Historic check-in

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

Bottle from Kris Wines. Dark chocolate brown colour with very little head, some golden bubbles. Aroma is chcolate, lots of malt, ovaltine, touch of smoke. Taste is roasty, more smoke, bit of wood and some slight coffee bitterness. No carbonation at all, and is quite a smooth drink. Medium bodied.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6.5

Backlog rating from RBESG 2008, grand tasting: Dark brown, creamy brown head. Sugary, chocolate cream, dry roast, orange aftertaste. English hops and grassy finish. Medium to light body.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6.5

Bottle, source not recorded. Poured dark brown with a quite large beige head. Aroma is roasted, chocolate, malt and coffee. Quite sweet and medium roasted bitterness. Medium body, texture a bit thin, soft carbonation.

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

Bottle from Ringstead Village Stores, North Norfolk. As dark as they come. Thin halo of tan coloured head. Liquorice. Roast malt. Hint of coffee. Taste is red fruit, tangy, dry. Slightly watery body. Dry, light bitter finish.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5

50cl bottle, BBE August 2009, from a clear out at the Rose & Crown, Sandhurst. Deep magohany with a cherry glow and a thin ring of translucent head; pleasant vinous aroma; rather thin in the mouth with some fruit, smoke and dry chocolate malts; and lacking finish.

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

Bottle from Beers of Europe. Black pour with a beige head. Smoke, wood and coffee aroma. Coffee, smoke and chocolate flavour. Light bitterness. Dry, malt finish.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4.5

Bottle. Sweet molasses malt and wood/charcoal aroma. Opaque brown-black color with no head. Sweet dark chocolate and lightly bitter/smoky herbal hops flavor. Very light palate. Flavor is okay but incredibly light.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bottled at RBESG 2008. A black beer with a thin tan head. The aroma is sweet with notes of straw and roasted malt. The flavor is sweet with notes of straw, sweet malt, and roasted malt, leading to a slightly acidic and roasted finish.

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

Dark brown with a small off-white head. Aroma of coffee and roast malt. Dry and roasted flavour with a little fruit. Charcoal-like roasted notes in the finish.