Dark amber coloured, medium sized, firm, off-white head; malty, caramel nose, some hints of hops and a tinge of fruitiness (raisins); sweetish, malty beginning, but then quickly switching over to a fruity (raisins) flavour and soon to a very long lasting dry, (herbal) hoppy aftertaste....Very dry ending; well balanced, could be a stronger brother of a well made Duesseldorf Alt !

Re-rate in it’s 3.4% incarnation Cask at GBBF 2009. Gold, thinnish off white head. My god, it has some hop on the aroma, EKG I’m guessing. A bit watery in mouth, but that will be the low ABV, no real condition, some hop, flowery hop on finish 7 3 5 2 10 2.6/5.0

Bottle: Poured a clear red/brown color ale with a huge foamy head with great retention which is quite a surprise since all my previous bitter had no head really. Aroma of floral malt with some nut. Taste is quite enjoyable and refreshing with some robust malt, floral hops and some nice nutty and subtle bitterness at the end. Overall, this is an above average bitter.

Cask @ Ferry Inn, Grove Ferry, Kent. Mid brown coloured beer with some green hops on nose, a little bit of malt. A bit thin in the mouth with some lasting hop bitterness on end. Nothing wrong with it, but just not that interesting. Re-rate from cask at Connin gbrook, Ashford. The last couple of pints of this I have had have changed 16 years of prejudice. Really good session bitter with yeast, caramel/apple malt and enough hop to keep you interested. Very drinkable.

Cask @ County Hotel (JDW) Ashford. Caramel in colour, Shepherd Neame distinctive yeast nose and citric nose. Malty caramel and fullish in mouth with slightly dry finish, slightly earthy. For a Sheps beer, I quite liked it

(Bottle 50 cl) Vintage 2002: very pretty, dark amber with a small light brownish head. Looking great in the clear glass bottle. Very pronounced maltiness without ever getting sweet - the Goldings level things out. Some underlying notes of almonds - I believe - but otherwise a very dry and pleasing Christmas beer. 6/4/7/4/12=3,3 301103 (Bottle 50 cl) Vintage 2003: very similar to the 2004 version only somewhat rounder, softer and more matured - with less carbonization. Pretty understandable as it is indeed a whole year older when tasted. 8/4/8/4/16=4 181104 (Bottle 50 cl) Vintage 2004: Dark amber, filtered, not much head - very pretty indeed. A fantastic caramel flavour, but never sweet or cloying in any way. Pretty strong for an English Ale, but the alcohol is almost completely hidden. Very, very delicious. Perhaps not as rounded as the 2003, but I guess it will develop the same way with age. 8/4/8/4/16=4 181104

Bottled. Red copperish colour, big foamy white head. Malry and fruity, bitterish aroma. Fruitish hoppy flavour with maltish hints. Hops gets strong in finish. Dry mouthfeel. A bit hayish malty aftertaste.

Bottled. Copper colour, huge beige foamy head. Lacing. Strong maltish hoppy aroma with some fruitish hints. Strong maltish flavour which softens up into a soft fruitish one. Get dry, hayish and bitter in finish.

Bottled (BB 11/2005)
Amber color, lively carbonation and quickly vanishing brownish head. Fruity, dry hoppy, toffeish aroma. Medium-bodied, decently hoppy mouthfeel. Some caramelly notes, also alcohol is noticeable here (comparing to "normal" bitters). Bitter aftertaste. Quite standard English bitter, just with higher ABV.

(bottle) Clear red to amber coloured body with medium foamy slightly tanned head. Floral hoppy nose with some caramel and herbal elements. Initial malty with hints of liquorice and caramel. Quite lasting dry & bitter finish. A good one.