6.1

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at Brunswick, Derby. Pours a very dark reddish-brown with a small foamy cream head. There’s malts and a hint of bacon in the aroma. Malts again dominate the mouth, where it is sweet but with some underlying bitterness. Some flavour of cola and traditional hops too, and traces of dark fruits later on. Bitterness remains in the finish. This is reasonable.

6.8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Gravity cask from the Real Ale Classroom, Stoneygate, Leicester. Mid- to dark reddish brown, clear with a very loose off-white/beige head. Chestnuts, liquorice, chocolate malt on the mose. Sweet taste, slightly smoky, lots if (too much?) liquorice here. Some bitter hops in the finish but it's pretty sweet all around. Pretty good, I'd like it more if the liquorice were dialed down a notch but that's just me.

7.8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle on 29th November 2023, gift from a good friend. Pours deep ruby to black with tan foam and spot lacing. Rich and smooth malty aroma. Chunky maltiness in-mouth with roastiness and savoury notes of cooked brassicas. A lengthy, roasty malt finish with grassy hop notes. Medium body and a smooth mouthfeel. Satisfying and flavoursome.

6.2

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6

24-27/10/2023. From cask at the 45th Norwich Beer Festival. Pours very dark brown with a small bubbly/frothy off-white to beige head. Aroma of biscuit, chocolate, caramel, dark fruits, malt, berries. Moderate sweetness, bitterness and body. Slightly watery, average carbonation.

6.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5