7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

7.5

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

500ml bottle bought as part of a delivery from Northumbrian Gifts and drunk at home. Very dark brown, almost black, with a ring of beige/khaki head. Light roasted malt, milk chocolate, some caramel. Exquisite sweet taste, creamy chocolate malt, touches of coffee grounds. Almost no bitterness in the finish, this remains a sweet beer all the way down. Traces of cola nut in the aftertaste. Magickal.

7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 7.5

500ml bottle [courtesy of Grumbo - cheers Graham!]. Jet black colour with minimally late awakening, average to huge, thick, creamy, moderately lasting, minimally lacing, beige head. Sweet-ish, chocolately, dark malty and caramel malty aroma, notes of toffee, couverture, dark caramel, some coffee, spicy whiffs of celery and lovage. Taste is slightly sweet, roasty and chocolately, dark malty, slightly caramel malty, notes of coffee, cocoa, toffee, some dark caramel, minimally ashy interludes. Creamy texture, smooth and soft palate, fine, soft, creamy carbonation. Very nice composition, fairly rich and manifold, harmonious, excellent mouthfeel - exquisite.

8

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

Sample thanks to Grumbo: Poured a deep brown black with a tan colored head. Aroma is rich roasted malts, chocolate, molasses, vanilla hint. Taste is rich roasted malts, chocolate, ashy, light bitterness.

8.6

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5

10/10/2021. Bottle from Centrale, Newcastle. Delicious example of the style, my 191st Northumberland beer and my new highest rated beer from that county. Pours black with a rich tan coloured head. Aroma of milk chocolate, lactose, moderate roasted malt, vanilla, toffee, black treacle, mild liquorice, dried fruits, nutty edge. Medium plus sweetness and light to moderate bitterness. Medium body, smooth, oily slightly cloying texture, average carbonation. Really enjoyed this.

7

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

Bottle from the Brewis taproom. Pours dark brown with a thin beige head. Aromas of coffee, chocolate and vanilla. Taste is roasty, cocoa powder, vanilla. Sweet finish.