Cask, Out Of The Vaults, Leicester. Tarry pitch with a chunky tan collar. Deep bramble fruit dusted with cocoa, coffee grounds and charred malt aroma. Oily coffee, bonfire and dusty choc dominates the mouth. These guys really have a way with a dark roasty brew. Delicious.

Cask. Deep Brown-Black with next to no tan head. roastiness, hint of smoky flavour, dry cocoa, mocca.

<i>A Mes rate: cask at the Three Judges, Glasgow.</i><br />Black as night with a dark tan head. Awesome sweet chocolate malt. Lovely and roasty and smoky. Excellent coffee notes. Intense and challenging, rich and warming. Chewy yet still very drinkable. Great stuff.

Cask in the three judges. Aroma is smokey and full, not really my thing. Taste is sweet enough to make it drinkable, but fairly roasty and smokey. My notes say: Like teabagging a med heat hob.

Cannot fault this beer. In my opinion, a stout needs to be as dark, strong flavoured and smoky as possible. This ticks all the right boxes. 10/10 every time.