8.4

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

Keg at Dogtap. It pours jet black with a small tan head. The aroma is rich roasted malt, dark & decadent, burnt toffee, vanilla, coconut, spicy, bourbon soaked oak, toasted coconut, dark chocolate, praline and fudge. The taste is dark roasted malt, charred, bitter - sweet character, slick, oily, chewy, tart, dark chocolate, toasted nut, walnut, praline, vanilla, toasted coconut, kick of booze, very pleasing bourbon character, lightly toasted oak tannin, touch of jammy fruits in there and some tunnocks tea cake with a slick, warming dark roast finish. Fulsome body, fine carbonation and oily mouth feel. Lovely stuff. Not too sweet at all with dark roast and that bourbon character. Hugely drinkable for the style.

7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Keg at BrewDog Clerkenwell, 14/02/24. Moderately hazed golden orange topped with an off white cap. Nose is orange pith, pine needle, grapefruit, ripe melon, papaya. Taste comprises bitter tropical fruits, hop spice, grass, melon, mandarin, grapefruit. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close splashed with juicy come lightly resinous hop bitterness allied to a light boost. Tidy DIPA.

7.2

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

Keg at BrewDoge Shepherds Boost, 19/01/24. Hazed golden orange with a well presented off white cap. Nose is orange peel, ripe melon, papaya, mandarin, soft malts. Taste comprises ripe tropical fruits, light pine nip, grass, grapefruit zest. Full bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close spliced with juicy hop bitterness. Tidy enough IPA.

6.8

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

Keg at BrewDoge Shepherds Boost, 19/01/24. Clear light golden yellow with a white cap that thins to a swirl. Nose is soft malts, tangerine, grass, light herb, soft malts. Taste comprises light pineapple shreds, melon, tangerine, grass. Full bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close splashed with mellow hop bitterness. Passable IPA ... comes over too sweet for my liking and lacks bitterness.

7.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Keg at Dogtap, Ellon. It pours pretty much black with a small tan head. The aroma is bitter - sweet, rich roasted malt, slightly charred, plenty of chocolate vibes, choc chop muffins, dark chocolate ganache, slight umami and chewy liquorice candy in the backdrop. The taste is dry, bitter - sweet, thick, chewy, dark roasted malt, cacao, coffee grounds, some umami, liquorice allsorts, warming booze, nip of spice, slick, thick, gateaux, slightly charred, burnt almost, some dark and dried fruits. Finish is dry roasted malt,chatted and umami with a touch of tannin. Fulsome body and fine, fluffy carbonation. I was worried this would be one dimensional and too sweet, but it has a good depth of malt flavour.

7

Tropical, a little bitter on the finish. Feels a bit light for some reason.

7.4

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Crowler from BD Inverurie. It pours lightly hazy deep red with a medium fluffy beige head. The aroma is rich, warming spice, clove, peppery, candy cane, blood orange, marmalade and some banana bread. The taste is bitter - sweet, col cubes, warming spice, clove rock, very ripe banana, banana bread, dried fruits, fruit cake, brown bread, marmalade sandwiches, toffee and some booze with a warming finish. Medium body and fine, prickly carbonation. Hearty and robust. Fun stuff. Nice example of the style.