RCH PG Steam

Brewed by RCH
Style: Bitter
Weston-super-Mare, England

Cask at Wellington Arms, Bedford. Golden with a small white head. Floral aroma. The taste begins with an intense caramel maltiness which leads into a wonderful, profound earthy, grainy centre that lingers in the mouth, alternating between sweetness and dryness, leaving a strong bitter aftertaste at the back of the throat. Just 3.9%: a beer to savour all evening. Delightful. Not so impressed with its bottled alter ego, On the Tiles, 4.0%, which was hazy copper with a nasty salty aroma and none of the sweetness in the taste. Just a flat dreary, washed out staleness. Can this really be the same beer? Also it had another of those disagreeable labels which feature a cartoon of a drunken animal, in this case a top-hatted cat. Rating 4,2,4,3,9,2.2

500 ml bottle, as RCH On The Tiles, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. Bottle conditioned. ABV is 4.0%. Deep golden to orange coloured beer, slightly hazy, low off-white head. Very nice hoppy aroma, notes of tropical fruits. The flavour has a nice balance between the malts (with a hint of caramel) and the distinct and grapefruity hops throughout. Hoppy finish and aftertaste, but not too bitter. Possibly inspired by American pale ales? Anyhow, I like it!

Cask/GBBF06 staff bar: copper/brown, deep citric flavour with outstanding bittering hops which last and last in the mouth long after I finished the beer. Easily the best British ale I sampled at the GB. I thought it was outstanding.

Cask at the Cask Pub & Kitchen, Pimlico, London on 7th October 2009. Amber with small white head that laces well initially. Grassy hop aromas; good hoppy bitter focus in main kick and a dry, hoppy finish. The mouthfeel is slightly textured and all in all this is a good, refreshing session ale.

Cask gravity at Kent BF 07. Copper, lasting bubbly beige head. Actually a great session bitter, good malt/hop combo, hop on end was very good. Balanced and drinkable. I liked it.

Crown & Thistle Amber with bubble head. Softly dry palate. Initial orange sweetness gradually fades into a tight bitterness. Spanking balance. An exciting, delicate, fresh and fragrant session bitter. Very good! [3.6]
Bottle Conditioned as On The Tiles. Surprisingly good for a low abv bottled session bitter. The colour of cat's pee, but a pleasantly fragrant aroma. Crisp and clean and very refreshing. [3.1}

(cask) Rocky off-white head that leaves beautiful lacing atop a hazy amber body. Aroma is medium sweet, orange peel, lemongrass, some floral, light caramel. Taste is same as aroma. Watery light-medium body. Nice session beer.

Bottle. Yellow with a really dominant bittermesss. Left plenty of lacing. Well bottled but nothing exceptional.