Caledonian Deuchars IPA (Cask)

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

Very very fine cask ale. Good hops on the nose and tongue yet crisp and full of taste. More of a bitter than an IPA, but far more gritty than the greene king.

Cask at One Golf Place, St Andrews. Creamy white head complimenting the light amber beer. Smooth. Not much to it. Malty. Bitter.

1. Cask Handpump at the Helter Skelter, Frodsham 10/05/2001 Malty with hints of ginger. 2. Cask Handpump at the Helter Skelter, Frodsham 13/05/2001 Golden coloured with plenty of hops present. 3. Cask Handpump at the Beehive, Edinburgh 28/09/2001 Golden coloured and pale with a full hop finish. 4. Cask Handpump at Cooper’s, Edinburgh 29/09/2001 Golden coloured and citrus flavour with a full hop finish. 5. Cask Handpump at the Old Harkers Arms, Chester 12/08/2002 Straw golden coloured and smooth on the palate. 6. Cask Handpump at the Friar Penketh JDW, Warrington 29/08/2002 Golden slightly pale with a hint of orange and hop finish. 7. Cask Handpump at the Cross Keys, Knutsford 26/01/2004 Clear golden pale hoppy and creamy with a pleasant malt finish. 8. Cask Handpump at the Cross Keys, Knutsford 27/01/2004 Clear golden pale smooth and hoppy with a pleasant lasting creamy malt finish. 9. Cask Handpump at the Cross Keys, Knutsford 29/01/2004 Golden pale hoppy with a smooth slightly dry creamy malt finish. 10. Cask Handpump at the Cross Keys, Knutsford 25/03/2004 Clear golden coloured hoppy pale and slightly citrus flavoured with some bitterness in a dry and creamy lasting finish.

The same, I wonder why are threated like too different beers, both are the same so far. BUt anyway.

Cask handpull at Druids Arms, Maidstone. Normally a favourite of mine but this wasnt awfully good, so I will re-rate when I have a better pint. Pale copper colour thin white head. Distinctive hop citric aroma with a bit of caramel. Thin in mouth bit watery. Some citrus hop on the end. Re-rate on 24/9/5. Cask handpull at Bohemian, Deal. Pale gold, bubbly white head, grapefruit citrus and fresh hop aroma. Pale malt underpins more aggressive green hop, leading to good hoppy, citric dry finish. Distinctive tea flavours too

Tasted from cask in 2004 in York and Ayr. Low alcohol IPA in style. Quite bitter and fruity with distinct hop character. Surprisingly tasty for it’s low alcohol.

A Golden Bitter. Offered the choice of Greene King IPA or this I would take this every time. However - it does, like Landlord, suffer easily from not being kept in decent condition. Heavier beers can handle being left in the sun or being left tapped for too long. But the Deuchars is a delicate bitter. When served cool, fresh and settled this is crisp and fruity with some of the fragrant citric qualities of a Golden Ale. Sadly - like Landlord - most times it’s muddled, mucky and a bit greasy.

My favorite beer sampled on my recent trip to Europe (which included Belgium!). This beer really surprised me. For 3.8% abv, this is extremely well balanced between hops and malt. This is the session beer that I want to quaff all the time. Why can’t I have this in the US??! Pumps into my glass a murky golden color with a dense white head. Aroma is full of fruity, grassy and floral hoppyness. Tastes of pine cone, orange zest and lemon balanced well with light caramel malt. Creamy and soft on the palate, finishes dry. I love this beer, I drank 4 imperial pints in one session! This is the ultimate session beer for a hophead.