Nethergate Monk's Habit
Nethergate Brewery Co. Ltd.

 

Tasted by half-pint at the Black Bull, nr. Whitechapel, East End London. This beer is, according to the landlord, a "very good" autumn-seasonal ale.

A: dark amber, great clarity, tight and thick off-white frothy head with great retention.
S: classic Golding-themed hoppy nose, with a slightly sour-sweet and spicy edge to it, on top of a very light malty base; as it warms, Fuggle-like, slightly damp-leafy and earthy aroma expands.
T: an excellent mouthfeel of juicy orangey hops mixing seamlessly with lightly-flavoured caramely malts--juicy, semi-oily on the palate... the biscuity aftertaste of malts lingers well, joined by a touch of salty+sour-sweet flavour and diacetyl at the back... smooth finish with restrained leafy-bitterness from Fuggles and an edge of spicy-dryness.
M&D: exceptionally well-kept ale, the palate is ever so soft due to the creamy fizziness vis-a-vis a slightly thick texture like Burtonised water; balanced, soothing, not particularly exciting but session-type autumn ale.

Sampled on tap at the Wenlock Arms in London, Nov. 2004.

This bitter poured a very slightly hazy amber color with white foam that settled but persisted as a thin coat on the surface. The smell was minimally malty with very faint diacetyl (butter). The taste was malty with mild hoppiness and a touch of floral hops, and with some yeastiness, and a very faint hint of butterscotch (diacetyl). The mouthfeel was smooth with medium body and low carbonation and with a slightly hoppy finish. This was a good, easy-drinking pint.