6.8

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

500ml bottle from Beers of Europe. Gluten Free. Red amber colour, purple tinged foam head and aroma of malt, berries, nuts, wood, earthy. Taste is malty, toasted & berry hints, with dried fruit, plum, cherry, and nutty, earthy, tangy bitterness. Medium bodied, light carbonation, drying bitter finish. Quite drinkable.

6.8

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Bottle at home picked up from Mitchells wines. A clear purple red plum coloured pour with a loose pinkish head. Aroma is mixed woodland berrys, nutty, dark berries, Flavour is composed of bitter earthy grains, dark berries, dark cherry, woodland fruit, earthy bitty grains. Palate is grainy, bitty, moderate carbonation, Interesting

6.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Cask pint in John Fairweather. Dark red with a bubbly purplish head. Light berry aroma, flavour is pretty standard bitter with berry notes

7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

15th December 2023
Crosse Keys Spoons. Cask. Clear dark red beer. Small pale tan head. Light smooth palate, mildly dry, reasonable fine carbonation. Nice light malt base, a little cream and very mild caramel. Good plummy fruits and a little cherry. Very mild spice. Light smooth finish. Very fruity. Solid.

7.9

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

[Cask at the Hope Tap (JDW), Reading.] A Ribena coloured pour with a creamy pinkish violet head that leaves lots of lacing on the glass; aroma of malt and blackcurrant; smooth and malty in the mouth with some tangy berry fruit; then a dry fruity finish, with a touch of tartness. An excellent fruity winter beer.

6.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Pours a dark reddish purple colour with a lasting, very pale pink, foamy head. The aroma is red berries and sweet malt. A moderately sweet fruity taste, sweet biscuity malts, berry fruit, blueberry, strawberry and cherry flavours with a light drying mouthfeel and biscuity, light bittersweet finish.

7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Cask at Borough Arms, Crewe. Have seen this on tap many times, but only got around to trying it today. Pours a rich ruby with a small white head with a pinkish tinge, and good lacing. The armoa has raspberries, cherries, summer fruits and some hints of yeastiness. In the mouth it is somewhat sharp, with raspberries and cherries to the fore again along with malts, prunes and some herbal traces. Finish is fruity and slightly sour. This is an unusual interesting beer – I like it. [ I would categorise it as “speciality” not ESB ]

6.8

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Cask at the Falcon, High Wycombe, 02/11/22. Reddish dark mahogany brown with a faded purple meets crimson head that retains well, full glass lacing ensues. Nose is fruit slice, grains, red berry dusting, straw Taste comprises brown bread, hint of red berries, biscuit, stewed fruits, herb. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, drying close. Okay stuff ... looks good sips fine.

03/01/2020.SILKSTONE INN, 64 Market Street, BARNSLEY, South Yorkshire, England (WETHERSPOONS)

6.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

19/11/2021. Cask at the Harwich & Dovercourt Bay Winter Ale Festival 2021. Pours clear purple brown with a small bubbly pink head. Aroma of sweet malt, forest fruits and berries, chocolate, dark fruits, light spiced edge. Medium body, light bitterness. Moderate body, slight oily texture, soft to flat carbonation.