Bottle at Hops, Crewe (but have drunk it before). Pours deep ruby with a minimal frothy off-white head. There’s biscuits, plums and raisins in the aroma, plus a hint of banana. In the mouth it is sweet and spicy with a yeasty texture. Plenty of flavour which emerges slowly, red fruits, caramel, herbs, pear drops, orange peel and cloves giving a satisfying fruity finish. This is excellent – wonderfully complex.

Nose is a gentle mixture of banana, honey, raisins and malt. The taste replicates the nose, but adds further complexity. Dark berries, brown sugar, tropical fruit and some soft spices are complimented by a very soft effervescence and appropriately rich body. As good as advertised (if you are not a hop head).

Bottle, 2025 vintage. Spicy Belgian yeast aroma with notes of caramel, toffee, dark fruit, Candi sugar, coriander, clove and earthy hops. Pours cloudy caramel colored with a large tan head that has good retention and decent lacing. Starts with caramel, toffee, coriander and earthy hop flavors as well as having a rich, full body and smooth mouthfeel. Finishes quite smooth though slightly bitter with spicy Belgian yeast, clove, dark fruit and Candi sugar flavors. Excellent Belgian.