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Theakston
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Theakston, Old Peculier (England) 
Old Peculier is one of the best known traditonal-style ales available in the UK. It has a very dark, ruby-tinged colour and cream-coloured head. On the nose it is dramatically dark and chocolaty, with notes of raisins and dark figgy pudding. On the palate it is quite full and creamy, and it has a nice sharpness of hoppy, bitter edges, to otherwise mellow, gently spicy flavours of Dundee-cake and dark fruits. Lovely stuff, with good complexity and a nicely tangy finish. 5.7% ABV, 50cl, �1.62, Asda, Booth's, Tesco, Waitrose. |  |
Theakston, XB (England)
(RP) Theakston's, the famous family-owned brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire, has produced a bottled version of its draught XB. This is part of a major overhaul of brands and promotion since the brewery was returned to family ownership two years after 20 years as a subsidiary of Scottish & Newcastle. It is brewed with pale and crystal malt and brewing sugar. The main hop - as is customary with Theakston's beers - is the Fuggle and units of bitterness are 26.
The beer is bronze-red in colour, which suggests a substantial amount of crystal malt is used, a fact underscored by a rich sultana fruit note on the aroma and palate. There is a massive blast of hop resins on the nose from the use of Fuggles, balanced by biscuity malt. Fruit, bitter hops and chewy grain fill the mouth while the finish starts fruity and malty but becomes dry with a final attack of bitter hops. 4.5% ABV, 50cl, �1.59, Oddbins, Sainsbury's, Spar, Threshers, Waitrose. |  |
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