Oakham Scarlet Macaw

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		25 Jul 2026	Second day on and presenting good head and lasting lacing on this American Pale Ale from the Peterborough-based brewery in Cambridgeshire from 1998 having relocated from Oakham, Rutland, where it was set up in 1993. Very amber coloured and so resembling a typical bitter. A dry bitterness in fact on the first hit. A malty note joining in aided by its Malted Barley lending a gentle sweetness and its amber colouring. A fruity floral hoppiness prevailing from its blend of two prominent hop varieties from the Yakima Valley in Washington State, Amarillo lending spicy and citrusy notes, and Summit behind its powerful bitterness for me. A hint of gooseberries, grapefruit and tropical fruit as well as marmalade and even honey on its sailing out for my taste buds with a bitterness lingering and described by the brewery "as sharp as a Macaw's screech". Served in good nick and as also recommended by fellow regulars in before me.
Philip Pirrip		16 Jul 2026	New cask on today. Very lively pint, full of condition. Alas the standard one size fits all Oakham taste
Hogan Sampling		16 Jul 2026	3rd beer of this visit: Fresh on today with head and lacing sticking to the end on this pale first launched in 2010 by the Oakham Brewery and so-named as set up in 1993 in Oakham, Rutland, before relocating in 1998 to Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, where they operate the largest brewpub in Europe. A slightly fruity tropical first bite from this pale. A gentle hoppiness rising up with flavours for my taste buddies of gooseberry and peach as well as combining floral and fresh pine notes. Its hops, a mix of the US Yakima Valley’s Amarillo behind its spice and fruitiness, and Summit, said to be the US’s most powerful bittering hop. A touch of maltiness for good measure from its Maris Otter English barley, Wheat Malt and Caramalt. A fruitiness winning over with also a hint of citrus and grape and a bitter dryness lingering. This ale is so-named by the brewery as the bitterness is described as "sharp as a Macaw's screech”! Served in very good nick with plenty of conditioning about it. It replaced Pig & Porter's Scarecrow in the last half an hour of serving.
Philip Pirrip		29 Sep 2025	Flatter than yesterday's
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	28 Sep 2025
Philip Pirrip		28 Sep 2025	Used to be one of my favourite Oakham ales but so many Oakham ales taste the same these days
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	27 Sep 2025
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	04 Oct 2024
Hogan Sampling		03 Oct 2024	Wonderful head and lacing! Fruity and a hoppy lingering mouthfeel. Very moreish!
Philip Pirrip		03 Oct 2024	Fresh cask on today and full of natural carbonation
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	27 Sep 2024
Philip Pirrip		26 Sep 2024	Every bit as good as yesterday's
Hogan Sampling		26 Sep 2024	Great head and lacing. A fruit salad comes to mind in flavouring.
Philip Pirrip		25 Sep 2024	Fresh on today and I must say this was in superb condition
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Feb 2020

Artichoke, Norwich, Norfolk

The New Inn, Canterbury, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	05 Oct 2024
Jack William		14 Sep 2024	Was about to leave when I spotted this lurking by the now very busy “landlady’s corner”. Oakham is still going strong thankfully.
Brian		21 Oct 2017	Really strange - smelt like damp labrador but tasted OK.
Mick		28 Aug 2015	Good bitterness match by a full malt body.

Bricklayers Arms, Luton, Bedfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		20 Sep 2024	All boxes ticked for quality

Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill, Greater London

Masons Arms, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Furlongs Ale House, Faversham, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Archie14		22 Feb 2020

The Rake, Southwark, Central London

The Two Halves, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		04 Jan 2020	A fine ale in top nick.

The Glue Pot, Swindon, Wiltshire

The Roebuck, Leek, Staffordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		07 Jun 2019	A very good pseudo APA

The White Swan, Reading Street, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		03 Jan 2019	Pleasant enough

The Railway Tavern, Richmond, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		09 Dec 2018	Golden and very bitter.

The Flying Circus, Newark, Nottinghamshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		08 Oct 2018	Smooth and creamy
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Jun 2018

The Gladstone Arms, Borough, Central London

Queen Street Tap (formerly Hole in the Roof), Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		16 Jun 2018	Sent back. Vinegar and changed.

Banks Ale & Wine House, Cliftonville, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		29 Apr 2018

Artillery Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		14 Apr 2018

The Conqueror Alehouse, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		11 Apr 2018

Mind the Gap, Broadstairs, Kent

The Crosse Keys, City, Central London

Euston Tap, Euston, Central London

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		15 Nov 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	09 Mar 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Oct 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	09 Mar 2016
Philip Pirrip		05 Feb 2015	http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04t0v50
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	31 May 2013

Crate Brewery, Hackney, Greater London

Tap East, Stratford, Greater London

The Broken Drum, Blackfen, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		02 Aug 2017

Yard of Ale, St Peter's, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		25 Jul 2017	Quality ale which was on the cold side but not a problem with this light beer.

The Leopard, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Fullerians RFC, Watford, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Joe Gargery		29 Apr 2017	Gooseberries and fruit before an intense bitterness

The White Hart, Waterloo, Central London

The Bailey Head, Oswestry, Shropshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Bear & Ragged Staff		27 Mar 2017	A good example of this well loved beer.

Ivy Leaf, Dartford, Kent

The Little Black Dog (formerly The Hoodener's Horse), Great Chart, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		02 Dec 2016

The Brewery Tap, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	30 Oct 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	30 Oct 2016
Philip Pirrip		12 May 2014	£2.60 pp monthly special. Tart gooseberry and soft peach notes it says on the tasting notes
Stephen Harris		10 May 2014	£2:65 a pint was good value for this tasty beer.
Stephen		29 Apr 2014	Lovely pint I really resented that the bus meant only a pint and a half. clear as a bell good malt balanced by the yummy citrus hops.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Apr 2014
Philip Pirrip		09 Dec 2013	The £2.60 pp monthly special
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Aug 2013
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Aug 2013
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	24 Jul 2013

Turf Tavern, Oxford, Oxfordshire

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser	Not Tried	01 Feb 2015	Ran out
Dosser	Not Tried	28 Jun 2014
Tobes	Not Tried	28 Jun 2014
Tobes	Not Tried	10 Jan 2014
Tobes		04 Jan 2014
Dosser	Not Tried	29 Sep 2013
Pedro		01 Nov 2011
Pedro		01 Nov 2011	Love the flavour
Dosser		31 Oct 2011
Pedro		10 Jun 2011	Super again!
Pedro		09 Jun 2011	Grapefruit !!!!!
Dosser	Not Tried	08 Jun 2011

Ox & Plough, Old Buckenham, Norfolk

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		17 Jan 2015
HSB		20 Nov 2014
HSB	Not Tried	09 Nov 2014
HSB		02 Apr 2014	Never disappoints.
HSB		07 Mar 2014	Without a doubt my favourite Oakham beer
HSB	Not Tried	21 Dec 2013
HSB		07 Dec 2013	Bit hazy but full of flavour.
HSB		23 Nov 2013	My favourite bitter at the moment

Craft Beer Co., Clerkenwell, Central London

Dartford Working Men's Club, Dartford, Kent

Gresley Arms, Alsagers Bank, Staffordshire

Freshfield, Formby, Merseyside

The Criterion, Leicester, Leicestershire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stu		02 Aug 2014

The Union Inn, Cowes, Isle of Wight

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		21 Jun 2014	A very tasty beer.

Staggs (Volunteer Arms), Musselburgh, East Lothian

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		14 Jun 2014	If anything better than last night. Hops shone through a clear malt backdrop.
McGargle		13 Jun 2014	Very drinkable APA.

The Farmers Boy, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		01 May 2014
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	25 Jan 2014
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	26 Jul 2013

Sir William Peel, Sandy, Bedfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		22 Apr 2014	My current favourite cask ale.

The Wellington, Birmingham, West Midlands

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		15 Apr 2014	Nice hoopy pale ale.

The White Star, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

The Half Moon, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		14 Nov 2013	One of my current favourites. I like the taste of the Summit hop.

Charters, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	02 Nov 2013
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	20 May 2013
Stephen		11 Jun 2012	The combination of the venue and beer was perfect loads of citrus hops balancing excellent malts

The Last Inn, Oswestry, Shropshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Bear & Ragged Staff		25 Sep 2013	Typically Oakham. A good citrus bitter, seems to have lost some of its tropical flavours.
Bear & Ragged Staff		11 Jun 2011	Typical of an Oakham ale with its grapefruit bitterness. I take it that the tropical name is meant to reflect the hint of pineapple in the aftertaste.

Mansion House (formerly Oaka at the Mansion House), Kennington, Greater London

Pig n Falcon, St Neots, Cambridgeshire

The Cambridge Blue, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Craft Beer Co., Brighton, East Sussex

The Treacle Tap, Macclesfield, Cheshire

The Henglers Circus, Glasgow, Glasgow, City of

Old Fountain, Old Street, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	11 Jun 2013
Martin the Mildman		16 Aug 2011	Very pale with a full bodied fruity citrus hop flavour. Quite sweet with a smooth mouthfeel. Excellent lingering fruity and citrus finish. My score 18/20.

The Bartons Arms, Aston, West Midlands

Who	Score	When	Notes
Bear & Ragged Staff		02 May 2013	Straight out of the barrel, superb condition and presentation. Didn't get the tropical fruit that I have before, some pepper on the end.

Waltham Forest Sports & Social Club, Walthamstow, Greater London

The Doric Arch, Euston, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		04 Apr 2013	In fine condition

London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival 2013, King's Cross / St Pancras, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		08 Mar 2013

The Green Man, Stamford, Lincolnshire

The Distillery (formerly The Slug and Lettuce), Leicester, Leicestershire

The Just Reproach, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		18 Aug 2012	stunning peach and citrus notes, sper bitter finish.