Fullers Summer Ale (Cask)

Brewed by Fullers
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
London, England

Cask Conditioned at Chequers, Chipping Norton. Golden beer with thinnish head. Light roasted malts give a body to a clearly defined hop flavour, no real bitterness from the hops, but a crystal acid palate. Thin throughout, but very drinkable.

Fullers have recently jumped on to the summer quaffer bandwagon in a noble attempt to lure the lager drinkers. It is a style I quite like, and it was indeed a blazing hot day when I tried this. However, I thought it a little bland and lacking in bite. Consequently, I did not find it that refreshing. A reasonable effort, but there are better beers in this style - Hop Back Summer Lightning for one (but beware the deceptively high alcohol content of that one). Handpump, The Warrington, London W9, June 2003 - a must-visit pub if you are in the Maida Vale area.

I had this at a Fullers pub with Cask Marque approval so I don't think it was the cask--this was just exceedingly mass market boring. Light yellow, a bit of head but little else. Slightly woody aroma. Thin, watery body, really exceptionally uninteresting, save for a light floral touch at the front. Nothing offensive, just a beer for a mass consumption audience. (on tap, Fox & Goose, Hunger Lane, London W5)

Cask Conditioned, at the Artillery Arms.
Pale yellow colour (like big bird). Melonous appearance. Slighlty dry, certainly not sweet. No head. Quite a dull beer despite its good presentation. Another disappointing summer ale….this time from a big quality name.

Ah! The fashionable golden summer ale. An old style - the pale ale - with a modern twist. This is nice: light, clean, smooth and refreshing with a little citric tang. But it's a poor example. The wheat makes it smooth, but also rather bland. The use of Saaz hops suggests that Fuller's are aiming at a lager audience; and it is, perhaps, the lager lovers who would appreciate this more. Titanic's Iceberg still remains my favourite of this style. [2.0] Re-rate Cask, Chequers, Somewhere in the hop fields of Kent. Weak yellow colour. Poor condition. Texture and taste of a corn lager. Surprisingly bad.

Sampled Cask condtioned. Tried this after some draught ESB, so this tasted weak. However, it’s light & refreshing - perfect for a hot summer’s day. I might try this again, but with Chiswick Bitter, London Pride & ESB avaliable in Fuller’s pubs, why would I?