Cask. At The Jerusalem Tavern. Poured near opaque ruby with a decent tasting foamy off-white head (3+). Slight sour malt aroma (middling roastiness), with treacle and a bit of tart fruit and coffee grounds. The taste is actually quite roasty, more coffee intensity with a hint of sour cherry - but very, very light bodied. Somewhat burnt and dry mouthfeel, nice bitterness in the linger - pretty solid - I’m pretty sure cask really helps this one a lot.

[500ml bottle from the brewery shop] I love St Peter’s Brewery, it’s buildings, its friendly staff, it’s beautiful bottles. It’s just a shame that as of yet I haven’t found a decent beer from them. Still, I reasoned, surely I couldn’t go wrong by trying their take on my favourite style? It pours dark brown (paler than your average mild) with a ridiculously large foaming beige head (no matter how carefully I poured it). Moderate and rather annoying carbonation. Aroma and flavour is all burnt malt, and hence rather bitter in aftertaste. There’s no depth; no other flavours discernable beyond this save maybe a hint of treacle. The mouthfeel is surprisingly refreshing and thirst quenching when cool, but becomes a little sticky as it warms. Overall this is a poor mild, and another disappointing beer from St Peter’s.

Cask@GBBF2008. Dark brown colour, small brown head. Aroma is dark fruits, some mild roasted malts as well as some sweet wood. Flavour is wood, some dark dry fruits as well as mildly smoked wet wood.

Cask at the GBBF 2008. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights, low head. Moderately roasty aroma with some winey notes. The flavour is smooth and moderately roasty, with a moderate bitterness in the finish. Easy drinking, quite nice.

Cask @ Jerusalem Tavern. Dark brown with tiny beige head. Sweet malty with caramel, hops and roastyness. End mild bitter.