20th June 2013
Opaque black beer, good pale tan head. Smooth palate, semi dry. Sweetish malts with tangy lactose. Trace of dark malt character, but no roast, coffee or bitterness. Malt cream. Mild red berry fruits. Sweet pine. Semi dry finish. Quite a sweet black IPA. What’s not to like?

33cl bottle from AlesByMail. Batch #0007, bottled on Apr-13. Poured black in color with a thick, brown everlasting head. Aroma has dark chocolate, strong floral notes (pelargonium), citrusfruity hoppyness and salty licorice. Complex. Flavor has fruity hops, floral notes, roasted malt and licorice. Finish has milk chocolate lingering forever in the mouth. Light bodied but very tasty and fresh BIPA.

Bottle at home in London - picked up at Kris Wines. Pours deep brown with a creamy, beige head. Some ripening citrus in the nose with burnt malt undertones. Medium sweet flavor with lightly burnt bread, some orange and grapefruit, a bit of dirt. Medium bodied with fine, slightly creamy carbonation. Finely resinous finish with well toasted malts, subtle roast, touches of ash, some citrus peel, orange. Tasty beer but it could use a bit more bite.

330ml bottle. Darkest brown colour with huge, creamy, fairly lasting, moderately lacing, tan head. Grassy and herbal hop aroma, a spicy touch, hints of rye, roasty dark malty undertones, cautious hints of coffee. Taste is somewhat split into two components and oscillating between them: minimally sweet dark malty notes with a honey touch and hints of coffee, some roast, dry, grassy and herbal hoppy overtones. Only allusions of the typical carot and and green onion notes of other tokens of this style.

Cask at the Cask, Pimlico, 10/05/13. Light black with a good sized beige head that retains well. Nose is hops, light pine, touch of soap, light chocolate, berry fruits. Taste comprises hops, sugars, licqourice, blackcurrants, jammy fruits, touch of cocoa. Full end of medium bodied, a little on the chewy side. Ok stuff.