7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Can from Against The Grain. Hazy amber/brown body with a beige head. Low carbonation. Faint lacing. Aroma of toffee, Twiglets and coffee. Flavour of blueberry and plum. Medium body with a slick texture. Soft fizz. The colour is more brown than black but this is a tasty beer. I prefer black IPAs with a higher ABV.
Tried
from Can
on 31 Jan 2026
at 22:30
Tried
from Cask
at
Sickle
on 31 Jan 2026
at 12:34
7.2/10
Tried
from Draft
on 31 Jan 2026
at 11:44
7.4/10
Tried
from Draft
on 31 Jan 2026
at 11:20
7.2/10
Tried
from Draft
on 31 Jan 2026
at 11:03
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 6
Overall 8
30/1/2026. Cask at the 17th Colchester Winter Ale Festival.
Tried
from Cask
on 30 Jan 2026
at 16:45
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
29/1/2026. Cask at the 17th Colchester Winter Ale Festival. Good pour. Sweet stout, nice fruity stollen bready. Ashy vanilla. Medium sweet, light roasted bitterness. Good body, smooth, soft carbonation. Good.
Tried
from Cask
on 29 Jan 2026
at 18:19
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Panda at home, thanks to Mark the Bearded Avenger, 25/01/2026.
Mahogany brown topped with a beige cap that thins to the edge.
Nose is charr, toffee, cocoa powder, light pine nip, dried fruit rinds.
Taste comprises light roast, charr, pine needle, caramel, cocoa sprinkle, baking powder, dried fruit rinds.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, drying close spiked with earthy hop bitterness.
Decent CDA.
Mahogany brown topped with a beige cap that thins to the edge.
Nose is charr, toffee, cocoa powder, light pine nip, dried fruit rinds.
Taste comprises light roast, charr, pine needle, caramel, cocoa sprinkle, baking powder, dried fruit rinds.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, drying close spiked with earthy hop bitterness.
Decent CDA.
Tried
on 25 Jan 2026
at 17:32
7.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8
Tap at Elusive Taproom, with my son James, 24th January 26. Pours clear, dark golden, aroma is citrus, a little honey. Taste is citrus, some pine, medium bitter, nectar and honey in the finish, another delicious pale
Tried
from Draft
on 25 Jan 2026
at 09:03
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Tap at Elusive Taproom, with my son James, 24th January 26. Pours black, aroma is milk chocolate, sweet, caramel. Taste is rich and sweet, creamy, milk chocolate, lots of flavour for the ABV, but a little sweet for me, but as the brewer intended
Tried
from Draft
on 25 Jan 2026
at 09:00