XT Brewing No. 4 Session Amber

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 Beehive, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		18 Apr 2026	Very good head and lacing on this copper-coloured session amber from the Notley Farm brewery at Long Crendon, on the border of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and set up in 2011 by Gareth Xifaras and Russell Taylor, hence XT as the brewery’s name. A bitter first hit. A good hoppy bitterness rising with piney and resinous "New World" hop flavours emerging from its American Cascade. This was originally developed in the United States at Oregon State University as part of a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) breeding program. This session amber was balanced with the English variety, Bramling Cross, primarily grown in the counties of Kent and Sussex, lending it blackcurrant, loganberry and spicy citrus flavours. A malty note or two emerging with hints of caramel sweetness and toasted biscuit from its blend of English and special Belgian malts. These are likely to include aromatic and crystal malts. A very dry bitterness prevailing. A moreish hoppy note sailing downwards. Served in very good nick.

The Greyhound, Whitchurch-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		28 Feb 2026	Very good head and lacing and lasting on this session amber ale from XT Brewing Company, an independent brewery located at Notley Farm in Long Crendon, a village in west Buckinghamshire, situated on the border with Oxfordshire, and approximately 26.5 miles from Whitchurch-on-Thames. It was slightly murky and perhaps therefore unfined but all importantly tasted fine. A very dry hoppy first hit. A berry-fruited and malty note tuning up from its blend of English and Belgian malts lending it biscuity toffee blasts. A grassy bitterness leading to a dry hoppiness blowing its trumpet on its way out, and aided by its American Cascade and English Bramling Cross hops.

Cow & Cask, Newbury, Berkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		08 Apr 2022	Tropical fruits for this not over sweet malty broth

12 Degrees (a.k.a. RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees), Rochester, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		27 May 2019	Flat so a total chore to finish. Should I have guessed from the tilt on the cask and / or the £3pp price as being one on clearance sale