Theakston Old Peculier (Cask)

Brewed by Theakston
Style: Old Ale
Masham, England

Cask-conditioned at the Pump House, Bristol 2/1/08. Ruby red with a decent off-white head that left plenty of lacing. Aroma of dark fruit, caramel and grassy hops. The mouth feel was vinous with more sweet malt and fruit flavours before a decent bitter finish. Very good.

Had this years ago at a place I think is called ram’s head (or something like that) and still remember it. A nose of treacle, caramel, ripened cherries; rich and full on the palate, with soft sour oak character, finishing with fruity sweetness and a hint of bitterness. Probably the best old ale I’ve tried.

[692-20070925] Cask @ Lamb & Flag (Oxford, OX). Sweet aroma of slightly mouldy wood. Hazy, dark brown red body with a quick off-white bubbly head. Flavour has grape characteristics like red wine tannins, dark malt like flat cherry coke and noticeable alcohol. Medium-full body, sour finish. Disappointing overall, possibly not fresh.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 4   Light Brown(1)->Dark(5) : 4   Ruby : XX   Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 2
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 2   White(1)->Tan(5) : 1   Lasting: 4   Lacing : 3
Aroma:
Intensity : 3  
Yeast : 2   Bread : 2   Apple : XX   Esters : XX   Banana : XX   Phenols : XX   Leather : XX   Perfume : XX   DMS : XX   Diacetyl : 2
Malt : 4   Biscuity : 2   Toast : 1   Caramel : XX   Toffee : 2   Maple : XX   Molasses : XX   Nuts : 3   Candy : 3   Pumpernickel : XX   Cereals : XX   Fruits : 3   Chocolate : 2   Coffee : XX   Vanilla : 2   Grapes : XX   Blackberries : 3   Dates : XX   Cherries : XX   Plums : XX   Figs : XX
Hops : 2   Noble(1)->American(5) : 1   Leafy : XX   Floral : XX   Orange : XX   Herbal : XX   Spicy : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : XX
Notes :   Earth : 2   Wood : XX   Cloves : XX   Smoke : 1   Pepper : 1   Ginger : XX   Peach/Pear/Apricot : XX   Candi Sugar : XX   Anise : XX   Vinous : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Sourness : XX   Bitterness : 1   Complex : XX   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 3   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 2   Clean : XX   Sharp : XX   Watery : XX   Oily : XX   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : XX   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: Fruity, sweet and fun to drink, but lacking a bit of the roastiness I enjoyed in the bottle.

Cask at Museum (Thanks Chris!), october 07. Clear, deep dark copper color with some ruby hues and a small white rim. Raisins aroma, dark sugar and some slight treacle notes on the nose. Caramel malts flavor, some vinous notes, a little bit tart. Warming. Musty, malty, earthy, medium palate. Vinous aftertaste. Nice, drinkable, warming old ale.

Dark with deep flavour of molasses and taste is very malty, near-porter roast level. My favourite!

Really dark brown, thin head. port-wine smell, slightly alcoholic, hints of apple. Slightly sour maltiness, apples with their sharp skins on. Winey raisins. Sweet finish, very pleasant.

Cask. At The Devonshire Arms, Piccadilly, London. My last rating during my UK trip - by my count 72 ratings in 14 days, and five new friends. The Old P pours deep ruby with an average tan creamy head. Very roasty aroma, funky - that’s the Fuggles - with black currants, toffee, a bit of peat and leaf. The taste is VERY malty, near-porter roast level, with light molasses, cherry, persimmon, and redolent with soft Fuggles hops making for quite an interesting, lightly bitter finish - this is quite a malt monster. Very soft, full mouthfeel, lightly astringent, seems acidic but no, that’s just the bitterness - long tongue-coating malt linger. Lovely. Back to Canada now - cheerio, all!