Press deep red, almost copper with a massive dust head.
Nose shows soft caramel, and nutty malt. Very restrained. Some soft spicy hops.
Flavours include toasty malt, biscuity malt, spicy and earthy hops, faint sultanas and caramel but without the usual expected sweetness

Aromas of lemon, apple, toffee, bread and pine. The malt is kind of missing when tasted, leaving it a little unbalanced.

A freebie thanks to The Otter's Promise. Pretty much clear amber with a dense inch of near white head that lasts pretty well. Aroma of bread, spices, a little toffee, hints of pine. Malty but dryish for the style (which is good) with quite punchy spices and firm bitterness. Good in a style I mostly loathe - but although it's by being stronger, drier and hoppier, it neatly avoids the problems of the hoppy amber by understanding that the hops are seasoning not vying for top billing. Highly promising.