Strong, complex and full of deep distinctive flavours. A rich fruit cake flavour from roasted malt. First brewed in the 1940s, this prize-winning dark strong old ale has a loyal following among real ale connoisseurs.
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7/10
Dark cola colour with a pale off white head. Aroma and taste are malty caramel and some molasses sugars. Rich body.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Cerne Abbas Stores
on 26 May 2026
at 15:22
7.1/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
A 500ml bottle from Bitter Virtue, Southampton. A lovely dark fruity roasty proper winter ale in the middle of a wet & windy summer.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 May 2025
at 20:21
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
50cl bottle from Chalbury wine & food. Thin creamy off white head. Clear deep amber pour. Some caramel in the aftertaste
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Feb 2022
at 20:41
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
500ml bottle @ monthly tasting, Chez Sophie, Nov 19. Thanks Jeremiah for bringing this. Pours a clear deep mahogany, frothy pale tan head. Aroma of nutty rye, brown bread. Taste is twiggy ryebread, distant liquorice, treacle, soft amber malt, medium to light bodied. Fine, straightforward nutty amber.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Dec 2019
at 20:38
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
25th Nov 2019, Shrewsbury monthly beer share in Chez Sophie. 500ml bottle; BBE Mar 2020. Brought by me, well done me! Clear deep mahogany body, beige head. Plum bread, Malt Loaf came to mind as I sniffed and sipped this brew, liked it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Nov 2019
at 09:58
7.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle from Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon. Nice head with good duration. Color is dark brown. Aroma and taste are rich roast malt, chocolate, wood, fruits, caramel and has a nice long roasty caramel finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Jul 2019
at 11:44
7.3/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle courtesy of Kermis. Big thanks. Poured a clear dark brown, almost black with a frothy light tan head that lasts forever. The aroma is roasty malts, red berry fruits and some spices. The flavour is moderate sweet light bitter with a rich, smooth, smoky malt, rich fruity cake, raisins, liqourice hop bitter palate and a lingering bitter finish. Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Jun 2017
at 13:37
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle@Chris and Ruth’s Pre-GBBF 2015, London - dark brown pour beige head. Aroma and taste is sweet malty, some caramel, toffeish, dark fruit, some nice spice action. Decent.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Aug 2015
at 05:31
5.3/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 6
Bottle nose is minerally chocolate and caramel. Thin, light, mineral and caramel flavor. Weak overall.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Aug 2015
at 15:05
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle at Chris & Ruth’s pre GBBF shindig; clear burnished amber pour with a foamy beige head, aroma has dark fruits with a hint of caramel, taste has caramel along with raisins, some malt and Christmas spices.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Aug 2015
at 09:35