[i] [b] Cask at The Woolpack, Banbury, Oxon 31-03-08 [/i] [/b] This is a very, very dark brown beer on first view I was not even sure what it was it looked very stout or poirter like, is it a bitter? Has a sticky off white head, there is good bitterness and the hops were still in the mouth as I was half way down the High Street. There is a good balance though with some nice sweet malts and a little sprinkling of rich indulgent cocoa, I liked this, but in the pub I was struggling to catergorise this maybe it is a bitter but its bloody dark, very dark in fact although taste wise I have to say its got more bitter characteristics. Nice to try a dark beer from Abbeydale and once again a very decent beer at that.

Small offwhite coarse head. Rich deep brown body. Faint earthy caramelly aroma. Watery fruity caramelly taste with wooden, peppery notes. Somewhat earthy, with traces of peas. Aftertaste dry. Nice! (0.47l cask at the John Hewitt, Belfast.)