Essex
Bluejacket Brewery

On cask at Bluejacket in Washington, DC.

This one pours a very murky, and pretty much muddy looking dark brown color, with a small head, and not much lacing. I’m not sure if it’s been on the cask engine for too long here, but it does not look great.

This smells very malty, a bit sweet, and some light hop characteristic.

I’ve had another bitter on cask from Bluejacket – Love Language – that I enjoyed much more – I think this one just maybe sat a little bit too long. It’s a little stale tasting, and a bit too stale, with a more muted hop character than I’d prefer from the style.

This is medium bodied, a bit too thick for the style, but still drinkable enough.

This doesn’t represent most of the experiences I’ve had so far with Bluejacket.

 

On cask and at the proper temperature.

Lovely amber golden with a faint haze. Great off white head and even better lacing.

Aromas of caramel and roasted malts with low herbal hoppiness and some clear and obvious sweetness. Aroma very different than the taste.

A very nice beer, but too bitter for the style.

 

 

Had the cask version at the brewery. Outstanding in all respects. A hazy amber-copper color with a medium sized creamy tan head that lingered. Aroma and flavor were in sync with rich caramel, burnt toffee, nutty elements, and tobacco. Fruity yeast presence. Clean and off-dry on the finish.

Cask pour at brewery. Dark Amber with small creamy head. Aroma is pure English, leathery malts. Taste brings in the right amount of bitterness, solid malt backbone. Right on the money.

 

 

 

Cask at the source. Copper body with a thin, beige collar. Aromas of sweet, fruity, malts. Light in body and super smooth. Minimal bitterness. High drinkability.