(Cask at White Horse, Parson’s Green, London, 27 Nov 2016) Black colour with brief, beige head. Malty, roasted, slightly smoky nose with liquorice, dark chocolate and caramel. Malty, roasted taste with notes of caramel, liquorice, gentle beach-wood smoke flavours and a mild bitterness. Medium body, with a touch of sweetness. Tasty and well balanced, with a gentle smoke character. Nice one.

(cask 1 pint @ Ealing Park Tavern (London))
Aroma: Light smoked, light roasty, caramel.
Appearance: Black color. Minimal beige head.
Taste: Light sweet, light licorice, light smoked.
Palate: Light body. Light dry finish.
Overall: Average.

Bottle from Best Off Licence, Hanwell. Near black in colour, with a small, beige, head. Light, smoky aroma with some dark berry sweetness. Flavour had toasty malts, more fruits, and a whiff of smoke in amongst a dryish finish. Fine.

Bottle at home in London - picked up at the Drinkers’ Paradise. Pours black-brown with a small, creamy tan head. Nice blend of smoke and roast in the nose, some burnt ham, cocoa. Light-medium sweet flavour with mellow ashy roast, more smoked ham, light bitterness, lightly gooey chocolate. Light bodied with fine carbonation and somewhat velvety texture. Nicely balanced to finish, with some milk chocolate, cured ham, mild ash, cocoa, some ripening berries. Quite a tidy number.