McMullen Cask Ale

Brewed by McMullen
Style: Bitter
Hertford,, England

Bon accord. Aroma is minimal, though toffee malt is key. Taste has lots of bittering hop over a toffee malt base, a nice drink but a bit boring. RERATE: Cask at the nags head: This was totally random, i just went in here while waiting on The Duff getting of the tube and was like i’ll just have the cask ale. It was a wise move. The aroma is like soo fresh and hoppy, its like nosing a fresh bag of english hops, really like im just going to sit here and totally nose this to death. Taste is soo juicey and tasty and like i managed to drink like a pint and a half in 10 mins and was concidering telling the duff we’re just going to stay there and drink all night. Iv been back for more and its still awsome, so wasnt one of those moments of madness. Everytime i go near this place im goign to have to get a pint of it.

Cask@NagsHead. Fruity aroma. Yellow/amber color, off-white head, good lace. Light malty, sweet, light bitter to even nasty bitter in the finish. A bit thin.

Cask (handpump), Spice of Life, Cambridge Circus, London. Clear, bright amber colour. No sparkler but poured with a thin, but well formed and lasting head, which was an indicator of being kept in good condition. And it was. Distinct biscuity malt aroma, with a touch of bread and a smattering of tangy hop. More citric hop character on the palate, with hints of dry pale malt. Light, dry mouthfeel with a citric finish and a lasting bittersweet aftertaste. A cracking session bitter. My only concern was that I had popped into this pub because it had started selling the McMullen seasonal and special brews (which the Nags Head does not) and I hoped to get their summer offering, Midsummer Madness, but the three pumps had Cask Ale, AK and Country Best. I don’t know whether this is a permanent state of affairs.

On draft at the Nags Head, Covent Garden. Amber body, small creamy head, strong lacing. Lots of floral grassy flavours and nose. Some malt sweetness, but well balenced with the hops. Bitter finish. A very enjoyable pint.

Cask handpull at Farriers Arms, St Albans. Copper gold with lasting off white head. A little dull and bland to start with, not much aroma, some hop in mouth and then more hop towards the finish. Distinct hop bitterness on finish.

A Sim rate (Cask at the Nags Head): Aroma is pleasant enough but almost non-existant; only slight hops. Golden brown ale appearance that is nothing special but it has decent lace which gives it a 3. Flavour is again subtle with malt and very delicate hops. Decent but nothing to write home about.

Cambridge Fest. Fragrant and delicate hop flavour, McMullen use whole hops; now, I don’t know if it is the actual whole hop or the idea of the whole hop that is so pleasing, but it certainly tastes fresher, more delicate and fragrant, and less harsh than pellet hops. I’m not after intensity - I like delicacy and character. And I like McMullens. I’m probably biased. But this is a soft biscuit malt enriched with butter and danced on by the flowery hops. It is soft, easy drinking, yet flavoursome, satisfying and interesting. It’s isn’t rude or abrupt. It quenches the thirst and pleases the palate. There’s a touch of fruit, and a burst of juice. This is a lovely drop. I could drink this all day - which is exactly what I want from a session ale.

Cask handpump at Cambridge BF ’07. Amber with a small white head. Gentle tarry malt aroma. Pear fruit taste with a little malt. Hoppy finish. Quite good. Not sure why I’ve never before tried a McMullen beer, having lived in Hertfordshire for ten years in the 70’s and 80’s.