6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
[33cl bottle from the Fresh Choice supermarket, Takaka, NZ.] A slightly hazy straw coloured pour; sour aroma with some berry fruit, and a faint whiff of farmyard; rather watery in the mouth with some sharp berries but then a fruit squash like after taste. lacks the lip puckering sourness of many modern sours, but probably closer to the Belgian original,
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Nov 2025
at 08:41
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
[33cl bottle from the Fresh Choice supermarket, Takaka, NZ.] A deep cola brown coloured pour with a rapidly subsiding beige coloured head; aroma of tar, leather, raisins and alcohol; similar taste profile, with tar and leather to start, then a rich sweet charred malt body with raisins and licorice; and a boozy alcoholic kick to finish leaving a pleasantly lapping warmth in the belly. An excellent porter, tasting much stronger than it actually is.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Nov 2025
at 08:09
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
On tap at the Mussel Inn. Black with beige head. Roasty, bitter, chocolate, coffee. Nice smooth texture. Medium bodied.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Mussel Inn
on 29 Mar 2025
at 23:00
7.5/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
On tap at the brewpub. Clear dark orange with small white head. Malty, bit spicy, herbal, light fruity notes. Bitterish finish. Medium bodied.
Tried
from Draft
at
The Mussel Inn
on 29 Mar 2025
at 23:00
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 7
Overall 7
Old rating from my visit to the brewpub, Jan 2003. Pours golden with a white head. Enjoyable
Tried
from Draft
on 23 Jan 2025
at 21:55
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
330ml bottle at the brewery. Pours orange. Barnyard, apple, orange peel, scrumpy, toast, bit of pepper, light sour, very slight touch of solvent. Medium body. Seems like they've improved this from the batch many of the ratings are from.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Mar 2019
at 07:34
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
330ml bottle at the brewery. Pours black. Liquorice, dark chocolate, toast, plum, cacao nibs. Medium body. Tasty.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Mar 2019
at 07:23
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
On tap at the brewery. Pours black. Chocolate, coffee, plum and fig, bit of toast, some bitter roast but not too much. Medium body. A well balanced easy to drink dark ale.
Tried
from Draft
on 24 Mar 2019
at 06:30
6.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
On tap at the brewery. Pours slightly hazy light yellow. Bubblegum, peach, pepper, cereal, minerals. Spritzy body. Quaffable.
Tried
from Draft
on 24 Mar 2019
at 06:06
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
330ml bottle. Pours dark orange brown. Biscuit, caramel, plum, bubblegum, synthetic grape, honey, booze, cheap wine, lots of synthetic candy fruits. Smells much better than it tastes.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Jan 2019
at 08:59