330ml bottle: LOT 305, Best before date 08/16. Poured into a Gordon’s badged thistle shaped glass at home during 11/14. Cracking look, ruby edges to the black/dark brown body: on top a foam blanket of tight, tanned bubbles. Most dark beers look good in a thistle shaped glass and this was no exception. The nose is a rich, alcoholic fruit cake with attitude and a lasting impression. The taste follows the aroma, with waves of fruit cake soaked in Port and dark, sweet Sherry coming into play, wood notes add to the complexity, depth and luscious feel, did I mention a nutty hint in amongst the flavours? Well I should have. This is a lovely winters brew and I thoroughly enjoyed my bottle: should have bought more!

On tap at the Bow Bar winter beer festival . Appearance - opaque black but a wee chink of red at the bottom of the glass. Nose - very dark chocolate but the predominant note is fruit cake. Particularly dried oranges and raisins. Taste - loads more of the same. Palate - rich in structure and in texture . Relatively elegant finish. Overall - lovely tasty beer.

Bottle at Craig’s. Pours slighty hazy brown with a thin off-white head. Aromas of sherry, dark stone fruit, cooked plums and toffee. Taste has a rich sweetness that isn’t too cloying. Thick mouthfeel, tastes like a much bigger beer. I like big butt and I cannot lie. Sorry.