Brunswick Father Mikes Dark Rich Ruby

Cask at the Brunswick, Derby. Almost black with a ruby tint and a thin cream head; sour fruit aroma with damson and cherries; sweet vinous fruit flavours, with chewy sultanas; a dry roasted finish with licorice and leather. Very pleasing.

Deep ruby coloured ale, clearish and topped by a minimal off-white head. Pretty candyish nose with barley sugary and beet sugar notes. As it warms, it becomes toffee-like and hints at port wine on top of leather… Obviously a complex range of subtleties, but never really more than a mellow, insufficient floral golding counterpart and rarely a presentation in unison of those fun individual flavours. Toasty more than roasty, woody, earthy and very sweet brew.

Cask, gravity, at Milton Keynes Beer Festival ’07. Very dark red brown. Plummy aroma with dates and raisins. Sour fruity taste with spices and a medium bitter finish. Pretty useful.

Surprising offer at the Griffin, Swithland, LE12. Unfamiliar with the porter style, so would class this as a heavy style stout, with aromas and taste of molasses but with a balanced rather than overpowering sweetness. Excellent drink for a perfect English autumn day.

Cask Handpump at the Brunswick, Derby 05/01/2007 Small white head. Dark coloured slightly rich on the palate and strong in alcohol with a fruity flavour. Some bitterness and dryness in a full malt finish.