Black Bess
Brew York in York, North Yorkshire, England 🏴
Stout - Dry Regular|
Score
6.96
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In tribute to the the fabled steed of Dick Turpin, Black Bess is a full-bodied stout packed with robust roasted flavours, bitter chocolate and a smooth, creamy mouthfeel.
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7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 7
Pours almost black with a creamy tan head. Taste is roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee notes, good.
Tried
from Draft
at
Brew York Tap Room
on 28 Apr 2026
at 19:06
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask at the Pup & Duckling. Poured a clear dark brown colour with a lasting frothy off-white head. The aroma is roasty, light caramel, ashtray. The flavour is moderate liquorice bitter and sweet, with a smooth, somewhat rich, roasty, light caramel, chocolate, dry ashtray, liquorice bitter palate. Medium bodied with soft carbonation. Rather sessionable. Nice.
Tried
from Cask
at
The Pup & Duckling
on 22 Apr 2026
at 20:26
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 6
Overall 7
pours clear dark brown, settles very dark brown, smooth but somewhat bubbly slightly fizzy looking light brown head.
roasted and smoked malts, coffee, dark chocolate in the aroma. A light aroma that is quite roasted and fits well with a 5% stout. not milky as some of them are, more dry and roasted, which i like.
flavor is roasted malty, smoked malty, dark chocolate, coffee, quenching in a way bc of the light body and dryness.. long roasted malty aftertaste. leads me to think guinness, but this one is more intense, more flavorful, less dull, yet still feels like a session stout. Good for the style if you want flavorful.
roasted and smoked malts, coffee, dark chocolate in the aroma. A light aroma that is quite roasted and fits well with a 5% stout. not milky as some of them are, more dry and roasted, which i like.
flavor is roasted malty, smoked malty, dark chocolate, coffee, quenching in a way bc of the light body and dryness.. long roasted malty aftertaste. leads me to think guinness, but this one is more intense, more flavorful, less dull, yet still feels like a session stout. Good for the style if you want flavorful.
Tried
from Can
on 18 Mar 2026
at 11:53
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Roasted and sweet dark malty with notes of bitter chocolate, coffee roast, charred burnt brown sugar, nice body and mouthfeel, dry bitter and roasted finish. Flavourful and easy going stout.
Tried
from Can
from
Meny Valby - Toften
on 12 Oct 2025
at 14:34
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Keg at Vinny & Ted, Beaconsfield, 10/08/2025.
Lighter shade of black topped with a lasting khaki head.
Nose is dried fruit esters, brown bread, light roast, cocoa powder.
Taste comprises chocolate biscuit, mellow roast, charr.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close.
Tidy enough stout.
Lighter shade of black topped with a lasting khaki head.
Nose is dried fruit esters, brown bread, light roast, cocoa powder.
Taste comprises chocolate biscuit, mellow roast, charr.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close.
Tidy enough stout.
Tried
on 10 Aug 2025
at 18:49
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
On tap at The Kentish Belle, Bexleyheath.
Nose is creamy coffee, chocolate, caramel, touch of smoke. Taste is much the same. Malty sweet & dry with a lightly bitter aftertaste.
Nose is creamy coffee, chocolate, caramel, touch of smoke. Taste is much the same. Malty sweet & dry with a lightly bitter aftertaste.
Tried
from Draft
at
Kentish Belle
on 02 Aug 2025
at 12:27
6.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Half pint on cask at the Hall cross
Medium creamy beige head. Clear almost black pour. Lots of chocolate
Medium creamy beige head. Clear almost black pour. Lots of chocolate
Tried
from Cask
at
Hallcross
on 30 Apr 2025
at 17:27
7/10
A decent guiness-like. Better than the standard we get over here.
Tried
from Draft
on 22 Feb 2025
at 16:46
7.6/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
taster at Brew York bar at GBBF Winter. Black pour with a flimy tan head. Roasty aroma, bitter. Taste tones down the bitterness for notes of burnt toast and chocolate. Smooth feel.
Tried
from Draft
at
GBBF Winter Beer Festival (Camra)
on 13 Feb 2025
at 07:53
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Hand pumped at FOB, Rimini, Italy. Pours black, with very fine brown foam. Aroma is earthy, a little nutty. Body is average, with pretty much no carbonation. Taste is nicely roasty, bitter. Final is dry but nutty.
Tried
on 20 Nov 2024
at 17:23