5

Not the best stout I have had this winter. Half a pint in the J P Joule, Sale to get a gold sticker for my Winter Warmer Wander sheet.

6.4

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Hand pulled half pint at the Imp & Angel, Lincoln on 28th November 2025. Clean and clear golden body, white crust. Citrus hop lead, dry and fairly bitter, think lemons and a touch of grapefruit.

6.9

Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Cask at Hops, Crewe. Pours golden yellow with a small scummy off-white head ad good lacing. The aroma has floral hops and lemongrass plus some hints of citrus. In the mouth there’s some brief initial sweetness before bitterness wins through. Flavour has floral hops, resinous pine and kiwi plus a touch of lime later on. Both bitter and sweetness last into the decidedly dry finish. This is decent.

6.1

Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 5 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at Hops, Crewe. Pours golden amber with a small scummy off-white head and good lacing. Not much of an aroma – just vague hints of malts and autumn fruits. In the mouth it starts off quite sweet and a slightly watery texture, but with some underlying bitterness which increases till it dominates. Flavour has marmalade, grains and some floral hops. Bitterness lasts into the finish. This is rather bland.

7.3

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

On cask at Grove, Huddersfield - Black pour with a tan head. Lots of deep burnt toast and roasted malts, a little forest fruit vibe, treacle toffee and a bit of liquorice root in there too.

6.6

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Cask at the Pup and Duckling, Solihull. Poured a mostly clear yellow golden colour with a lasting frothy white head. The aroma is grainy, light hops. The flavour is over moderate bitter, with a smooth, fresh, light citrus, big woody hop bitter palate and a long bitter finish. Medium bodied with soft carbonation.

6.1

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at Bird in Hand, Stafford. Pours a cloudy golden amber with minimal off-white head and good lacing. The aroma has floral hops with a hint of citrus. In the mouth it is quite bitter with a creamy texture. Flavour has floral hops and tropical fruits with traces of pine and spice coming through later leading to a dry and slightly bitter finish. This is reasonable.

7.5

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

Cask at Petersgate Tap, Stockport. Pours black with tan foam. Aroma & taste: creamy roast, smidge of burnt malts, toffee, plum. Light to moderate sweet & moderate bitter. Smooth with a dry finish. Light to medium body.

6.1

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Cask at The Wellington, Birmingham. New brewery for me. Clear gold, small white head with decent retention. This was a bitter grassy pale with some modest resinous hopping. Medium bodied, semi-dry. Average.

7.1

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Cask at the blue boar. Pours black, nose is chocolate, liquorice, toffee, taste is similar, some berries, roasty finish.