7.5

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

7.8

Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

Cask at Hops, Crewe. Pours a dark chestnut with a small frothy off-white head. The aroma has raisins, stewed apples and a hint of toffee. In the mouth it is sweet and fruity with the alcoholic strength to the fore. Flavours are dried apricots, sherry, malts and toasted bread. Some spicy hints later, leading to a dry finish. This is quite nice, though it doesn’t have the expected Union set “depth” to it.

7.9

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

6.9

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Cask at Hops, Crewe. Pours a bright ruby with a sizable off-white head and good lacing. There’s malts, jam and honey in the aroma. In the mouth the creamy texture is the first thing that hits. A modicum of bitterness comes quickly after. Flavour starts off as floral hops and berry fruits, but hints of others come later – ash, plums, salt, nuts. Finish is quite dry. This is decent enough and has the depth expected of a Union Set beer, but is still disappointing as it is nowhere near as good as Fullers ESB !

7.6

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

Dark brown with a creamy tan head and a chocolate and coffee aroma. Smooth and silky, roasted malt, espresso coffee and a touch of chocolate, dry and bitter finish.

7.8

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

Panda at home, thanks to Kenneth, 18/12/2025.
Black topped with a khaki cap that clears to the edge.
Nose is dark malts, spice, herb, barrel tones, molasses.
Taste comprises chocolate shavings, herb, mezcal barrel, vinous, earthy fruits.
Full bodied, fine carbonation, drying close with a balanced spike of alcohol.
Solid.

6.4

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

500ml bottle from Mitchell Wines Meadowhead - cloudy orange with a firm white head. Piney, bit of grapefruit, grassiness and pithy finish. A bit meh.

6.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 5 | Overall - 7

Orange gold with a fleeting crown. Grapefruit and peaches with a moderate dankness. Taste is bitter and quite citric. Body stays light—a little more chewiness would do it well. But still above average for the style.

7.1

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

A colablack beer, a head is medium and beige. Aroma has lots of back coffee, roastiness, real. Taste has black coffee, some balancing caramel, roastiness. Medium bodied. For coffee lovers, coffee haters propably would not like this.