Cask at the Monk’s Retreat, Reading. Brown with a thick beige head and a prickly fizz. Rather fake chocolate up front then smoke and earthiness comes through. Quite smooth behind the prickles. Fake chocolate dies back with time to be replaced with milk chocolate. A little leaf mulch in the finish and a touch of red wine. Pleasant porter but lacks the wow factor.

Cask @ EBF17 2014, 17th Egham Beer Festival, Egham United Services Club (EUSC), 111 Spring Rise, Egham, Surrey, England TW20 9PE. [ As Binghams Bricks and Mortar ].Clear dark red brown color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, chocolate, sweet chocolate, earthy. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a long duration, earthy, sweet chocolate, roasted. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat. [20140417]

Cask at the egham festival... Deep brown... Thin tan head... Soft dry toffee malts... Soft fruits... Soft toffee malts

Cask at The Antelope, Surbiton, Surrey. A dark brown/ruby coloured pour with a thin off white head on top. Roasty, malty, fruity aroma. Tastes similar, roasty, malty, coffee, slightly sweet, some chocolate too. Tasty porter from Binghams.

Cask at the Rose and Crown, Sandhurst. An impressive looking, deep raspberry red colour, almost black, with a tan head; fruity aroma; soft grainy texture with lots of well roasted malts giving some chocolate and red fruit flavours; the finish is satisfying, dry and creamy, with some lingering chocolate. An excellent porter.