J.W. Lees Ruddy Glow

This beer is intense in its burnt dryness. There is a grape skin-like tang to the flavour along with berry notes. I like dry beers but this is still a bit OTT.

Reddish and very clear.Slightly sweet but finishes quite dry.A slightly above average bitter.

A Mes rate: Cask at Baker Street ’Sporks.
Amber brown with a slim off white head and lots of lacing. Sweet caramelly malt, aroma with some slight hops underneath. Full flavoured with a nice tobacco and malt finish.

Bottle. Deep chestnut, good off white head and gentle condition. Low spicy malt and peppery hop in the nose, gentle earthy hop bitterness in the mouth with some chocolate and a fruity tartness also noticable, low bitter hoppiness in the finish becoming quite dry.

Cask at The Pilgrim’s Progress (JDW), Bedford. Orange-amber, slightly hazy. Small white head. Served chilled. Negligible aroma. Quite a nice, rich, fruity taste with early bitterness.

Cask handpump at The White Horse, Harborne, Birmingham. Copper with a good head. Scent is spicy with some sugars. Watery and sweet. Not much taste; just a hint of caramel. Dry end.

Knickersby ’Spoons. Ruby pint with well-retained cream froth. Aroma is sourish and vinous with plenty of buttery vanilla. Flavour is more of the same with smooth berryish fruit, caramel, and red wine creaminess. Unusually well-conditioned and tasty back-to-back with 4 pints of Church. Enjoyed it.

Not exactly the ruddy or rich-ruby appearance you’d expect, though there is a nice tinge of red/orange mixed in with the medium-brown hue. Fairly vapid vapours of malt, corn syrup and cherry escape the glass – nothing special. Based on the subdued aroma, the flavour is a nice surprise: cherry, chocolate, and a good, solid dose of bitterness. The gritty texture is also quite pleasant. Starts slow, ends well.