Caledonian Deuchars IPA (Cask)

Brewed by Caledonian (S&N, Heineken)
Style: Bitter
Edinburgh, Lothians, Scotland

Handpump at the White Horse in Oxford. Pours a deep golden with a lasting white head. Aroma is spicy, herbal, floral with no malt. The body is watery with a fair amount of CO2 esp. for a cask ale. The flavors are really muted. Some sweetish malt, light herbal hops and not much else. The finish is fairly bitter. Not a bad beer but calling it an IPA is downright fraud.

During a couple of drinking weeks in England, I had three half pint of this Scottish pride. The best kept version was served at perfect temperature at The 11th St Albans Beer Festival. Golden coloured body with good clarity topped by a low filmy layer of foam. Nice floral aroma mixed with hints of roasted grain. The flavour is well balanced with a skilful blend of earthy hop bitterness and malty sweetness. Gentle, dry finish. Moderate bitterness. At its best, this is very moreish drink. But the bottle version is still better(29.09.2006).

Fully golden colour with a small white head. Hoppy floral aroma with a light citric note. Light malty sweet flavor with a hoppy citric fruityness.

1 pint. Bright golden colour and a medium-sized white head. Nose with bright acidic citrusy hops. Mouthfeel is also quite acidic with crisp malts and a little acidicty from hops. Not sure if this one is off or not, but it is very unlike other cask-ales. But quite distinctive with its acidic edge. Will have to try another sample.

cask at Royal Oaks York: much nicer on cask than from the bottle. aroma was very floral. the most I’ve ever had the pleasure of smelling. nice fruity taste. tons of citrus type flavors, and niec malt background. medium palate. nice drink. cheers

Cask, Clachnaharry, Inverness. Took a while to get this beer poured and took an age to clear. Lots of carbonation and attractive lacing. The aroma is extremely herbal, almost skunky, which caries through the flavour also. Not too bitter. Very refreshing with a fairly thin mouthfeel. Light malt throughout. Long mellow finish. A good session beer - would definitely try again.

Cask at Salisbury. Clear golden with a small-medium white head. Aroma is a walk in the park, earthy, grassy and tree leaves. Malt flavour is tree branches and the hops have a nice forestry character. Mild-medium bitterness. Very lively carbonation by casks standards. This is a rather common and very popular cask beer in England and I can understand why. I can’t say the same about their boiled beef.

Cask at the Pen and Parchment, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. Golden with a small off white head. Malty aroma and a hoppy taste, fresh and sweet. Not very bitter. Enjoyed it.