2.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 4/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 8/20
[Cask at Reading BF] Brown-black, large beige head. Quite viscous. There’s some chocolate behind, a little fruit and maybe a touch of pine, but this is dominated by a heavy, bitter, tarry roast that was just too bitter and unbalanced for me. Found this pretty unpleasant actually. c10
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Cask conditioned handpump Southampton Arms London. A black beer with a whitish bubbly head and lacing. Lots of coffee in this. Actually less mellow than the 10% version of this and definitely (and obviously) not as rich. This has fruits as well as the dominant coffee in the nose. Big length. Really heavy on the coffee. Flavoursome and enjoyable but its big brother is a more delicious beast.
3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Cask at Southampton Arms. Dark brown, almost black. Golden bubbly head. Aroma is very roasty, bit of smoke and lots of coffee bitterness. Maybe some dark chocolate in there. Taste is smoky, roasty, coffee bitterness. Smooth texture but not really thick. Uncomplicated, but pretty nice.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Cask, Derby Winter Fest 2012. Near black with a beige foam. Aromas are burnt toast with liquorice and dark chocolate. Floral and spicy with grapefruit and earthy peat. Flavours are sweet dark cherry with coffee and spices. Woozy and dry with marzipan and lots of peppery spices. Grapefruit and dark chocolate bitterness to finish. Good stuff.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Cask conditioned at Fleetwood Beer Fest ’12. Very dark brown, ruby with cream head. Lots of roasty, malt notes, chocolate, coffee flavours mixed with a light fruitiness. There is a surprisingly dry hop note that adds plenty of depth. A cracker on the day this one.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Cask at The Bow Bar. Black with thick off-white head. Lots of deep roasted character and a little hops leading to a nice bitter linger. Good gear.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
On cask at The Bow Bar. Pours a dark brown colour with a lovely pine and coffee aroma. Beautiful resinous pine hop flavour also with coffee, roasty malt, alcohol and chocolate. Moderate carbonation. Delicious!
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 15/20
Cask at the brewpub. Near black. Tart black cherry and coffee aroma. Mid sweet with full body and rounded mouthfeel. Lactic milk chocolate roastiness,. A bit oaky with notes of tobacco. Salty, mid bitter finish. Complex and tasty!
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
(Gravity cask at Bree Louise, Euston, London, 24 Nov 2011) Dark brown colour, almost black, with brief bubbly head. Roasted, malty nose with notes of dried fruit, coffee and chocolate. Malty, roasted taste with coffee, prunes, raisins and a slightly vinous finish with a decent cocoa bitterness. More than medium body, with a certain sweetness. Nice one.
3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
Cask @ William IV. Black body with a small beige head. Aroma of dark, roasted malt and coffee. Flavor is moderate roasted malt, fruity, some liquorices, hint of coffe and decent bitter, but there is also some annoying sourness that’s not any good. Medium to medium plus body. Roasted aftertaste with some bitterness, but again this annoying sourness. Drinkable but not balanced and probably not meant to be like this. Still a lot of potensial, must go back an re-rate.
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