Bottle from Beer Ambleside, Ambleside. Mahogany-amber with a small head. Traditional bready malts with a lovely Oak ageing smoothness.

Creamy beige head on a dark brown body. Chocolate, roasted & malt aroma. Medium bodied, creamy on the tongue with a sharp back. Malt, chocolate, roasted & burnt tastes with a bitter finish. Lovely Quaffer.

Cask: Poured a dark brown with a tan. Aroma is malty, toffee, rich. Taste is malty, rich, fruity.

500ml bottle [courtesy of Grumbo - thank you very much for another ship label!]. Jet black colour with small to average, thick, creamy, moderately lasting and lacing, off-white to beige head. Roasty, minimally spicy, dark malty and fruity aroma, notes of blueberry, dark chocolate, hints of blackcurrant, whiffs of raw beef. Taste is slightly dry, roasty dark malty, fruity and minimally smoky, notes of dark chocolate, minimally diluted hints of blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, a touch of raw beef, very subtle sweetness. Minimally oily texture, smooth and soft, minimally cloying palate, fine and soft carbonation. Quite rich for its low abv, well balanced, nice fruity flavours - pretty good.

500ml bottle [courtesy of Grumbo - thanks a lot!]. Clear, orangey, faint golden colour with small to average, thick, creamy, moderately lasting, minimally lacing, white head. Rather earthy, slightly floral-herbal-leafy, piney, grassy and minimally citrusy hoppy, biscuity, pale malty aroma, doughy yeasty overtones, hints of lemon, a touch of vanilla, brioche, white bread. Taste is slightly dry, minimally earthy, floral-leafy, grassy, minimally citrusy hoppy, biscuity pale malty, minimally doughy yeasty, hints of brioche, white bread, lemon, a touch of vanilla; moderately bitter, chalky finish. Minimally oily, watery texture, smooth and soft, minimally cloying palate, fine, soft to flat carbonation. Quite earthy and hence not overly refreshing - meh.

Bottle from Beer Ambleside. Appearance - golden with a thin white head. Nose - honey, lemon, light caramel, a hint of breadiness. Taste - more honey and lemon. Light biscuit. Palate - light bodied, creamy texture. Not as cloying as some honey beers can be. Overall - ok.

Bottle from Beer Ambleside. Appearance - deep golden, slightly off white head. Nose - lemon, lemon curd, custard. Fudge. Taste - fudge, sponge pudding and general caramel notes. Palate - creamy texture, medium bodied. Sweetish finish. Overall - could do with a bit more bitterness on the finish, but fairly typical of the style.

Panda to home, thanks to SHIG, 01/08/20. Clear golden blonde with a decent cap of white bubbles. Nose is pale malts, grass, vanilla, lemon, stale bread. Taste comprises light citric zest, grass, toasted grains, melon, sweetish perfumed vibes. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a vague suggestion of hop bitterness. So so affair ... weak attempt at the style.

Bottle shared with Grumbo: Poured a golden with white bubbly head. Aroma is floral, malty. Taste is bitter, hoppy, floral. malt.

Bottle shared with Grumbo: Poured a golden with a white head. Aroma is toffee, malty, cardboard. Taste is citrus fruit, malty, cardboard, bitter.