Oakes here must have gotten one of the "bad cases" of this beer. I know it as one of my absolute favourite "all-round" beers; it is fresh, but not too bitter, and it has a hint of sweetness that makes it very easy to drink yet doesn’t take away any of its flexibility. Perfect alone, works well with food.

Keg, GBBF2003. Hazy gold, good fluffy white head and low condition. Good sweet malt and hop aroma, slight tangy apple and hop flavours and a delicate hop bitter finish.

This is a major disappointment. Light straw colour; grainy, unpleasant nose; plenty of bready malt on the palate, which salvages something, but I'm still trying to figure out why the aroma is so rank.