7.2

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

Polypin at 2011 Deeside Beer Festival. This is the bigger, full-fat version of Alban Arthan. It pours dark ruby-brown, with a thin foamy beige head and low carbonation. The nose is wood, light smoke, varnish, chocolate, dark fruit and marzipan. The taste is dark cherry, plum, sherry, chocolate, brown sugar, hay, grass, oak and very well-hidden alcohol. It is really smooth and has a pleasant woody, bitter finish. Perhaps a little bit thin, but that is my only gripe. I would like to see this bottle conditioned and see how age affects the taste.