JHB Extra
Oakham Ales / The Brewery Tap

Bottle. Straw coloured with a wispy head.
Muted aroma of citrus hops.
Lemon noted with hints of caramel. A very mild astringency. Nicely balanced.
A light refreshing feel.
Reasonable EPA. The whole is better than the parts as indicated by overall score.

Good presentation with clear pale golden beercolor and tiny lace of foam that quickly disappears. Fine hoppy nose with sweet hoparome and lots of maltyness. Lots of oxidation influence though that gives cardboard and bread in it. Without this certainly a lot better. Taste is nice flowery hops and malts. Note overdone but very easily acceptable and enjoyable though floating maybe even too easy down the troat. Also in taste oxidation noticable and hope to taste this fresh as I'm shure it must be a good brew wonderfully suited as a sesionbrew on a thirsty night.

Tasted by half-pint at the Market Porter, S. London, recently.

A: dark yellowish straw in colour, a thin foamy beer head, great clarity, very low carbonation.
S: light and floating hoppyness upfront, reminiscent of grapefruits and sour-sweet lemonade... slightly off-balance but not unpleasant, with the bitter zesty hops dominating the theme throughout.
T: flowery and juicy grapefruity hops yielding slowly to a lightly zesty and lemony bitter-sweet undertone, even a touch of "pollen"-like elderflowery note hiding underneath. Initially subdued but lingering bitterness as well as lemon-zesty citrus both intensify towards a finish underscoring touches of savoury-sweet yeasty aftertaste.
M&D: lightly spritzy, light-bodied, very refreshing as a Blond Bitter. Overall, I suspect the beer is not at its prime, so the aroma pales before the still lively palate. It could've been much better when consumed fresher, I believe.

Tried a bottle on recommendation from folks at a beer stall in London; they said it was the one bottle to take home to the States, and I don't doubt the recommendation.

Poured nice, clear golden color with a fairly tall white head on it. Nice clarity to the liquid. Great example of a bitter. Strong hoppy flavors all the way through, but not overpowering. Great depth to the flavors, very crisp and clean. Wish I could have packed more bottles in my suitcase!

A trip to Birmingham gave me the chance to pop into the Bartons Arms again. Good decision...a belting good pint this. Imagine JHB with less water in it. A strong hoppy flavour, lovely pale colour, perfectly balanced and as for drinkability... well I could drink it all day. Highly reccommended.