Draught keg at the brewery tap. Dark, almost black, with a ring of beige head. Big malty aroma, lots of treacle, black sesame, caramel. Taste is sweet, and I mean sweet. I love seeet beers but this is almost too much for me. Long sweet finish. Oily body with light carbonation. Intense but the sugary nature might put some people off a bit.

Keg at Red Hand, Dalston. Aroma is quite bitter - dark chocolate, coffee, a hint of tobacco. Want to be opaque but too dark for that. Creamy tan head. Initial bitter coffee and dark chocolate hit. Followed by a slight sweet luscious chocolate streak and molasses. Underlying berries gradually gain prominence. Thick. Oily with a chalky element. Long astringent finish. Big Baltic. Wonder how trad the brewing process was.