Bottle shared by Grumbo. Aroma is dark fruits, malty, fruity, bready, chocolate and ashy. Mixture of sweetness and bitterness on the taste. A roasted bitterness prominent at the finish.

330ml bottle [courtesy of Grumbo - cheers Graham!]. Quasi black colour with small to average, creamy, moderately lasting, minimally lacing, dark tan head. Roasty, chocolately, minimally smoky, dark malty aroma, hints of coffee, burnt coffee, dark chocolate, a touch of smoked ham; weak, fruity overtones with a touch of plum butter and bramble jelly, blackcurrant, a touch of dark honey as well. Taste is roasty, slightly chocolately and minimally smoky, dark malty, minimally caramel malty, slightly bitter hoppy, notes of dark chocolate, dry cocoa, some coffee, smoked ham, a touch of iron; increase of sweetness (dark honey) and a minimally fruity touch of plum, bacon-wrapped plum, bramble in the last third, minimally metallic overtones. Slightly oily texture, smooth and soft, simultaneously minimally repellent palate, medium, dense, mildly prickly carbonation. Mild smokiness, nice fruity aspects, quite complex - a late bloomer in a sense - pretty decent.

Bottle from Purple Moose shop in Betws Y Coed. Color: Almost black, thin beige head. Aroma: Roasted malt, sweetish, notes of smoke. Taste: Roasted malt, sweetish honey notes, subtle smoke / burned wood. Hints of coffee. Over medium body, below average carbonation. Over moderate to medium sweet, moderate bitterness.

28/6/2024. Bottle bought at Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co, Caldicot. Pours clear dark mahogany brown with a small frothy off-white to beige head. Aroma is smoky, roasted, dark fruits, chocolate, caramel, ashtray, dark honey. Medium sweetness, roasted bitterness and body. Slight fruity tart edge developed. Smokiness faded. Got better.

330ml bottle from Everyman's. Pours hazed dark with a large off-white head. Overly high carb unfortunately but some very nice dark roasted malt shades here. Barely discernible honey notes, some dusty smoke but no as much as expected. Generally a decent beer but needs some tweaking.

Bottle at home. Pours deep ruby brown, nose is caramel, honey, smoky, chocolate, taste is similar, sweet, quite thin.

330ml bottle. Pours dark reddy brown with a large head. Aroma is sweet honey and light smoked leather. Taste is sweet with honey and light smoke. A little watery and short in the mouth.

330ml bottle at the Salmon, Leicester at 6.3%. Dark brown and opaque with an uneven grey-beige head. Light smoke and some honey notes, with chocokately malts and a little hit of black grape. Sweet taste with touches of honey followed by a light bitterness. Heavily carbonated. Not all that smoked, and not all that honeyed, but a tasty porter nonetheless.