Cluster Fuggle
Firehouse Grill & Brewery

 

 

 

A bottle left over after GABF judging and given to me as a reward for my volunteer efforts. Entered as a Bitter or ESB, not a Mild as the style here on BA states. Pours a finger of yellowed soda-pop-like head over a nearly clear rust-colored liquid. Smells clover honey, toast, grainy, and estery of apricot marmalade and tropical fruits.

Tastes grainy, fruity estery, sharp clean hop bitter, and moderate hop flavor. Finishes with a drying astringency and cleansing carbonation. Grain flavor is rich (like marris otter), mildly toasty, and caramel. Fruity esters are apricot, pear, and fruit loops cereal. Hop flavor is oranges and mild lemon pith. Light in the mouth and leaves the mouth bone dry in the aftertaste. Mineral character adds to the drying effect, as does a moderate alcohol stings clean of fusels. Complex and enjoyable beer, though the mineral and astringent finish is a bit distracting.

Draft at Rose and Crown. Golden-amber in the glass with a small but lasting head. Nice light biscuit aroma, faint fruity esters, woodiness. A mild aroma, no pun intended. Big hoppiness on the palate, the English hop character is great. Mildly fruity and toasty mid-palate, a bit earthy, with a bitter, herbal and earthy hop finish. Quite good, this brewery seems to be improving.