Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4
Very strong black ale, verging on medicinal, especially in its aroma. No head and heavy in the palate.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5
Bottle, thanks to Leighton. It pours deep ruby-brown with a small light beige head. The nose is herbal, dark fruit, berry, Dandelion & Burdock, tanginess, McDonald cheeseburger, gherkin and ketchup. The taste is initially of tart fruit, light roast, Dandelion & Burdock, pepper and a touch of alcohol warmth with a dry finish. Fairly light body and fine carbonation. A bit odd to be honest with you... I’m not sure if this one is quite right.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle bought from the Pigs Ear Beer Festival. Black pour with a tan head. Roasted malt, chocolate and smoke aroma. Raisin and chocolate flavour. Smooth. Dry, sweet finish.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Cask at the Earl of Essex, London. Pours clear gold with a strong, white cream head. Nose holds dry straw, dry orange. Light to medium sweet flavor, some dry leaves, grass, toasty pale malts. Light to medium bodied with fine carbonation. Dry, toasty leaf finish, further notes of dry orange. An OK effort at an IPA.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
cask at cloisters ... golden amber ... small white head ... soft zezty lemon ... soft fruits ... bitter lemon ... bitter fruits ... too bitter for me.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
tap at hangoing bat .... deep brown ... thin tan lacing ... soft toffee light blackcurrant nose ... dark malts ... dark fruits ... soft malts ... light chocolate
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
From cask at Stockbridge Tap. Pours clear and golden yellow with a small white head. Aroma is light fruity, toasted malty. Bitter, light herbal hoppy. Dry, bitter and toasted malty into the finish.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Keg @ Holyrood 9A, Edinburgh 071112
Dark copper, clear, no head
Aroma - red berry fruits
Taste - red berry fruits, soft yeast esters, some caramel toffee malts, slight bready yeast, fruity caramel
Palate - very little carb, thinnish body, quite oily. Finish as main flavour, touch of alcohol, bit too thin
Overall - Quite a tasty ale but it was too thin
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
cask at 9A ... copper ... thin lacing ... soft spicy zezty dry woody hop nose ... sweet berry fruits ... light yeast ... soft candi sugers ... lots of brries but quite sweet sugers ... intersting cask at hanging bat .. deep brown ... thin tan head ... soft yeast big aniseed ... soft malt nose .. juicy malts ... dark fruits ... tick at 3.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle at Craig’s 16th Oct 2012
Pitch black, thin tan head
Aroma - soft dark malts, light liquorice, touch of alcohol, light dark berries
Taste - rich dark malts, some liquorice, touch of dark fruits, smooth
Palate - medium body, sticky texture. Finish as main flavour, some liquorice and fruity dark malts, hint of treacle.
Overall - Rather nice imperial stout - was lacking in complexity for me though, mainly dark malts