Keg at the Earl of Essex - London. Pours deep russet with a fine, creamy beige head. The nose has a nice mix of smoked malts amd ripening berries. Medium sweet flavor with assertive, dry smoke, some minerals, mild candied ham, fruitcake, slight dry toffee. Medium bodied with fine to average carbonation. Dynamic finish with lots more dry, smokey malts, flinty minerals, aging berries, plums, hints of bread, burning wood and leaves, a bit more dry toffee and brown sugar. Quite tasty beer and very interesting. Might actually be a Scottish ale. Overall a highly enjoyable tipple.

Keg at the Rake. It pours clear deep brown with a small beige head. The nose is earthy, peat, smoke. Wood, toast, caramel, raisin and medicinal notes. The taste is toasty, brown bread, charred notes, dark fruits, touch of pepper, smoke and caramel with a dry, earthy finish. Medium body and moderate-high carbonation. Carbonation is quite harsh. Not a whole lot of depth to it. Drinkable enough.

24th March 2014
Rake. Keg. Clear deep amber - brown beer, small pale tan head. Palate is minerally crisp and slightly dry. Smooth dry malt, touch of lactose. Mild smoke. Good tangy dried fruits and a little dark fruits. Trace of overripe orange. Crisp finish. Packed a good deal of flavour in here.

500ml bottle from Appellation Wines. Pours clear dark brown, good white head. Aromas are peat smoke and dark sugar. This follows through on the taste. Thin at the end. OK.

Cask at the vintage... Deep brown... Thin tan head... Soft chocolate... Smokwy wood nose... Melliw roast... Wuite a bit of smoke... Light iodine... Not really me

On tap @ the Red Squirrel. Appearance - opaque black with a nice crema head. Nose - hazelnuts. Sweet malt. Taste - more nuts with a hint of chocolate. Some creaminess again. Palate - medium bodied with a creamy texture and a fairly elegant finish. Overall - slightly lighter in alcohol than expected for a Scotch Ale these days. Good ale though. Didn’t know there was supposed to be honey so didn’t look out for it.