Cask, Bow Bar. Nearly black. Big spicy nose, lots of allspice maybe cardamom. Intensely spiced, lots of liquorice, a little strong. A bit of a mess, but with a concept like that it’s no surprise.

Cask to the Bow Bar. Pours dark brown, near-black, with a thin tan head. Big aromas for a cask beer, all-spice and ginger. A bit too much, frankly. Tastes like a marinade. A bit like drinking a packet of crisps.

Cask at the Earl of Essex - London. Pours black-brown with a small, beige foam head. Smells of ginger and mild cocoa. Medium sweet flavor, modest roasted malts, gingerbread, light chili spice, spruce. Medium bodied with fine carbonation. Light spicy chili on the finish, some green pepper, zippy ginger, restrained cocoa. Pretty interesting beer. It doesn’t mesh completely but it does get the point across.