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

Cask at Smithfield, Derby. Pours almost black with minimal cream head. The aroma is a mix of roasted malts and blackcurrants. Roast malts to the fore again in the mouth, but the most prominent feature is the alcoholic strength which colours everything else. There is a slight sweetness, and flavour of parkin, old english spangles and traces of nuts. Finish is very dry and boozy. It’s a decent beer, but too much naked alcoholic strength for me.