Can from Cork & Cask. Black body with a beige head. Faint lacing. Aroma of cherry and dark chocolate. Flavour of cranberry and plum. Medium body with a smooth texture. Soft fizz. A complex malt bill with a nice tartness. It’s nice to try a black forest style beer that doesn’t use lactose.

Can at Joe's. Pours black, nose is smoky toffee, chocolate, cherry, cream, taste is similar ,chewy, sweet, a little thin.

Bottle as part of an Xmas hamper. It pours pretty much opaque black with a thick, sturdy tan head. The aroma is rich roasted malt, bitter - sweet, ripe cherry, vanilla, squirty cream, cinnamon and plenty of chocolate.... Definite black forest gateaux vibes. The taste is dry roasted malt, some bitterness, bitter - sweet, earthy, good hit of chocolate, mocha coffee, burnt toast, there is a touch of ripe of cherry in there but it's well integrated and not in your face, vanilla, squirty cream vibes and a touch of warming spice with a toasty finish. Medium body and moderate, fairly foamy carbonation. Decent black forest gateaux stout - not to sweet or intense. Not bad.

Bottle from Appellation Wines. Appearance - dark brown to black, tan head. Nose - cherry cola, chocolate and wood spice. Taste - cherry, chocolate and cola again. Palate - light bodied, sweet middle and a wee bit thin. Overall - decent.

Bottle from Appellation Wines. Pours black with a massive beige head. Seems a bit over-carbonated. Aromas of cherry coke, liquorice. Taste is kinda chocolate cake, but not much cherry going on. Dry cocoa powder finish.