definitely a high attenuation here, with citric, bitter hops that leave little flavor impression other than the usual grapefruit/orange rind notes. Crusty white bread, some fruity esters and more damp, strange (but enticing) yeast character on the finish. Very nice, low carbonation is quite tight. Drinkable, with some lime/lychee (though without much of the sweetness associated with that) peeking through on the end. Very light body, no flaws. Little bit too heavy on the attenuation and crackery/scratchy/tannic maltiness.

Bottle at Chris_O bottlefest 2007. Gold colour with some hop. Quite citrusy hop on the finish. OK. 3.0/5.0 Re-rate Cask gravity at Ashford Rugby Club BF 2007. Gold colour, bit of hay hop. Very nice tangerine citrus flavours. Good condition. Spritzey in mouth, very drinkable.

Golden brown with a low, but lasting foamy layer. Nice fruity and hoppy depths to the nose. Fruity - grapefruit with notes of mandarin - flavour with a pleasant hoppy and bitter ending. Quite good (Half pint on gravity at The 24th Ipswich Beer Festival 22.09.2006).

Cask@GBBF, 2006. Black beer with a lightly malty and coffee aroma, and a coffee and lightly chocolate flavour. Overall an average beer.

Cask at GBBF 06. Gold. Disappearing white head. Farty yeast. Some hop. Soft in mouth. Farty yeast runs through it. Bit of hop on finish, but just too yeasty.

(Cask at Crown, Stockport, 29 July) Colour is golden amber with a frothy white head. Nose is fruity with lemon and a grassy hop aroma. Taste is fruity with lemon, grapefruit and a grassy hoppiness in the long, rather dry, finish. Very refreshing.

(Cask at Bar Fringe, Manchester, 28 July) Colour is golden yellow with copper notes, little head. Nose is fruity with lemon, grapefruit and a slightly soapy hop aroma. Taste is fruity with citrus (mainly lemon, but some grapefruit as well) and a grassy hop character. Fairly short, but hoppy, finish. A bit on the sweet side, but refreshing enough.

(Cask at Bar Fringe, Manchester, 27 July) Colour is pale amber with little head. Nose is fruity with oranges, mandarin, apricots and some earthy hops. Taste is fruity (mandarin, oranges, apricots) with a spicy, floral hop character in the finish. Balanced bitterness.