Bottle from the Little Beer Shop, Norfolk. On the Huh pours a chestnut colour with a slight, off-white head that doesn’t take long to diminish. The aromas are of a roasted malt and burnt caramel character. Flavour is moderately sweet with some nuttiness and a fair bitter finish that disappears all too quickly for my liking. Dry in the finish and a touch watery on the palate. Took a while to get going, but once it did it turned out to be a pleasing, albeit light bitter.

Dark copper pour without any head. Surprisingly earthy and almost dusty ale with more yeastiness than most. Dark flavoured in general, yet with a solid hop bite. It does not seem to know where it wants to head, staying away from any serious fruitiness, but heading hesitantly towards toasty flavours. Remains dry all along and more of a texture beer than flavour beer, perhaps some people prefer that for a session. Medium bodied, slow carbonation.

(Cask at GBBF, London, 9 Aug 2007) Mahogany colour with brief beige head. Malty, nutty nose with hints of chocolate. Malty, nutty taste with notes of cold coffee and moderate bitterness in a fairly dry finish. Not too complicated, but fair enough.

Cask (handpump) @ GBBF 2007, London. Light brown color with a small to average, fizzy, fair lacing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, caramel, chocolate, light burnt. Flavor is light to moderate sweet and light bitter with a average duration. Balance is not good. Body is light to medium, texture is watery, carbonation is flat.