Gem - Bath Ales Ltd

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I think Bath Ales produce fantastic beers, so when I came across this 500ml brown bottle, locally, I had to get it. I wasn't dissappointed.

Looked fine in a Gordon's thistle glass, amber, with a good head.

I was not expecting the bannana, vanilla, sweet caramel aroma. You do not get it with the cask version.

No taste of the above aroma, thank God, although it is fairly sweet for a Brit bitter.

Mouthfeel is fine, the flavour stays and a bitterness does arrive, but you have to wait for it.

I prefer the cask, but this is still a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2007 22:55:02 | More by BlackHaddock

mizx

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-12-2013 18:08:25 | More by mizx

CommonRider

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

10-29-2012 16:21:09 | More by CommonRider

harpus

Alabama

4/5  rDev +0.5%

10-15-2012 20:10:02 | More by harpus

Bix

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

08-25-2012 16:26:05 | More by Bix

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the Royal Oak, Bath, England

A: copper bronze. A half finger head that dissipates. Good lacing.

S: grapefruit, hoppy. Light malts.

T: Hop forward with grapefruit, then malts bring up the rear. Toffee, sweet. Bitter finish. A nice combination; well balanced.

M: Light to medium; light carbonation.

O: I really liked this one. Very sessionable. Although the brewery is outside Bath, this Bath Ale was a welcome basket of good taste upon our arrival.

Serving type: cask

07-28-2012 19:16:51 | More by brewskifan55

brutalist

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

07-04-2012 18:41:14 | More by brutalist

MEP

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%

07-01-2012 20:30:34 | More by MEP

petluo

Finland

3/5  rDev -24.6%

05-16-2012 11:25:49 | More by petluo

moneyfunnel

California

4.75/5  rDev +19.3%

05-03-2012 17:03:49 | More by moneyfunnel

jrfehon33

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

04-09-2012 19:50:21 | More by jrfehon33

BrazilianAussie

Brazil

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%

02-25-2012 11:05:27 | More by BrazilianAussie

galluch

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +0.5%

01-17-2012 16:32:22 | More by galluch

fizzyted

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%

12-16-2011 04:12:52 | More by fizzyted

CwrwAmByth

United Kingdom (Wales)

3.8/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a straight pint glass at the Anchor Inn, near Tintern Abbey.

A light copper colour with a slight haze, and a decent head.

Strong malty sweet smell.

Tastes quite light and refreshing, pretty malty as well, with some hops adding bitterness.

Overall a generally cracking pint. Easy to drink, it goes down a treat.

Serving type: cask

10-17-2011 14:33:10 | More by CwrwAmByth

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle bought from Sainsburys..

Poured a lovely crystal clear light orange copper colour. Light creamy head poured thick and meringue like then faded slowly to nice firm layer... very sparse carbonation drifts very slowly to surface... very little lacing...

Aroma - Strong biscuity malts, lightly toasted oats and bread, light honey sweetness, some caramel, good juicy fruitiness (apples, apricots and some pears), lots of grassy notes, peppery hops, strong nuttiness, sea salt traces, some leathery traces...

Taste - Spicy / grassy hops to the fore, very light toffee sweetness, juicy fruits (oranges, apples, light figs), biscuity maltiness, definite toasty bread, can't really make out any oats, faint metallic notes, light floral / perfume traces, salty...

Feel - Quite sharp and dry... medium bodied... So so quaffable - a supremely sessionable beer..

Overall - An excellent example of an ESB... one of the most quaffable beers i've had in a while.... definitely recommended..

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 07:52:44 | More by mdagnew

Squelch

United Kingdom (England)

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pulled from a cask at the Hop Pole in Bath.

Appearance: crystal clear. Brunette colored. Nice lacing

Smell: malts malts malts. Very nice

Taste: wonderful toasted malt flavors. No harshness. Smooth.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. No astringency

Drinkability: one I could drink all day

Serving type: cask

02-12-2011 18:33:30 | More by Squelch

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The nice clear medium reddish rich brown sparkle makes a lovely introduction to that nutty nose. The head doesn't really last and despite a slight slight fizz it is mostly silky on the palate but it is neither too lean or too fat. Smooth and deep with a satisfying deep nutty end. Not at all severe but rather civilised actually. Definitely need to try again.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 12:52:23 | More by Zimbo

marquis

United Kingdom (England)

4.63/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer really is a little gem! I'm amazed by the astonishing complexity found in a beer with such a modest gravity.
**It should be noted that in common with many British beers the cask version is lower in gravity than when in bottle. This is an attempt to counter the flavour losses associated with bottling.Bath Gem on cask is only 4.1% ABV **
Lovely tawny red , crystal clear with just a touch of head which remained right through-just as good beer ought to have. A hint of vanilla, no great aroma but then cask bitters aren't expected to have this.
Vanilla, toffee, a hint of liquorice set against a superbly balanced bitter but not hoppy background.A truly polished beer.Gorgeous.
Drinkability is formidable. I swear I was in a state of grace after I'd finished it!

Serving type: cask

12-08-2010 14:15:23 | More by marquis

fullsweep

United Kingdom (England)

4.45/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

500 mL brown bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: very appetzing rusty brown or light copper in colour, with a thin off-white/eggshell head that leaves plenty of lacing

S: very nice smell--almost has a sour tint to it, leaving me eagerly anticipating what it might taste like

T: richly bittersweet, a unique flavor, moderately sour with a great complex flavor

M: moderate body, tacky/sticky on the tongue, low to moderate carbonation

D: exceptionally drinkable!

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2010 12:40:34 | More by fullsweep

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.53/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

BB 30/09/09, served cool in a straight imperial pint glass. The bottle says the beer is "fine filtered" for quality, so it's filtered but not sure if it's pasteurised as well.

A: dark black-tea-ish brown in colour, coming with a creamy off-white foamy head with good retention and moderate carbonation.
S: pretty sweet in terms of caramel malts and brown-sugar water, blended with thick honey, raisins, dried red dates, sour-sweet plums, light orangey citrusness. Well-mixed and pleasant, but lacking a better harmony and complexity.
T: the bitter-sweet malty flavour resembling red-date+longan-fruit tea with a dash of honey comes forward, following onto a moderately bitter middle taste of mixed toasted dark-fruits, citric sourness, earthy hops... laced with an assertive black-tea-ish undertone in the end.
M&D: slightly "loose" on the texture (due to the medium-large bubbles from the carbonation) for the full flavour, making it somewhat unfulfilling throughout the drink. Otherwise, this could've be a really decent fruity and bitter-sweet premium bitter.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 20:29:00 | More by wl0307

1759Girl

California

4.9/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance> looks a bit like maple syrup with a small white head (with large bubbles). Very lively. Good lacing.

Smell> caramel notes

Taste> Excellent bitter with a buttery and caramel hint, but still full and proper ESB traits.

Mouthfeel> perfect for a cask biitter

Drinkability> my new favourite bitter???!!!

ps> since they aren't on beerfly (much like everywhere I go, it seems...) I should mention that I had this at The Wheatsheaf in E. Hendred, Oxfordshire, UK. The people are very nice and make lurvely sandwiches.

Serving type: cask

05-21-2008 17:47:21 | More by 1759Girl

Daredevil

Switzerland

3.8/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

had this brew at the Bathampton pub on the riverside of the Avon in England (see: http://www.thebathamptonmill.co.uk/), as it was the most local on offer ... not a classic ale at all, being rather dry and smoky in the palate ... a very interesting brew, which is rather suited to accompany a meal than be enjoyed on it's own ...

Serving type: cask

05-04-2008 20:57:40 | More by Daredevil

DaveUK

United Kingdom (England)

3.1/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Direct from cask.

Appearance - a tawny to dark brown colour with a moderate white head that persisted down the glass. Excellent retention.

Aroma - Caramel and toasted malt. Butterscotch and toffee.

Taste - More caramel malt and some spicy hops present. Juicy malt in the finish. After trying this beer several times, a cloying and sickly note becomes apparent from the caramel and toffee.

Mouthfeel - Cask ale well maintained can rarely be beaten. This was in good condition.

Overall - Quite powerful notes of caramel and butterscotch. Worth drinking as this ale is a quality example of a potent and tasty bitter. However, I would prefer a more balanced beer in this style.

Serving type: cask

12-25-2007 01:48:19 | More by DaveUK

jvdineen

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer truely captures a cask beer in a bottle. Little or no head when poured from a 1 pint .9 oz bottle. Beautiful ruddy color invites the drinker to a well balanced English bitter. Incredibly drinkable with that low carbonation that I love in cask ales. A good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2006 01:40:23 | More by jvdineen