Marks & Spencer Cambridgeshire Summer Ale
Oakham Ales / The Brewery Tap

L- Mid gold, clear, pours with thin white head clearing to lacing, (though the glass I'm using today tends to be a bit of a gas-killer).
S- Just some bready malts.
T- Pleasant malts, balanced nicely vs hopping (it's dry-hopped) render an ideal summer beer.
F- Quite a bit richer and meaty in the middle than expected from a 4.2%, with dryer notes into the finish.
O- Very well balanced, it's built a surprising amount of flavour onto it's modest ABV% foundation. Zero out of place or balance noted with this. Sometimes I wonder if the 'big scores' tend to go to the beers with more impact, or drama, and if so how many lower ABV% have much chance in the ratings? Sessionable, and something I'd very happily drink again if aiming to stay on the lighter% side of things. 500ml bottle. £2.50 from M+S; bought as part of a '3 for £5' offer making it a deal at £1.67.
p.s. I'm in M+S at least fortnightly and have only noticed this once or twice recently so far this year, so believe the 'Seasonal' in the Description is likely accurate, Seasonal likely being late Spring onwards.

Not citrusy for me, too malty and biscuity. Not awful, just not my ideal beer.

 

 

 

 

Slightly hazy sunshine with pocked fluffy snow white head. Musty lemon nose with a touch of saltines underneath.
Lemon marmalade on white scone plus some melon with pink grapefruit hop finish.
Noble spice end and Juicyfruit linger. Light to medium, crisp, round.

Labeled as Cambridgeshire Golden Ale.

Mount Hood, as I've tasted it before, can bring some serious earthy funk, but it's pretty tame here. Still adds up to a nice warm weather drinker, with fruit and citrus in equal measure and the right amount of bitter rind. Oakham continues to be solid.

Pours a light amber golden body with a bright white frothy big bold body that stays

lovely aroma of hops and pear drops and pepper undertones

spritely slightly sweet taste that brings a malt and grain taste to the mouth then finishes with a bitter kick and grapefruit hints.

Nice carbonation and relevant mouthfeel makes a better than average supermarket beer :D

The ale is pale golden almost straw, slightly hazy, has a white head that settles rather quickly but leaves good lacing and some curtains.

The smell is sweetly fruity, ripe apples, but also slightly sweet lemon.

A fresh low sugar taste, fruity notes, apple, pears, lemon, then rather dominated bitter tones, lemon zest, nettles.

Medium high carbonation, medium bubbles, refreshing texture, medium body, a long lingering dry finish.

A good crisp summer ale.

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a pint glass

pours with a tall foamy head, some lacing present as you drink.

Smells strongly of hops.

Taste is mostly dominated by mild hoppiness, more so than the Southwold Summer Beer, due to the dry hopping with American Mount Hood hops.

Overall a refreshing beer, too light for me to really be a fan of it but good nonetheless.