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Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Cask @ Baltic Fleet, Liverpool. Very dark with a small off-white head. Has a good roasted malt nose with a very drinkable texture that does not feel its strength. There’s a small sweetness within its taste, but there’s still some roasted malt in here too, with the smokiness evident in both aroma and taste, but more pronounced in the latter aspect, as well as lingering a while in the palate. The smokiness provides a ham flavour.

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

Bottled. Black colour with a mediumsized brown creamy head. Aroma is roasted malts, some ashes, a bit toffee, nuts and smoked wet wood. Flavour is caramel, toffee, some roast and ashes as well as some mild chocolate and old black coffee. Lovely.

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

Draught at the brewpub. Light sweet with a roast and very light smoke. Creamy vanilla base and light sweet finish.

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

Cask, gravity NWAF, Manchester in company of Dad, Pauline and Baz 20.01.12 Pours dark brown with a creamy film of bubbles. The smokiness is quite light but noticeable. Tangy and fruity with a nod too smokiness in mouth, some roastiness, little coffee. A6 A4 T6 P3 Ov13 3.2

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

bottle at home ... black ... barest lacing ... light smoke .... blackcurrant fruit nose ... light over fizzy ... dark roast ... light fruits ... chocolate cherry dark malts ... pretty reasonable

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Cask at NWAF, 2011. Black with a beige head. Dark roast coffee aromas with a bit of smoke and dark chocolate. Smoky, woody flavours with coffee and chocolate. Easy going brew, quite smooth. Dry, malty finish. Not bad.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Cask handpull at The Baltic Fleet, Liverpool. Wow, I am so surprised that I haven’t rated this before. More porter than smoke. But good chewy malts and subtle smoke aroma and flavour. Quite a lot of choc on aroma. Would have stayed for a second pint but the pissed up Liverpool fan sat opposite was starting to scare me. And this was just after midday when the match was starting at 4pm. Jesus.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle. Pours a black color with a small longlasting off-white head. Has a roasted malt smooth smoky aroma. Sweetish roasted malty smoky flavor with some hints of chocolate. Has a sweetish roasted malty finish.

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Cask, half pint served well kept and temperate at the brewpub, Baltic Fleet, in Liverpool. Jet black with a brownish tint. Creamy, off-white head. Prominent smell of smoked, sweet grain. Exhibits an interesting flavour of dark chocolate malts, liquorice, oats and berries on a smoked backbone that lingers well on the tongue. Well made and a pleasure to drink. Good stuff (04.05.2009).