Cask at the Rose & Crown, Sandhurst. Sitting in the beer garden on a perfect summer afternoon. A deep chestnut colour with a reddish golden gleam as the sunlight hits it, and a tight cream head; intriguing aroma of purple fruit and treacle; the taste has more purple fruit - blackcurrants, and plums in particular - but also some leather and licorice; there’s a lasting fruity bitterness with lingering oaty grains. Rather good in the sunshine, despite appearing to be a winter beer at first sight.

Cask-conditioned at the Beer Emporium, Bristol 12/2/015. Near black, with a slight, off-white, head. Roasted malts, some plain chocolate, fruit cake sweetness and some hops in the finish. Good.