Adnams Yuletide

Cask. Small off white head. Dark brown body. A light hoppy aroma, like a light Belgian beer aroma. A light malty flavour, with some sweetness. Bitter finish, low carbonation. (Pillars of Hercules, London, 01.12.08)

Cask conditioned at The Falkland Arms, Great Tew, Oxon. Chestnut with off white head. Roasty malty christmas beer, meant to be a warmer, but doesn’t quite have the body for it. Remains fairly dry through the beer with a reasonable fruitiness. Reasonable.

Cask at The Pineapple, Kentish Town, 19th Dec 08. Deep ochre-tinted brown, small off-white head. Caramel, smokiness, blackcurrant. Slightly flat palate and a bit of mustiness - this wasn’t in good condition.

Handpulled cask at the Duke of Hamilton, Hampstead. Ruby/brown with a thick off white head. Malty and spicy with just enough hops in the finish.

Cask handpull at Bohemian, Deal. Ruby/dark brown with lasting beige head. An odd mix of a traditional malty winter warmer and a spicy, peppery beer. Great condition mind. Actually I really like this. Proper spicy winter beer. Soft in mouth. Good dry malts.

Cask (handpump) @ Wenlock Arms, Islington, London N1, UK. Clear medium brown color with a small, fizzy / virtually none, fully diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is light to moderate malty, roasted, caramel, fruit / berry, raisin / plum. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a average duration. Body is medium, texture is watery to oily, carbonation is soft to flat. (311207)

Cask at Wellington Arms, Bedford. Dark red brown with a small white head. Aroma is slightly sour. Taste has malt overlaid by a sourness that began as unripe pear and developed into milk that’s going off. Some bitterness. I wanted this to be sweeter, but, all things considered, it’s drinkable.

Cask at George V, London School of Economics. Malt, caramel, a hint of spice and a whiff of yeast. Fine hoppiness in the finish.