6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Gravity Dispense at Egham XV, 08/08/13. Murky dark amber with no head. Nose is rich in caramel malts, burnt tropical fruits, bitter grapefruit, coconut shavings. Taste comprises candied sugars, fruit bread, orange rind, grapefruit, bitter hops, biscuit. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, dry finish with hop bitterness. Ok affair, a little unbalanced with all of the hops going down (11 or 12!) but it was a drinkable drop.
Tried
from Can
on 13 Aug 2013
at 22:48
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Cask at EBF XV, 08/08/13. Pitch black with a diry tan head which clears to a pond atop the pile. Nose is coconut forward, chocolate, dark sugars, roast malt. Taste is akin to a dark chocolate Bounty bar, vanilla, coconut macaroons, berry fruits, touch of chocolate, light polish. Full end of medium bodiment, fine to soft carbonation, dry finish. Solid cask impy but a little overly sweet at times. Not my favourite from the LOTBD series.
Tried
from Cask
on 12 Aug 2013
at 23:39
5.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
From cask at EBF15. Pours cloudy orange with a fully gone head. Aroma is greasy, toasted malty and grapefruity. Bitter, herbal, teaish and spiced. Herbal.
Tried
from Cask
on 09 Aug 2013
at 03:00
6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
From cask EBF15. Pours cloudy orange with a small tan head. Aroma is vanilla, chocolate and roasted malty. Vanilla, coconut and dark roasted malty. Bitter, dry and light herbal. Light alcohol finish.
Tried
from Cask
on 09 Aug 2013
at 02:54
5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
500ml Bottle conditioned: BBD Mar 2014, poured into a UK pint sleeve at home on 31 July 2013. Dull golden colour, with an off-white head. The nose and taste came across as hoppy, bitter, dry, slightly fruity (mixed), toast, some wood notes, with a mild grapefruit finish. Nothing took over the tasting: a pleasant enough blend, but lacked a bit of character and depth. The cask version might be better?
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Aug 2013
at 03:50
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
11th July 2013
Chelmsford Beer Festival. Opaque black - brown beer. Little tan head. Palate is smooth and slightly viscous. Rich dark malt, touch of roast. Whisper of coffee and spicy bubblegum ester. Light cereal. Touch of red berry fruits. Finishes smooth with a whisper of brandy and dark chocolate. Nice flavours here but it could do with a more luxuriant palate in which to deliver them.
Chelmsford Beer Festival. Opaque black - brown beer. Little tan head. Palate is smooth and slightly viscous. Rich dark malt, touch of roast. Whisper of coffee and spicy bubblegum ester. Light cereal. Touch of red berry fruits. Finishes smooth with a whisper of brandy and dark chocolate. Nice flavours here but it could do with a more luxuriant palate in which to deliver them.
Tried
on 27 Jul 2013
at 09:01
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
11th July 2013
Chelmsford Beer Festival. Almost clear amber beer, good pale cream coloured head. Palate is smooth and fairly dry. Fine carbonation. Light malt, thin, clean and slightly dry. Light tangerine hops, very slight spice. Whispers of pith and grapefruit. Finishes dry. Nicely fruity but everything is very polite.
Chelmsford Beer Festival. Almost clear amber beer, good pale cream coloured head. Palate is smooth and fairly dry. Fine carbonation. Light malt, thin, clean and slightly dry. Light tangerine hops, very slight spice. Whispers of pith and grapefruit. Finishes dry. Nicely fruity but everything is very polite.
Tried
on 27 Jul 2013
at 08:57
5/10
Tried
on 21 Jul 2013
at 16:43
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask at Maidenhead Beer Festival 2013, Maidenhead FC, Berkshire. A golden amber coloured pour with a thin white head on top. Malty, fruity aroma. Tastes fruity, malty, rye, spice.
Tried
from Cask
on 21 Jul 2013
at 13:34
7.2/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle on the Black Country Train Tasting Part I, 06/07/13, sourced by myeslf from Budgens, Lightwater - some 4 miles from the brewery. Bottled as ’Santas’s Reserve’. Murky mahogony brown with a big light tan head. Nose is dark fruits, brown bread, light spice, bready malts. Taste comprises dates, light chocolate, dark fruits, spice, dark toffee. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, dry finish with light roasty notes. Decent winter warmer - more old ale than an ESB in my book.
Tried
from Bottle
on 14 Jul 2013
at 05:42