Cask at Victoria, Derby. Pours “bitter brown” with a small scummy off-white head but excellent lacing. The aroma has bitter hops and autumn fruits. In the mouth it is decidedly bitter with a juicy texture and flavours of traditional hops, marmalade and hints of spice. Some traces of nuts and mushy fruit come through later leading to a bitter sticky finish. This is quite nice – plenty of flavour.

Handpull cask at the Bull's Well, Bulwell. Light gold, clear with the tiniest white head. Metallic aroma with strong notes of orange peel. Sweet taste, little bit of caramel, notable bitterness in the finish. Light body with soft to nil carbonation. Really nice if a little bit artificial.

Cask at Exeter Arms, Derby. Pours a slightly hazy very pale straw (with a greenish tinge), with a small scummy off-white head and excellent lacing. There’s floral hops and gentle citrus in the aroma. The same combination in the mouth where it is juicy and overall hovers between sweet and sharp. Traces too of grapefruit, melon, lemon and spice. Sweetness wins out in the finish. This is decent – though not really cloudy enough to be classed as an NEIPA (thankfully !).

Hazy dull gold with a frothy white head and a haoppy aroma. Smooth and hoppy with a drop of citrus bitterness and a dry, slightly earthy finish.

Cask at Cherry Reds, Birmingham. Dark gold with a decent white head. This one had a nice balance to it. Some biscuit quality to the malt with citrus and a decent bitter kick. Medium bodied.

Draft at BeerHeadZ, Lincoln. Deep amber colour with a pale tan head. Aroma and taste are malty and light chocolate. Medium body.

Handpull cask at the Kings Head, Leicester. Dark gold, crystal clear with an uneven off-white head. Aroma is very muted. A little caramel, a little ripe citrus. Taste is sweet, quite malty with some strong iced tea, some orange peel. Bitter hop oil in the finish. Not a lot to it really, but certainly drinkable.

Handpull cask at the Kings Head, Leicester. Very dark brown , a little translucent with an uneven khaki head. I'm getting the coffee and the sweet, creamy Irish whiskey, maybe a touch of plum on the nose. Very sweet taste, creamy with only the slightest underripe blackberry bitterness in the finish. Light body with light carbonation lifting the body. All in all a very good sessionable stout.

Cask at Crewe Dog, Crewe. Pours slightly hazy golden brown with minimal scummy off-white head and good lacing. Malts to the fore in the aroma, along with hints of ginger and autumn fruits. In the mouth it is slightly sweet with medium carbonation. Flavour has mixed hops, marmalade and caramel with traces of dried fruit and chestnuts coming through later, and lasting into the finish. This is decent – quite swiggable.