Hebridean Celtic Black Ale

A deep red beer with a small disappearing brown head. The aroma is sharp and of coffee. The flavor is sharp, sour, and dry. With notes of hops.

Bottled. Dark mahogany. Aroma of red grapes and saffron. Sweet with clean mouthfeel and light body. Some grass and licorice, medium bitterness. An odd beer.

Very dark amber color; thin head. Light but peculiar aroma: malt, caramel, tar, a bit cheesy and very light hops. Some malt, roasted malt and caramel taste, but a bit metallic. Good point: some nice hidden note of hops.

Cask@Twickenham Beer festival. Thanks to Steve behind the bar for the heads up on this beer. Thankfully i didn’t end up buying a half pint. this was absolutely awful. Cosmetic boot polish and boiled vegetable. I hope to god something was wrong with this, because (pardon my French), it tasted like shit.

Very dark red/black beer in the porter style. Authentically dry and definitely, as the brewery suggests, has caramel overtones. However, whilst this was a respectable effort - and anyone who has the balls to set up a micro in the previously real ale desert of the Outer Hebrides and manages to get it shipped to London deserves full marks for effort - I found this a little thin and with insufficient complexity to merit very high marks. Nonetheless, very pleasant and a style that is not too common these days, so deserves every encouragement. The Speaker, London SW1, September 2003.