8.6

Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5

Festival pint draft at the Royal Mile Tavern in Edinburgh, Scotland. It pours a clear gold color with a small off-white head and very good retention. Absolutely no aroma. Soft pale malt flavor. Clean and smooth with a very faint bready note in the finish. More of a pale lager profile versus a Helles in my opinion. Light body. Medium carbonation. Not bitter.

6

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

6.1

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

Can in North Berwick Scotland. Solid lager, easy drinking beer - quite nice

6.6

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

7.9

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Bottle from Sainsbury's, Wycombe. I've always enjoyed I&G's special editions, and I love Islay whiskies - whilst Laphroaig isn't my favourite of the Islay malts I was thoroughly looking forward to this brew. It's amber-brown with a beige to tan head. The aroma and flavour don't disappoint - there's a big hit of dry smokiness up front, plenty of peat and a medicinal note, all set against a treacle toffee background with wood and a touch of vanilla. There's a touch of dark fruit in there too - cherry maybe, and raisins. Yum! Where it falls down is the texture - it's a little thinner than you'd expect for a brew of this strength (especially a barrel-aged one), and you do get a little bit of tap water. Nevertheless,it's still a winner for me; very enjoyable as long as you like Islay whiskies.

7.5

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

Cask handpull at Archibald Simpsons, Aberdeen. It pours super dark brown to black with a dense deep tan head. The aroma is dark chocolate, cocoa powder, coffee beans, whisky soaked oak, light vanilla, quite fruity, Eccles cake, treacle pudding, malt loaf and dark roasted malt. The taste is smooth, dark roasted malt, toasty, charred, umami, rich coffee, burnt toast, dark chocolate, raisin, dried fruit, toasted fruit loaf, liquorice all-sorts, touch of spice, dull rocky road and warming whisky vibes and dark roasted finale. Medium bodies with fluffy cask carbonation. Works well. Nice condition helps.

7

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

Clear deep nutty pour. Looks fine and inviting.
Easy drinkable and a smooth carbonation level
Not to sweet either
Caramel, bready, oak and whiskey
[Bottle from Ôlstudion in Gothenburg, Sweden]

6.3

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

440ml can. 'Session IPA' 3.4%, Pours pale golden with a white head. Aromas & tastes of light fruits, light citrus & hops. Moderate body. Light bitter finish.

7.8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 7.5

Cask up the White Lady. Pours black with a thin beige head. Aromas of liquorice, dark fruit, tar. Taste adds the whisky, some dark chocolate. Full bodied. Boozy finish.