Draft at the brewery. Deep chestnut colour with a white head. Caramel and malty. Slight spice. Medium to rich body.

440ml Can online from The Trembling Madness. Pours a murky mahogany colour with a medium fast dissipating white head. Aromas of dark fruits, berries, toffee, caramel, pear drops and candied sugar. Taste has dry dark fruits, more toffee, caramel and pear drops, candied sugar, some bananas, bread and brown sugar on a sweet but also fruity finish. Medium body with fairly low carbonation but also a light spritzy mouthfeel. Maybe a tad on the sweet side for me but overall a decent effort.

Can from The Rusty Bucket. Deep brown pour woth a beige head. Nose is cola, raisin, dates, dark fruits. Very similar action in the flavour. Sweet malty finish.

On tap at Ebenezers, Crewe. Pours a dark brown with a ruby tinge, and a small white head with good lacing. There’s malts and bubblegum in the aroma. In the mouth it is malty and fruity with dried fruits, caramel and treacle. Finish is quite dry. Rather nice.

Can at home, from HOTM online, 08/12/22. Clear golden amber with a lasting light beige head. Nose is stewed fruits, bubblegum, candied fruit peel, herb, toffee. Taste comprises fruit slice, pear, light herb, caramel, brown sugars, dates. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Not a favourite style of mine but I knew SMOD could be relied upon to pull of a well balanced and not overly sweet example.

Can. Also on tap down SMOD. Lightly hazy deep amber. Slim ring and a wisp of off white head. Nose has almond forward cake mix. Lots of vine fruit here. Pretty estery and yeasty. Getting a walk in the woods wet leaf thing. Sits easy with the style. Taste is vinous and sweet turning dry and fairly bitter. Drinks clean and easy with soft brisk carbonation. Estery and fruity bitterness to finish.