500ml Brown bottle, best before Aug 2012, poured into an Abbot Ale glass tankard in Oct 2011. Looks really good, lovely red hue to its chestnut brown body a full, deep slighlty off-white head sat on top. Hops in the aroma, was expecting a maltier smell because of the colour: the rear label does mention ’a particularly fruity hop’ being added at four different stages of the brewing process. That’ll be the reason I could smell a citrusy hop presence then! The taste however is maltier than the hops, with a roasted biscuity, toasted brown bread feel to it. There is a sharper, bitter finish after the initial malt taste, those hop obviously finding their feet towards the end of the gulps I was taking. I was hoping for a more creamy, richer body to be honest, but it wasn’t a bad beer in any way, just not as smooth as I’d hoped for.

Bottle 500ml.Clear medium to dark amber colour with a large, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white to beige head. Aroma is moderate to light light heavy malty, caramel, caramelized caramel - malt, light toffee. Flavour is moderate to light light heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a average to long duration, light toffee. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20111211]

[500ml bottle that Dad shared with me - cheers!] Moderate off-white head, too much fizz for style. Treacle and woodland mulch dominate; lemon comes through at first followed by rich, fruity malt. It’s on the sweet side, but I don’t mind that in these dark, warming autumn ales. What it’s really let down by is that it’s too fizzy and too thin in the mouth, and that there’s a faint metallic tang. Can imagine this might be quite decent if you found it in good condition on cask. c8

Bottle at home in London with Lyoli. Pours clear garnet with a soft, off-white foam head. Holds a doughy, toasty malt aroma with hints of dark fruits. Light to medium sweet flavor with light, leafy bitterness, light caramel, dry toast, berries. Light to medium in body with average carbonation. Faintly dry finish with some leaves, caramel or toffee, toasted sugar. Not at all bad.

50cl bottle from Morrisons. Reddish copper in colour with a dense white head; rich aroma of caramel and malt; earthy, nutty malt flavours with some peppery citrus hops to finish. Better than average for an SN seasonal.

500ml bottle from Morrisons. Clear amber colour, large tan head. Nose is caramel malts, toffee, some toastiness and fruits. Flavour is toffee, bread, bit creamy, citric and yeasty. Quite smooth. Slightly sweet finish.

500ml bottle. Pours dark caramel with a medium head. Aroma is dusty cocoa. Taste has some dark fruits to start. Chocolate and coffee in the finish with some bitter fruit on the aftertaste.