19/04/2014. JUNCTION TAVERN, 1 Leesland Road, Camden Town, GOSPORT, Hampshire, England

6.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Hand-pulled half-pint in the Handle Bar, Southampton on 11th June 2022. Great to see a new (to me) Mild these days, so had to try it, glad I did. Almost black with a beige head. Malty front with a mini chocolate aroma and taste, nice traditional Mild with an ABV that is well hidden within it's flavours.

7

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Hand-pulled pint at the Handle Bar, Southampton on 11th June 2022. Nice looking beer, clean and clear golden/amber body, off-white head. Semi-sweet malty front with a light fruity hop finish.

6.8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Keg at Horse & Groom, Chobham. Somewhere in there we have stone fruit and a touch of citrus but it tests the nose muscles. Hazy healthy looking orange. Thin translucent white head. At first it appears to be medium bitter but on a third mouthful the bitterness really kicks in - resin. Underlying stone fruit and citrus but overshadowed by the bitterness. Spice. Hints of malts. Medium-heavy bodied. Slick. Flat prickly carbonation. Long dry somewhat astringent finish. A bitter NEIPA and possibly less juicy than intended?

6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Bottle from Secretts, Milford. Aroma is of course smokey, tar, with a liquorice and vegetable streak. Dark and glossy. Thin foamy light beige head. Medium-heavy bitter. Warming tar. Liquorice. But it's primarily acrid. Underlying vaguest hints of creamy sweetness. Light-medium bodied. Slick. Oily. But thin. Fizzy carbonation. Long dry astringent finish. Not great. Just fails to get the balance right and... yeah... it's just acrid.

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle from Redh. Appearance - dark brown to black and fairly opaque. Decent tan head. Nose - smoke, molasses and just a hint of chocolate. Taste - charcoal, tar, molasses, blackjacks. Palate - medium bodied, balanced roasty/smoky finish. Overall - very nice.

6.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Bottle from Redh. Appearance - deep amber with a nicely proportioned off white head. Nose - orange and brown bread. Taste - orange going into marmalade. Then toast/biscuit follows it in. Palate - light to medium bodied. Tangy middle and finish. Decent bitterness. Overall - a solid citizen.

6.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bottle from Redh. Appearance - deep amber to brown. Off white proportionate head. Nose - toffee and nuts. Taste - more toffee and nuts. Stewed apples. Palate - medium bodied, tangy and sweet though middle and finish. Overall - ok but a bit sweet for the style.

6.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle from Redh. Appearance - cloudy pale yellow with a snow white head. Nose - grassy and lemon. Taste - lemon, grass and brown bread. Palate - light bodied, dry bitter hop and malt finish. Overall - I'd call this a blonde in style. Not bad at all.

7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle from Redh. Pours dark brown with a thin tan head. Aromas of smoke, tar and chocolate. Taste is charcoal, ash, cocoa powder. Dry finish.