Cask @ The Falcon, Clapham Junction SW11. Rating #9300. Pours a black color with ruby hints and a tan head. Has a roasted malty chocolate aroma with weak hints of licorice. Roasted malty chocolate flavor with hoppy hints and hints of licorice. Has a roasted malty chocolate finish.

Cask, Philarmonic, Liverpool. Black looks (like the ones from my mother in law over xmas) with a thin tan head. Aroma showed notes of coffee, chocolate and biscuity malts. Nice n’ smooth slipping down. Flavour had some similar qualities to the nose with some roast and gentle fruitiness alongside some subdued hop bitterness towards the finish. Maybe not the most robust stout out there, but tasty stuff nonetheless.

This time a lot more chocolate on the nose and the taste - very intense. Previous rating 6+4+5+3+12=3.0 On tap @ the Haymarket Bar. Pours opaque black with a nicely proportioned head. The nose has some chocolate but mostly maltiness. The taste starts with a hint of chocolate but this doesn’t persist - there’s some creaminess and a slightly wishy-washy finish. The palate is medium bodied and textured with a reasonably clean finish. Overall, not as exciting as expected from such a highly regarded brewer.

5th January 2012
On tap at the Magpie. Hazy dark red-brown beer. Tidy cream-pale tan head. Smooth palate, almost silky. Very fine carbonation. Mild dark malt with a trace of chocolate. Lacto cream. Subtle red fruits. Mild orangey hops coming through and providing some bitterness. Smooth semi dry finish. I’ve never sessioned a stout as they are too heavy and never want to but if I had to I would choose this one. Light and tasty.