Cask at the White Swan, Solihull. Poured a clear reddish brown witn a frothy very light tan head. The aroma is rich Rio red berry fruit. The flavour is moderate bitter with a rich over ripe fruit yeast, dry mineral palate. Medium bodied with average carbonation.

Nice and meaty English ale, dark copper colored with small creamy beige head. Light nutty aroma, flavor is more earthy, nutty, dark malts with a small hops bite at the end. Some lingering bitterness. Would not be out of place in a British pub next to the fire....

Got some interesting news and didn’t want to head home so stopped at draught 55 although not much excitement on menu so went with this serviceable brew. Pours dark amber with thin head. Nose of toasted malt. Tastes of toast, some dark fruit, pine, and earthy bitterness. Thin palate.

Pours a dark brown slightly red and leaves the same colored body with a half a finger white foamy head that rises just a tad and quickly dies to a thin coating on the top of the body, lacing is good and lightly speckled here and there, tries to spider web, but is just too clingy; the aroma is malty, fair amount of caramel, little bit of cherry but in a fairly sweet sort of way but coming through in a bland sort of way (I’m not really diggin’ this); the taste is sweet, but a sort of bland malty breadiness, slightly toasty; super malty aftertaste and a dry malty finish; its not as easy on the palate as I thought it would’ve been, but that’s probably due to a fairly high ABV, ok, no worries, overall, for a winter warmer, this to me is only average, however, I think it does the job for its style, unsure if I would go after it again

On tap at Tapwerks. Pours a clear brown with a touch of amber and a brown head that dissipates slowly to the edges. Aroma has earthy grains and light spice with a hint of grassy hops. Flavor is similar with earthy dark grains and light spice but not much of a hop profile.

Bottle. Pours clear ruby amber with a medium beige head and nice lacing. Aroma is light caramel, flavor is about the same, lightly sweet, lightly spiced with some zesty bitterness. Meh.

12 ounce bottle. Reddish brown color topped by a foamy beige head. Rich earthy toasted malt flavor hints at burnt caramel. Flavor is toasted malt and brown sugar. Nice spicy peppery hops and subtle dried fruit combine for a delicious balance that leaves a warming aftertaste.

(From notes) 2009 edition, had this in California by the end of 2009. Pours a deep brown color with a rocky off white head. Aroma: roasted malt, aromatic fresh hops, hints of caramel. Flavor is toasted, lightly sweet & bitter. Medium bodied. Finishes prickly, with a firm bitterness and hints of roast.

Bottle at a winter beers tasting at Norma Jean. Reddish brown color with a beige head. Fruity aroma, pretty malty, with a bit of floral honey and jam. Malty flavor with light sweetness at first, some fruitiness, and a bitter hoppy finish, slightly floral. Medium-bodied. Pretty nice.