Sampled from a 500 ml. bottle. Deep brown/amber with a large, beige head that collapsed quickly. This had a sour, estery aroma that seemed to suggest something wasn’t right. Waaaaay overcarbonated, fizzy, filling the mouth with CO2. this just ruined the palate. Flavor dominated by a funky, sour flavor. This just had to be a bad bottle.

Pours with an almost two-finger thick, tan colored head that sits atop a dark, concentrated plum colored beer that shows a lightly hazy, bright cranberry color when held up to the light. As I pour this the aroma smells like concentrated fruit. Once I go in for a deeper draught of the aroma, I get that concentrated fruit note (raisins, orange peel & berry aromatics), but there is an almost more noticeable note that somehow reminds me of musky Brettanomyces. For the most part this funky aromatic note seems to fade after a short bit, but some slight mustiness remains. After opening up a bit the nose takes on notes of astringent burnt grain in the finish, notes of toasted malt, some light herbal hop character and even a touch of pine. After some extended sniffing, the bright, almost berry like fruitiness is the most noticed part of the aroma, but if you leave the aroma and come back to it the funkiness makes a full return.

Very dry tasting, and in fact even tart, this beer is definitely a bit more funky than it should be. Definitely some Brett has taken hold here, and maybe some souring bug as well. This is actually not half bad tasting, but is clearly not how it should taste. I find it unfortunate how unstable a small, but significant portion of British beers sent to the states (need to beef up on fermentation & packaging practices). Tastes like a cross between a tart plum, some moldy cotton balls, sour lemons, and an astringent musky hop bud.

The beer after the pour from the 500ml bottle sits a clear deep amber to almost brown, the head is smallish and a creamy light tan in color, as it fades quickly, it leaves a thin to patchy coating of lace. Nose has a distinct rusty nail aroma, sweet malt and caramel, musty with a bit of clover, start is nicely malted, hints of spices, with the top light to medium. Finish has a personable acidity, the hops apparent, but not overly so, dry aftertaste, a drinkable beer, but seems a bit thin for a “Winter Warmer

Pours a slightly hazed ruby. Nose is mild. Flavor is almost watery it seems. Off on sip, I am not sure how much I will be enjoying this. Slightly bitter edge that overshadows basically everything. Tangy overall as well. Feel is thin. Watery again. Drinkability will stay low due to it’s almost soda-like characteristics. Too bad this is such a large bottle. I don’t think I will be getting to the bottom of this one. Basically a waste of the very high price. Avoid without hesitation.

Bottle. Big caramel and toffee aroma on English malt with balancing hops. Big soapy yellowish-beige head on a murky brown body. Sharp, rather sour taste, gritty and slightly metallic with a touch of harshness. Touch of kick from alcohol, warming berry finish. Body is syrupy medium full with a nice sharp bitterness that is unfortunately bested by the sour.