Blackstone Maris Otter Pale Ale

Sampled on draft at the Music City Brewers Festival. Clear amber pour with a decent white head. Sweet and vanilla and some corn and honey. One of the better blackstones I’ve had, but still nothing fabulous. Way too sickly sweet and cloying on the palate

Had this on tap in Nashville at McFadden’s pub. Thoroughly mediocre beer with the only thing going for it some mild hops and malt flavor. Probably worse in the bottle.

Sampled at Schlafly Repeal of Prohibition festival. Pour golden with a good off-white head. Aroma has light clean malt, minimal hops and milky caramel. Medium grainy body with gentle carbonation. The taste has British yeast, lightly toasted malt and is a bit earthy. Okay beer.

Growler. Pours an off-white head with a golden amber body and some lace. Smells of biscuit, caramel, little yeast, and some spicy hops. Tastes like the smell. Finish has some bitterness to it.

Cask pour at the brewpub. Frothy white head, Clear reddish amber. Aroma is tart berry and caramel. Smooth buttery caramel taste. The cask pour gives the beer the creaminess but also makes it feel a bit watery.

On cask at Blackstone’s, Nashville. Copper pour, tan head. Wonderfully persistent lace. Slight floral nose. Soft mouthfeel and broad malty flavor, Chirstmas-cookie-like, finish with a delicate touch of hoppy bitterness.

On tap at the brewery. Poured a clear gold with a one finger white head. Aroma of malt and a slight hop note. Flavor was sweet with a mildly bitter finish. 2/7/09 - On cask at the brewery. The beer was very similar on cask as on tap...the only difference was the carbonation, which was almost non-existent. Still, a drinkable, good brew.

Sampled at the 8th Annual Music City Brewer’s Festival. Red-orange with a white foam. Aroma is toasty, malt sweetness, caramel, spicy hops. Taste is more toasted malt, caramel, bready, grassy hop bitter finish.