Cask at Slater’s in Stafford. Pours a dark brown with small foamy cream head and good lacing. The nose is mainly roasted malts with some added liquorice. In the mouth at various times there is chocolate, liquorice and coffee with hints of tobacco, spices and dark fruits. Not all at once and not necessarily in that order. Finish is decidedly bitter and hoppy. A nice complex beer but not really a Black IPA.

Cask at the White Swan, Solihull. Poured a clear dark reddish brown with a frothy off white head. The aroma is smoky roast malt, toffee caramel cream. The flavour is toasty malt bitter with a smooth rich dry, burnt toffee, liqourice, light hop bitter palate. Over medium bodied with soft carbonation. Not your average black IPA. Plenty of body and lots going on.

9th March 2015: hand-pulled cask pint in my local Wetherspoons. True black colour with a full and lasting off-white cap. Malty molasses rule this semi-sweet brew, the hops providing a slight bitterness towards the finish. Mild chocolate notes from the malts, decent but not very hoppy for an IPA, black or not.

Appearance: Black color with a small head. Light lacing.
Aroma: Coffee, roasted malt and light fruity.
Palate: Medium body. A bit dry and an ok bitterness. Soft carbonation.
Taste: Chocolate, coffee, roasted malt and light fruity.
Overall impression: God beer, but had higher hope. A bit to light body and missed a lot of hoppy notes for a super BIPA.
Personal stats: On tap at Wellington (Black Country Inns) in Birmingham, England.