Academia Spiced Ale
Saltaire Brewery Limited

(Notes of Dec. 2007) Tasted recently by a half-pint at a JDW pub, Swim Inn, in Sheffield. Served by a sparkler pour.

A: the colour is dark brown with caramely glows, with a thick dark beige creamy froth sustaining well.
S: the light gingery aroma is covered by notes of orange-chocolate-ish malts and brown bread, dark roast tea, light nutmeg... mild but refreshing.
T: a soft, complex foretaste of ginger and powdery chocolate malts prevails upfront, leading to a long, rough-textured, powdery sweet coffee-ish aftertaste, laced with Cascade-like hop fragrance; the finish is mild but lingering, blended with malts, a touch of licorice and also roasty hints.
M&D: softly carbonated, medium-bodied, but due to the spiciness the overall mouthfeel goes actually really light; moderately flavoured, this is a likeable and really quaffable winter warmer with a certain depth.