Cask half-pint at NERAX on 5/4/06. Deep black, stained-oak brown color shows medium-high clarity, upon settling. Creamy off-white/ivory colored head is well retained, leaving light lacing as well. Aroma is tight and poignant, yet soft and rich, though that dosent make sense. Mellow (soft) roast and light coffee drive deeply in to the senses (poignant) and recede, leaving light vanilla and chocolate/prune notes in its wake. VERY high aroma strength, but yet so balanced and not allowing any one note to dominate. The more I sniff, the more complex it becomes, with coffee providing light zestiness on the edges, while lightly succulent chocolate liqueur notes add most of the substance, and dusty, but lightly bitter hops enliven things further. The flavor is, not surprisingly, complex, rich, succulent, but yet not overdone (is there such thing as an overdone british cask ale??). Chocolate and husky brown malts balance things initially, with just a trickel of vanilla-flavored coffee on the edges. A graceful hint of anise/licorice gives it more vigor on the finish and crunchy, earthy dark malts linger on providing depth and intrigue. Nearly creamy texture, very smooth, with no touch of wateriness and a tingle from the carbonation. No alcohol anywhere. Looking at others ratings, I guess this isn’t very true-porter-like, but I’m not rating it to-style.

Cask gravity at Dover Beer Festival 2006. Very dark brown. Quite yeasty aroma. Some charcoal, burnt malts. Quite a dry burnt finish, almost harsh. Quite a nice bitter finish

[Cask at GBBF 2005] A hazy pale yellow beer with a thin white head. The aroma is sweet with citrusy, floral, and hop notes, as well as hints of butter. The flavor is sweet with aroma hops and citrus notes in the middle, leading to a dry bitter end.

Cask@Birimingham Beer Festival. Black beer with a light head. The aroma is chocolatey and malty, and the flavour is dry, and slightly roasted with hints of chocolate. Overall a nice plain sweetish porter.

Cask conditioned at the 32nd Cambridge Beer Festival, gravity dispense. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate but pleasant roast aroma, notes of dark chocolate, dried fruits and tobacco. Moderate roast flavour, notes of coffee and dried fruits. Medium dry (or medium sweet, if you like).

Cask@Ale Wagon, Leicester. Reddish black beer with a lightly roasted aroma and a weak flavour. Overall a very weak tasting mild.

[Cask at GBBF 2004] An orange beer with a small white head. The aroma is quite hoppy which matches the very grassy and hoppy flavor leading to dry end.

[Cask at Volunteers Arms, GBBF, 2004] A nut brown beer with a fine beige head. The aroma is sweet with notes of spices and nuts. The flavor is lovely roasted and very sweet - especially considering the low alcohol content. The finish is dry roasted - almost like burnt caramel.