Black Eagle SPA
Westerham Brewery Company Ltd

 

fourth and final day of NERAX 2009

clear pale amber. sudsy ring stays around with creamy wisps. very minimal splotchy lacing.

aroma is very lightly malty with toffee, and a mild, both leafy english and citrusy american hop note. mild apple esters underneath. metallic whiff.

taste is quite similar, with malts seeming biscuitier and more caramel, though still very light and watery. mild to moderate bitterness from the hop combo. mineral notes.

thin and light but smooth, with slightest touch of resins in finish. mild carbonation has occasional tingle.

Plus a slightly hazed orange gold. Thin creme head. Nose is mild. Minor citrus. Flavor is smooth. Steady earthy tones with a leafy character and hints of citrus and fruit. Smooth. Very smooth. Feel is super smooth. Excellent use of carbonation. A great beer. Supremely smooth and a very good example of what cask beer is.

I had this on cask back in late May/early June at Deep Ellum, and I'm reviewing from notes. According to the Westerham web site:

"A golden ale using the finest Maris Otter pale ale malt and a small amount of amber malt which imparts a dry, biscuity flavour. Hops are First Gold and Cascade for an added citrus quality and a fruity, slightly spicy note. Bronze Medal Speciality Beer SIBA SE Beer Competition 2005"

It was apparently named for the Black Eagle brewery in Westerham, which went defunct in 1965. Very nice to see this on cask, and well kept, in Boston. The beer itself pours a pale amber with a decent, if grainy looking head. pretty typical for cask ale. The smell is light and grainy with some faint earthy hops. The taste is also fairly light and earthy with a nice hard water copperiness throughout, and some light slightly grassy hops. The mouthfeel is super smooth and this a fine session beer. Wish I would see more of their products around from time to time- especially on cask.