Handpull cask at the Turks Head, Retford. Dark brown and very translucent. Small swirl of khaki head. Chocolate malt aroma with a touch of black liquorice. Very sweet taste, a bit much for me.loads of liquorice with a little bit of coffee. Watery body with no carbonation. It's just about okay.

Pours dark brown, looks almost black in the glass, with nice reddish hints through light. Average to small sized, greyish to mocha coloured head, quite large bubbled; recedes quite quickly, no lacing. Average intensity in a soft aroma: nutty malts, some milk stout like feeling, minimal roasted character with hints of chocolate and a bit of dark malts acidity, a touch of frutiness with a light dried character (figs perhaps most discernible, but all in all a quite 'vague' fruity feeling). Taste notes follow the aroma closely: there's pretty good intensity for the abv and a nicely clean, polished profile. The main feeling is soft, quite milk stout like maltiness, with now barely noticeable darks malts acidity. Medium sweetness, quite low bitterness, overall quite on the sweet side in both taste and aftertaste, but a very clean and never sticky sweetness. Quite light in body, average or slightly below average carbonation. Probably a bit more carbonated than usual for an english stout, but a very fine-bubbled, delicate carbonation. Mouthfeel is overall pretty smooth with a hint of creaminess. Liked this one, perhaps not outstanding but very much what you'd expect from a good, classicly english stout.

Bottle from Beers of Europe. Black with small beige top. Roast, chocolate, hint of fruit, slightly dusty on the nose. Taste is quite roasty with chocolate, coffee, hint of caramel, a light wheat tang but not particularly fruity. Fairly light bodied to begin but by the end of each sip there is a slight creamy texture with the help of oats. Its quite good.

Appearance: Opaque deep brown to black, decent ivory-coloured head. Aroma and taste: roast & toast, coffee, chocolate, esters, floral hop. Pretty dry. Light to medium bitterness. Mouth feel: medium minus body, soft to average carbonation. Summary: Decent.

Bottle. That grocers in Cley, Norfolk. Clear deep ruby red. Slim dense beige head. Light roast. Some vine fruit. Bit of burnt caramel. Taste is dry and lightly bitter. A bit thin overall with moderate bitterness to finish. Ok. A tad sterile.

21/12/2021. Keg at The Duke, Ipswich. Pours black with a creamy beige head leaving good lacing. Creamy, roasted malt, coffee. Quite watery. Served very cold

Keg @ White Horse, Rendham. Dark brown with a thick creamy off-white head. It’s mild tasting but its keg pour is crisp. Its roasted malts are best in its aroma.

Draft: Poured dark brown black with a cream light brown. Aroma is malty, roasty, rich, licorice. Taste is light bitter, roasted malts, coffee, licorice.

Keg at Oakes Barn, Bury St E. Coffee and liquorice aroma. Inky. Creamy beige head. Medium bitter. Coffee and liquorice. Sour berry edge. Medium bodied. Creamy. Flat carbonation. Long slightly astringent finish. Enjoyable.