MT's First Beer Tastings

My “first” in that they are the latest, but follow (for the first time) my own guidelines and criteria without regard to tasting notes, reviews or the opinions of others.   

In no particular order other than as they were tasted since the development of the

MT Criteria. 

Caveat:

The work of my own senses, thus simple, likely to be reviewed and subject to change without notice 
. . . especially when I can standardise my colours and improve on “beer” as a description of smell and taste.   

MT12001

Tyne Bank Brewery, Silver Dollar 4.9% - draught

Appearance:  Amber.  Good white head.

Smells:         Peach, elderflower.

Tastes:         Citrus, caramel.

Impressions: Aromatic, refreshing, very hoppy, well-balanced.    

Bitterness:    3

Sweetness:   4

Score:          4 (seek out)

MT12002

Tyne Bank Brewery, Castle Gold, 3.9% - bottled

Appearance:  Golden.

Smell:          Peach.

Taste:          Citrus, peach and vanilla.

Impressions: Clean, fresh, refreshing.   

Bitterness:    3

Sweetness:   3

Score:          4 (seek out)

MT12003

Tyne Bank Brewery, Cherry Stout, 5.2% - bottled

Appearance:  Black.

Smell:          Cherries, chocolate, liquorice.  

Taste:          Cherries, chocolate, liquorice, ending with bitter coffee.

Impressions: Texture defines "smooth", velvet soft (pure silk . . . ?) reputedly down to the oatmeal.         

Bitterness:    4

Sweetness:   3

Score:          5 (wonderful)

MT12004

Durham Brewery, White Stout, 7.2% - bottle-conditioned and draught

Appearance:  Tawny.  Good head.

Smell:          Beer, complex.

Taste:          Beer, spicy, complex.

Impressions: Perfect balance, full-bodied, warming, marvellous.  Tastes stronger than 7.2%.  

Bitterness:    4

Sweetness:   4

Score:          5 = wonderful.


MT12005
Durham Brewery, Magus, 3.8% - bottle-conditioned 
Appearance:  Pale straw.

Smell:          Caramel.

Taste:          Caramel and lemon.

Impressions: Light, dry, zesty, refreshing.   

Bitterness:    4

Sweetness:   3

Score:          4 (seek out)

MT12006

Durham Brewery, Imperial Stout, 10% - bottle-conditioned
Appearance:  Black; pale-brown, surprisingly short-lived, head.

Smell:          Faint phenol/smoke.

Taste:          Complex, strong with liquorice, Marmite and a touch of phenol. 

Impressions: Very full-bodied, robust, mouth-filling, sweet and then bitter but neither dominates and they combine well.  A whacking 10%, but care needed as “Imperial” is easy to drink.      

Bitterness:    3

Sweetness:   4

Score:          5 (wonderful.  IS wonderful, despite my taste analysis!)

MT12007

Shepherd Neame, Spitfire, 4.5% - bottle

Appearance:  Amber.  Sparse, short-lived and large-bubbled head. 

Smell:          Caramel and fruit. 

Taste:          Beer (I DID say . . .) and fruit. 

Impressions: Refreshing, with a dry finish.       

Bitterness:    3

Sweetness:   2

Score:          3 (okay)

MT12008

Greene King, IPA Export, 5.0% - bottled

Appearance;  Amber, short-lived head.

Smell:          Caramel. 

Taste:          Caramel, liquorice, sweet to start, then bitter.   

Impressions: Smooth, good body, quite a long bitter finish, but not intense.  

Bitterness:    2

Sweetness:   2

Score:          3 (okay)