Bad King John
Ridgeway Brewing in South Stoke, Oxfordshire, England 🏴
Stout Regular|
Score
6.59
|
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An unusual beer, it is neither a porter nor a stout, but a black ale. It is a proper English pale with the addition of heavily roasted grains. Only English hops are used, some of them later in the boil to leave behind essential oils and hop aroma. This beer tests the drinkers senses – the eyes are saying it’s heavy, the mouth says it’s light, perhaps sometimes dangerously so….
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6.8/10
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Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
Tried
from Bottle
from
Hop Cask & Barrel
on 07 Mar 2026
at 02:20
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
Bottle to English pint glass.
Appearance: dark brown close to black in the glass with a two finger eggshell white foamy head which slid off nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: dark roasted malts, sweet grains, roasted nuts, sweet earthy scents, dark fruits, cocoa powder, baker's chocolate, caramel/toffee malts and some coffee tones
Flavor: wraps up the prior noted aromas to a fair bitter blend with a mild roasty and toasty quality sliding in underneath then a subtle crisp sweetness; finishes dark fruity/cocoa powder-y/sweet grainy
Texture: light to medium bodied, some sessionability to it. Pretty darn smooth along the tongue
Overall: a pretty nicely done and we'll say here a "dark ale" as respect to the brewer who doesn't call this a porter or a stout, just a fine dark ale and worthy of returning to.
Bottle to English pint glass.
Appearance: dark brown close to black in the glass with a two finger eggshell white foamy head which slid off nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: dark roasted malts, sweet grains, roasted nuts, sweet earthy scents, dark fruits, cocoa powder, baker's chocolate, caramel/toffee malts and some coffee tones
Flavor: wraps up the prior noted aromas to a fair bitter blend with a mild roasty and toasty quality sliding in underneath then a subtle crisp sweetness; finishes dark fruity/cocoa powder-y/sweet grainy
Texture: light to medium bodied, some sessionability to it. Pretty darn smooth along the tongue
Overall: a pretty nicely done and we'll say here a "dark ale" as respect to the brewer who doesn't call this a porter or a stout, just a fine dark ale and worthy of returning to.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Feb 2026
at 20:28
6.6/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 10
Overall 5.5
Bottle at home, köszi Tomi! Jet black, thin head. Compulsory coffee notes, short roasted finish. Light body, soft carbo.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Mar 2025
at 12:28
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
500ml bottle. Pours a very dark brown with a white head. Aromas & tastes of dark chocolate, hints of coffee, caramel & roasted malt. Medium body. Dry light bitter finish. Enjoyable
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Jan 2025
at 11:41
4.6/10
—
Appearance 5
Aroma 4
Flavor 5
Texture 5
Overall 4.5
Mild malziger Beginn. Cremig, milde Herbe, wässrig röstig, zunehmende Bitterkeit. Kurzer Abgang. Meh. 8/6/8/6/7/6
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Aug 2024
at 18:42
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Dark reddish brown beer with a beige head. Aroma of red fruits, dark moderate roasted malt, nuts. Taste of roasted dark malt, caramel, chocolate, nuts, moderate bitterness.
Tried
on 30 Jul 2024
at 07:10
6/10
Very dry mild beginning, hints of metal, very dry. Burned grain, bitter and very dry. Interesting but not too deep.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Jul 2024
at 21:37
7/10
Black.white creamy foam.malty,herbs,hops. Smooth.some bitterness.nicely balanced. Bbe:21/04/2023
Tried
on 21 Oct 2023
at 19:09
7/10
Tried
on 10 Feb 2023
at 20:42
Historic check-in
Tried
on 24 Jan 2023
at 08:27