The Whole Hop Brewery Stag Bitter

Cask (handpump) at the Spice of Life, Cambridge Circus, October 2008. McMullens downsized their brewing operations in 2006, selling the surplus land to Sainsbury’s and re-christening the brewery "The Whole Hop Brewery". This was the first beer I had seen I had seen that gave prominence to the new name - most of the beers still bear the McMullens badge. Not sure whether this is a one-off or a regular Autumn seasonal. A handsome beer - golden amber with a moderate, but lasting head. Otherwise a fairly standard best bitter with the emphasis on dry malt. Touches of berry fruit on the palate with a slightly bitter tang on the finish, Not much in the way of Autumnal character - mellow fruitfulness and all that - but a perfectly respectable and quaffable bitter.

<i>Cask Conditioned at The Spice of Life, London</i>
Amber color, thin creamy head. The aroma is lightly yeasty, as the flavor is. Some caramel flavor, very light apple touch, no special hopping. Easy and not in prime conditions.