Cask at Peterborough Beer Fest. Dark reddish brown. Madeira and plum brandy up front. Syrupy sweetness are in form control, alcohol lures behind - much like a port in every way. Warming and powerful, but a bit rough.

A dark, port red, almost black coloured beer with a weak white head. The nose is strong, with a malty bitter sweetness and a very spirity aroma, close to that of Sherry! the taste is again, very strong, bitter sweet and spirity. There is a hint of liquorice and malt, along with a slightly citrusy element. The finish is quite dry, like that of Fino Sherry, but also malty, and syrupy. (Bottle - Purchased from Melton Wines, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire for £3.59 a bottle).

Cask Stillage at the Metropolitan Cathedral Crypt, Liverpool 24/02/2001 Dark coloured and very strong in alcohol with plenty of fruit flavour.

Bottle: A strong bottle conditioned beer from The Parish Brewery, Somerby, Leicestershire, in the west midlands of England, and that’s where it should stay, in the brewers mind. This is quite possibly one of the worst bees that I have had the pleasure of tasting, for starters it is a dark strong ale (11%), and is made by people who once made a 23% beer to get in the Guinness Book of Records. The beer pours near flat, and has no head, nor much carbonation, there is next to no aroma to speak of. The colour is black, with notes of red/orange and yellow/brown. The initial taste is that of treacle dissolved in water, upon swallowing one is met with a harsh alcohol burn, and is followed up with an after taste of sweet, very burnt toast. Seriously, who buys this stuff, let alone drinks it?

Dark ruby red colour. A quite smooth beer with nuts, candied fruit and a sherry-like edge. I didn’t find the alcohol too intrusive, but it was beer #32 of the day. Cask (gravity dispense) at Peterborough Beer Festival.