7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Panda at home, thanks to Kenneth, 30/05/2026.
Hazed amber to brown topped with an off white spiders web swirl.
Nose is smoked malts, burnt caramel, dark malts, stewed fruits.
Taste comprises smoked malts, toasted brown sugars, brown bread, dark malts, fruit slice.
Medium bodied with bite, fine carbonation, drying close with a balanced rising boost.
Tidy enough sipper with a well balanced smoke effect.
Hazed amber to brown topped with an off white spiders web swirl.
Nose is smoked malts, burnt caramel, dark malts, stewed fruits.
Taste comprises smoked malts, toasted brown sugars, brown bread, dark malts, fruit slice.
Medium bodied with bite, fine carbonation, drying close with a balanced rising boost.
Tidy enough sipper with a well balanced smoke effect.
Tried
on 30 May 2026
at 18:20
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Not a single rebel in the film refrains from saying "I'm Spartacus". This beer is not one to refrain from either, smooth, lovely palate-feel, dark-malt fruity with a hint of chocolate, incredibly easy for its strength, and looks good too with its thick creamy-frothy head on top of an extremely dark brown coloured ale. I'm definitely Spartacus in terms of this brew.
Tried
from Cask
at
Fox and Goose
on 23 May 2026
at 13:34
7.5/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 9
Overall 7
Fifth post Skipton Beer Festival 2026 afterthought, and I still have one left after this very good looking brown coloured brew. The beer notes say classic Porter and they are not wrong. It's as regular as it gets, but done extremely well - smooth, easy, and appealingly very light roasted. This has a great palate-feel.
Tried
from Cask
at
Record Cafe
on 22 May 2026
at 19:40
Third afterthought of the Skipton Beer Festival, having to cross Bradford to get home, so worth a stop for this somewhat sweet tropical fruit clear golden coloured brew. It's quite traditional in design though.
Tried
from Cask
at
Record Cafe
on 22 May 2026
at 18:40
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
18th April 2026
Bottle. Near clear deep amber beer, good bubbly very pale tan head. A somewhat airy palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. Soft smooth malts, a touch of creamy sweetness underneath slightly creamy but unsweet caramel and mild toffee. Ripe fruits, reasonably rich. Some marmalade. Good smoke, for me anyway, mostly white smoke. Airy and semi dry finish. Love this breweries dedication to style and, this is one of their better offerings.
Bottle. Near clear deep amber beer, good bubbly very pale tan head. A somewhat airy palate, mildly dry, decent fine carbonation. Soft smooth malts, a touch of creamy sweetness underneath slightly creamy but unsweet caramel and mild toffee. Ripe fruits, reasonably rich. Some marmalade. Good smoke, for me anyway, mostly white smoke. Airy and semi dry finish. Love this breweries dedication to style and, this is one of their better offerings.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Apr 2026
at 19:12
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Panda at home, thanks to Kenneth, 18/04/2026.
Clear deep amber with a lasting off white head.
Nose is dried fruit rinds, brown bread, herb, spice, toffee.
Taste comprises fruit slice, raisins, caramel, toasted brown sugars.
Medium plus bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a lick of booze.
Okay 'trad' barleywine but nothing that will get many palates excited.
Clear deep amber with a lasting off white head.
Nose is dried fruit rinds, brown bread, herb, spice, toffee.
Taste comprises fruit slice, raisins, caramel, toasted brown sugars.
Medium plus bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a lick of booze.
Okay 'trad' barleywine but nothing that will get many palates excited.
Tried
on 18 Apr 2026
at 18:11
7.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 8
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Cask at Petersgate Tap, Stockport. Pours golden amber with small foamy off-white head and good lacing. There’s oranges and peel in the aroma plus traces of biscuits and citrus. In the mouth it is quite bitter but with a little underlying sweetness and a creamy texture. Flavours are mixed hops, oranges, grains and marmalade with some spicy hints coming later. Finish is quite dry. This is decent – but not very pale !
Tried
from Cask
at
Petersgate Tap
on 15 Apr 2026
at 14:30
6.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 7
Overall 6.5
21st March 2026
Bottle. A mild haze on this amber beer, good pale cream colour head. Airy smooth palate, reasonable fine carbonation. Soft creamy malts. Abundant esters. Caramel and very mild wood. Touch of ripe citrus. Airy light finish. Not for the first time, I appreciate Torrside's devotion to this style but, I just wish they were more consistent at it.
Bottle. A mild haze on this amber beer, good pale cream colour head. Airy smooth palate, reasonable fine carbonation. Soft creamy malts. Abundant esters. Caramel and very mild wood. Touch of ripe citrus. Airy light finish. Not for the first time, I appreciate Torrside's devotion to this style but, I just wish they were more consistent at it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Mar 2026
at 20:12
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle at home. Pours black, nose is smoked meat, roasted, caramel, funk, taste is similar, light sweetness. 8
Tried
on 13 Mar 2026
at 20:13
7.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
Wigan Beer Festival 2026, Beer#31. Hazy deeper golden coloured ale. This one is hoppy but has a smoked aroma and taste, although this doesn't linger long. Fruits then start to take over.
Tried
from Draft
on 07 Mar 2026
at 00:18