Oct 2009: The first beer in my ’dark night’ review session. The brown 500ml bottle was slightly out of date when reviewed (one month and a week). The beer was bottle conditioned. Poured into a pint glass, vase shaped. Obviously well carbonated, because it came out with a lovely healthy fizz, a deep dark ruby red body witha deep tanned head. It looked every inch like a good stout should. A full head stayed throughout the tasting, it did thin out, but it was still there at the end. Expected more of a smell, even as the beer warmed it didn’t want to give up any secrets, I am pleased to say some burnt malt and chocolate esters did emerge after a while. An earthy, peat bog sort of aroma also began to rise from the brew even later. Dry at first and in the aftertaste, in the middle came dark chocolate and a little coffee. I tried my hardest to find any ’rich ruby port’ as advertised on the label, but failed. The beer however is smooth (again as advertised on the label) and has a rich texture and body. A very good start to my evening, I hope the next two or three (depending on my mood and soberness) are as drinkable as this.

Cask @ Cockney Pub, Aarhus. Clear dark reddish brown with an off-white head. Aroma is roasted malt, coffee and soy sauce? Flavor is medium sweet and light bitter. Dry and light bitter finish. 160911

One of the more expensive beers at Pub Italia in Ottawa. It just happens to be the only stout I have not tried yet (available there). After having a few Italian lagers with supper, this was great for desert and complete the night. Poured a dark brown colour with lots of red highlights and a big foamy-creamy light brown head. Light dark fruits scent with notes of milk. Hop did come out eventually near the end as it warmed up. Mild roasted malts with decent bitterness in the finish, creating some dryness. After breathing a while, notes of apples appear in the aftertaste. A bit watered-down and not really worth the price, but worth trying once. Expected a bit more of a creamy mouthfeel as it was written "Superbly Smooth" on front label. Also, did not taste the "port" they added in this. Too bad, as I am a fan of port.

Pours dark brown, with a head that quickly settles into a thin film. But the smell is intriguing, with aromas of thick, sweet conchord jam and blackened malt. But the flavors don’t really assert themselves in the taste; the port comes out mainly in the finish. Disappointing if you wanted a big, ruby taste to go with the name. Very dry for an English stout, the finish accentuates the beer’s thin texture. Great idea, mediocre follow-through. (2/24/09)

Bottle. Dark brown with small light brown head. Flavour is roasted malts, chocolate, bitter and port vine.

Cask at the Wharf in Ålborg. Pours black with a small offwhite head. Aroma of roasted malt, coffee. Taste is roasted malt, coffee, caramel and abit of smoke. Full bodied. low carbonation. Pretty good stout. 280111

21st August 2007
Warning! Early amateur rating! Strong tasting stout, a littl bit smoky. Very bitter. A bare half imagined trace of Port! Okay - but a bit too bitter.

Cask at the Wharf. It’s a black one, topped by a diminishing thin layer of beige bubbles. Roasted to burnt nose with some chocolate and coffee. A hint of alcohol too, nothing boozy, more like in a strong wine. Flavorwise it’s quite mellow and rounded, blending roasted, burnt malts and hints of dark chocolate with dried fruits and a touch of something stronger than your average beer. Slightly metallic in the very end, a bit unpleasant actually. Medium body, almost without carbonation. Except for the metallic finish and lack of carbonation, this is a pleasant one. Tasteful and complex, and it goes well as a winter beer. 101216

Cask at the White Horse Pub, London. Pours a cloudy brown with a sturdy, off-white head. Decent roasted malt aroma. Has mildly sweet flavor, with roasted malts, faint char and tobacco. Malts have a hard, almost mineral character. Body is medium and carbonation fine to average. Finishes lightly sweet with dry roastiness. Decent.