Gravity Cask at day 2 of the 41st Pigs Ear Beer Festival, 03/12/2025.
Golden copper with an off white cap that clears to the edge.
Nose is grass, herb, bitter fruit esters, straw.
Taste comprises caramel, fruit rinds, straw, toasted grains.
Medium bodied, soft carbonation, semi drying close.
Okay.

Cask at Smithfield, Derby. Pours golden yellow with minimal almost white head and good lacing. There’s citrus and honey in the aroma. In the mouth it is bitter with a creamy / deep texture but a little underlying sweetness too. Flavour has floral hops, marmalade and citrus. Hints of ginger later as well leading to a slightly dry and bitter finish. This is decent.

Cask (gravity) at Brunswick, Derby. Pours pale yellow with minimal off-white head. The aroma is sweet with malts and honey. In the mouth it is sweet and juicy but with a little underlying bitterness. Flavour is initially malts, grains and a trace of berry fruit, but some citrus and honey come through later. Finish is slightly fruity. Cask lager isn’t one of my favourite styles, but this is decent.

Cask at Greyhound, Stafford. Pours a very dark reddish-brown with a medium sized foamy tan head. The aroma is mainly coffee with some hints of alcoholic strength. In the mouth it is sweet and very smooth with a creamy texture. Flavour has coffee and malts with some vanilla and a trace of cola . Sweetness lasts into the somewhat watery finish. Bit of a beer of two halves this – I was very keen on it to start with but in the end it was just too sweet for me.

Cask from the Tiny Tavern, Lincoln. Clear golden colour with a white head. Aroma and taste are malty and juicy sweet citrus. Slightly fruity tang. Light body.