7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle. Pours black with brown head. Nose/taste of molasses, sweet milk chocolate, espresso coffee, dry roasted chocolate malt and vanilla. Some black licorice notes linger. A little light on the palate, but nice creamy texture with a slightly dry roast finish.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Jan 2012
at 16:56
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
[10/12] 2011 bottle, 14C. Black with a tan head that lasts. Aroma of berries, pears, smoke, coffee, pine. Taste is sweet before bitterness kicks in pretty early. Chocolate, coffee, dark sugars and berries. Pine and some alcohol at the finish, along with coffee and berries. Oily, with lowish carbonation. Expected this to be a bit harsh this young, but the balance is very nice and the flavours are all working together. Certainly for drinking not sipping. [3.9][9/13] Another 2011. Black, tan head that lasts. Oily. Mocha and red/ dark berries. Firm bitterness, some astringency. Alcohol and some menthol poke out a little. Looking like one to have around and drink whenever. [4] [2/17] 2013 bottle. More milky chocolate than coffee, but apart from that it’s really very like the description: pears, a fruity freshness that’s surprising (and keeps the palate seeming remarkably nimble), slight smoke. Everything’s very tightly wrapped up and it just starts to taste like itself after a while. I guess they done it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Jan 2012
at 05:22
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle from Beverages 4 Less in Santee, CA. Pours really dark black with a 3 finger creamy beige/tan head. Aroma is like dark grape/pear/apple or something of that sort. Flavor is very fruity. There is a smokey burnt malt flavor, with pear skin. I’m not getting coffee, let alone espresso. But the pear is like astringent skin. The head is going heavily into ring lacing. How did they get a fruity IS? Our cousins are very experienced? Anyway, really good ale.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Jan 2012
at 18:29
5.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
It is a fairly plain but pleasant session bitter. Nice balance of malt and hop.
Tried
on 23 Dec 2011
at 11:46
5.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
Beautiful red copper aale under small, yellow tinted head, medium carbonated. Biscuit, caramel, rainwater, sweetish smelling. Bit herbal/leafy, rather dry, cookies, with a slight metallic-hoppy finish. CO² lends some acidity. Feels more carbonated than it looks; very light body, watery if a tad slick. Once upon a time, this was a decent cask ale...
Tried
from Cask
on 19 Dec 2011
at 09:50
2.4/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 2
Flavor 2
Texture 2
Overall 2.5
Bottle from Morrisons
Appearance Amber, clear, forthy white head dissipates to very thin layer.
Aroma Faint sweet malt, almost nothing.
Taste Water, bit of light caramel malt, cardboard, paper. very bland.
Palate Soft carb, thin, watery, slight sour edge. Finish - water, light malt, soda, paper.
Overall Dismal, very poor bitter. Not undrinkable, but very bland - just coloured water (hence the E150). The commercial description - read it! A disgrace to brewing.
Appearance Amber, clear, forthy white head dissipates to very thin layer.
Aroma Faint sweet malt, almost nothing.
Taste Water, bit of light caramel malt, cardboard, paper. very bland.
Palate Soft carb, thin, watery, slight sour edge. Finish - water, light malt, soda, paper.
Overall Dismal, very poor bitter. Not undrinkable, but very bland - just coloured water (hence the E150). The commercial description - read it! A disgrace to brewing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 12 Dec 2011
at 16:26
5.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Bottled. Amber colour, small off-white head. Aroma is caramel, toffee and some quitee hoppyness. Flavour is bitter floral and grassy notes along with mild fruity and crisp malty notes. Rather good for bing 3.2 %.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Dec 2011
at 15:25
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Pours a solid black color with a huge bubbly tan head that takes forever to recede and leaves plenty of sticky lace on the way down the glass. Smells of roasted grains, caramel, toffee, and a hint of dark and pomme fruits. Tastes is caramel and roast with a touch of warming alcohol. A slight bit of ash and dark fruits mixed in there somewhere. Medium body and level of carbonation with a sweet slick mouthfeel. Nice Imperial stout. It’s a bit ashy and a little hot, but it drinks pretty good right now and should age well.
Tried
on 03 Dec 2011
at 18:48
4/10
Tried
on 27 Oct 2011
at 13:48
5.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Cask at Price Alfred Queensway, London. Frothy white good mostly lasting head. Yellow colour. Light malty and moderate hoppy aroma. MOderate bitter flavor. Average moderate bitter finish. Creamy palate.
Tried
from Cask
on 24 Oct 2011
at 07:49