Granite Brewery Best Bitter

Cask @ Henry House. Dark amber with slight haze and half-inch beige foam. Lacing. Rich nose has berries, bread, almost like a dubbel in its tempting complexity and rustic, almost rural aromas. Incredibly quaffable! Perfect temperature, perfect body. Fruity malts dominate, finishes roasty, dry, and more-ish. Lovely.

From the cask at C’est What? in Toronto. A smooth, well-balanced, easy-drinking session beer with good caramel malt and ok aroma hopping. Very reliable, though not as interesting as the special dry-hopped version.

In short: A problematic body almost saved by nice English style hopping. Drinkable.
How: Post-Mondial 2008 tasting session. Growler from one of the Ontario visitor
The look: Clear dark copper body topped by a little ring of foam
In long: I don’t if I should fault the growler or the beer but since the growler was supposedly fresh I fault the beer. Body felt lifeless with its extra-soft carbonation and watery mouthfeel. Taste is light but not in a “subtle light” kind of way, taste is light in “watery light” kind of way. Watery caramel, some butterscotch and extra-ripe citrus fruits. This would have deserved and extra-low score but the beer was somewhat saved by some nice leafy hops with a light tea-ish after-taste. Overall the beer was drinkable but not something I feel like having again. This is not a solid beer, Clay ESB.

Objectively speaking: Appealing, fruity, almost authentic English bitter with striahgt-on toasty, orangey- slightly apricot like flavours and the mildest earthy leanings.
I like: Probably my favourite of the lot at Granite. Well-executed with good restriction, just enough bittering hops. Smooth carbonation.
I dislike: Did not quite manage the perfect smooth texture of a real Cask English bitter. Yet it remains easy to drink and agreeeable.