Dark Star Critical Mass

Brewed by Dark Star
Style: English Strong Ale
Horsham, England

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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(Cask at White Horse, Parson’s Green, London, 26 Nov) Dark brown, almost black, with ruby notes. Small beige head. Malty, roasted nose with prunes, raisins, chocolate and hints of blueberries. Malty, fruity taste with notes of dried fruit (prunes, raisins), chocolate, spicy hops and liquorice. Slightly sweet and vinous. Well balanced and warming. Very nice.

Cask-conditioned at the Sussex beer festival, Seven Stars, Bristol 6/1/11. Near black with a decent, off-white head. Aroma of caramel, nuts and liquorice. Sweet, black treacle flavour with fruit cake and a decent bitter finish. Enjoyable.

Cask at the White Horse, Parsons Green. Fine aroma of roasted malt, some fruit, too. Dry aftertaste with alcohol warmth.

Cask at The Rake, London Dark brown with a small, bubbly, tan head. Roasted chocolate and warming alcohol.

Bottle Conditioned. Bought at Pig's Ear Festival. No Date. A spanking Winter Warmer. Quality throughout. Roasty dark malts with just enough sweetness. Perfect condition. Lovely explosion of flavours that excite the mouth without ever being assertive or crude or overdone. Stunning!

[Cask] Poured a near opaque, black color with a medium sized, tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of raisins, nuts, earth, chocolate, with roasted malts, and light caramel as well. Taste of more chocolate, roast, vanilla beans, nougat, and a grassy hoppiness. Alcohol was undetected.

Cask at the Gallows Bird, Espoo, Finland. XIV Real Ale Festival.
Dark reddish brown colour with small off-white head. Caramel, toffee and lots of dark malt in aroma. Strong vinous flavour with caramel, some bitterness and dark malt. Strong, rich and full.

Cask at Mug’s Split Thy Skull - dark brown, nearly black pour, with a thick off-white head - lightly woody aroma, with some roasty notes, a rather prominent spice profile, and carmelized brown sugar - somewhat sweet up front, with the roasted flavors one expects from the style - this is quickly undercut by a strong, spicy hop profile, and a touch of tartness - a little thin on the palate - I was expecting a lot more from this brewery, but it’s still nice.

Cask, gravity, at Luton Beer Festival ’11. Brown with a small off white head.. Sweet vinous aroma and taste, immensely strong and very lovely. Some bitterness.

(Cask at Gallows Real Ale Festival 2011) The beer poured deep brown with red shading. Head was small. Aroma had soft fruit candies and chocolate. Palate was medium bodied and bit warming. Flavours were malts, sweetness, mildly roastedness and mild bitterness. Aftertaste was malty. Quite ok warming beer.