STL Best Ale
The Civil Life Brewing Company

granted it was early in the day and i was on some kind of hangover, i have to admit that this was not my favorite beer from these guys, and as well as they do with the english styles like this, it just didnt strike the usual chord with me. it was being served on cask, and looked and felt even flat for that, totally lifeless beer after just a minute, and a touch oxidized too, not quite what i was expecting. deep orange to light red in color with some haze. the nose and taste are classic, i get the british ale yeast, the crystal malt, and breadiness and the baked and warming aspects of the english grain, and a really mellow medium body without carbonation. pretzel dough and bread pudding and toffee all come to mind, but this never gets too sweet. i get some oxidation that i dont love, not quite enough hops for this to be balanced, and a light astringency that really doesnt belong. some sips i like, others i dont, it seems to change by the minute in the glass. i love these guys, so i will give them a pass on a less than stellar mild bitter here, maybe better on the regular tap system than from the cask...