Theakston Old Peculier (Cask)

Brewed by Theakston
Style: Old Ale
Masham, England

(Cask at GBBF, London, 2 Aug) Colour is dark brown with ruby notes, firm off-white head. Nose is malty with dried fruit (raisins, prunes), caramel and a hint of port wine. Taste is fruity and malty with dried fruit (raisins, apricots, prunes) , sweet liquorice, caramel and an evident port character. Balanced sweetness throughout. Moderately bitter finish with some chocolate notes. Very nice and warming.

Cask at the Lamb & Flag. Deep ruby brown--almost porter color, small dense tan head with a bit of lacing. Rustic, earthy aroma, molasses tartness and a touch of roast. Toffee flavor with a substantial amount of sourness, a good backbone of bitterness. A substantial and flavorful classic old ale. Just a little over-sour for balance.

[Cask at GBBF] Dark brown. Pear aroma. Sweet, roasty and lightly woody with a solid malt back bone. Plenty of caramel and a touch of apples. Powerful salty finish.

Handpump @ the Olde Starre Inn, York, Nth Yorkshire.
Thick, creamy and firm pad of beige donned this bright, deep, ruby brown beer, managing to leave a good pattern of lace behind as it went. Aged wood, leather, sweat and old, sun-dried berries make up the interesting aroma. In the mouth it’s full and creamy, and flat as a tack yet given life by the extraordinary blend of flavours. Medicinal, fermented berries, old oak and forest-floor must, licks of leather, fruit tannins, and layers of moist topsoil (?). This was an interesting cask ale. It’s gritty yet smooth like silk on the tongue with only a light tartness in back to break it up before continuing on it’s smooth and merry ’old’ way down the gullet. This is what Old peculiar should be, exclusively. It’s a shame to pasteurise and filter such a characterful ale. Nice!!!

Drunk at The Dog & Gun in Keswick. Great dark ruby body wiith a small tan head. Sweet caramel aroma, some candy-like sugarness as well. Great fruit taste, cherry, apple, kiwi, light hops in the throat.l Sweet and clean ending.

Half pint pulled at The Adam & Eve in Norwich, dark brown with ruby tints and a tan head. A good roasted caramal aroma. A little tart at first, but a good rounded finish. Bitter chocolate and toffee flavours.

Pint, off tap. A very thick, dark black brown colour, with a small off-white head. Aroma of liquorice, slight hint of flowers. Rich malty flavour, bitter-sweet with liquorice hints. Tasty.

Cask at Musuem Tavern (Bloomsbury - London).
Creamy and adherent head, good global persistence. Much dark red color and dense one, glares mahogany, deprive of fizz. Alcoholic and decided scent with burned wood, malty and aged cask notes. Round taste, optimal body and structure; good impact. Rather smooth with important bitter and alcohol tone on the end. Fresh fruity and persistent end.