Theakston XB (Bottle)

Brewed by Theakston
Style: Bitter
Masham, England

Uni Staff Club Tasting 29/01/08. Amber copper colour, good head. Generally good malt and hop balance, uneventful. Biscuity, spritzy carbonation

Poured a dark gold with a white creamy head. Aroma features crisp nutty malt, a fruity earthy note and a oxidised character. On the palate there is creamy sweet malt, tussocky hops, a peachy note, oxidised hops and even a little cardboard, leading to a balanced finish. Not in great nick but probably a sound but unexciting beer when in condition.

Bottle, poured mid brown in colour with med white head. Some hops on the aroma, tasted little bit fruity but a touch on the thin side, some caramel flavours finish things off for what is a rather ordinary beer.

Bottle 500ml. Pours a reddy chestnut colour with a small off-white head. Hoppy aroma but nothing too harsh. Bitter-sweet taste but nothing memorable. Refreshing but lightweight on the palate. A decent summer ale.

Ruby coloured ale, sweet malt nose, light malty fruit bitter. nice but not special.

Bottle: Copper coloured, smaller, firm, lasting and lacing off-white head; spicy hops in the fruity-malty, slightly caramelly nose; light to moderate sweet-bitter flavour, light bodied, but not watery; drier malty-bitter finish. Nothing wrong with this, but lacks a bit complexity.........

Pleasant enough, fruity with delicate lingering finish. A little subtle for me, nothing wrong but lacking some oomph.

Bottle, from Sainsburys. Amber bronze, thin off white head and gentle condition. Initial low sulphur arom then earthy hops and sweet burnt toffee, more earthy hops in the mouth with some malt and caramel that develops a slight fruity banana note, gentle but lingering burnt earthiness and toffee sweetness in the finish.