Raucous Reindeer
Oakham Ales / The Brewery Tap

Tasted by a pint last month at a local Wetherspoon pub, The Capitol, in Forest Hill, SE London. This beer is one of the X'mas guest ales available at the JDW chain, served by a handpump w/o a sparkler.

A: translucent dark tawny hue, nice off-white foamy head, on top of a softly fizzy body.
S: sweet peachy and flowery fragrance of American hops (Cascade?) upfront, laced with lightly spicy Styrian Goldings or Fuggles… juicy malts lag behind, a bit sweet, but overall pleasantly hoppy.
T: plenty of juicy lychees (w/ skins on) lead the palate… followed by toffee, roasted malts, plus a touch of nuts; lingering at the back are the mild stream of citric fruitiness, an incredible length of hop bitterness, and chewy tannins of roasted tea-leaves. Soothing and tangy hoppy finish, very lively.
M&D: full-bodied and richly hoppy, refreshing and so... gently fizzy in texture… The superb aftertaste of bitterness draws from varieties of hops that make this beer a truly colourful and tasty one. Yet another solid offer from Oakham Ales—recommended!!

This seasonal from Oakam was a lightish amber topped by a thinnish white head. A lack of lace was surprising. Taste was very fruity with grapefruit overtones. A little off balance with the malt needed more presence. Still a very refreshing drinkable cask offering. Nice to try a beer from a unknown (at least for me) brewery.