Keg at Ascot Brewing taproom, Camberley, 16/08/21. Pitch black with a good sized lasting tan head. Nose is dark malts, liquorice, charr, spice, dried fruit rinds. Taste comprises chocolate, roasted bite, spice, molasses, liquorice, charr, dark malts, dried fruits. Full bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a balanced rising burst of alcohol. A solid straight up impy stout with an old skool feel.

Can from... hmm... perhaps Premier Hop? Aroma is creamy, slightly sour cream. Vanilla. Underlying hints of praline and berries. Darkest brown. Foamy tan head. Initial creamy burnt caramel before espresso bitterness kicks in. Boozy bite in the finish. Smooth dark fruits keep it in check. Medium bodied. Somewhere between creamy, oily and saucy. Flat-average carbonation. Long somewhat astringent finish. The pales have been average but Ascot have always done a decent Stout and this is not different. A relaxed creamy Impy. Edit: once I'd been say here a whole watching Cop Car it actually became a bit bland... samey. So dropped a point.