Bottle split at Scopey’s 5K Extravaganza of Oompah Band meets doorbell music, thanks to Kenny - 15/02/14. Extremely dark mahogony brown with a thin off white covering/edgework. Nose is big peated malt, smoke, TCP, medicinal, light roast, all about the smoke. Taste comprises Band Aid, chocolate biscuit, charred oaky twang, toffee, earthy. Medium bdoed, very thin and watery - a rare sub 3 palate rating, smoked/peated close. A right old mess and ridiculously thin for 8% ABV.

Bottle, thanks to Kenny. It pours darkest brown with a small tan head. The nose is chocolate, toffee, candy, fudge, spice and wood. The taste is sweet, toasty, roasted malt, earth, chocolate, peppery, coffee, some acidity and mild bitterness with a dry finish. Medium body and fine carbonation. A touch thin for the abv, but drinkable enough IMO.

330ml bottle from Beer Central, Sheffield - Body is black as a priest’s sock, no head. Nose is smoky and spicy, the expected chilli is just overwhelmed by boozy grainy whisky notes. Taste is dry, with the stoutiness overpowered by the whisky, almost as if someone had dropped a tot in the glass while I wasn’t looking. The oily mouthfeel saved it once again, but overall I was dreadfully disappointed here.

Bottle from York Beer and Wine. Dark, chestnut brown. Completely devoid of any head. Aroma is all peat smokiness. Very little of the original beer’s characteristics remain. The taste does have a little chilli, still, but for a big fan of The Mayan, I must say this is a bit of a disappointment.

Bottle from Cotteridge Wines; coca cola brown pour with a tiny bubbly tan head that immediately disappears, medicinal aroma with a hint of smoke, big bold peaty Whisky is the dominant taste, a hint of smoke, chilli only slightly come through and a bit of leather, almost zero carbonation, I don’t get on with beers like this.