7

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

Cask at the Bird in Hand, Knowl Hill. An opaque pour, deep chocolate brown in colour with a thin beige head; intense chocolate malt aroma with not a trace of sweetness; smooth with a milky mouth feel, and a rich cocoa taste with some very bitter chocolate thrown in ; then a deep, dry, earthy bitterness with a touch of coffee grounds, and a lasting finish. A really satisfying stout.