660ml bottle, at London tasting, May 2008. Best before 4 September 2008. Attractive reddish copper colour with decent condition (lively but not too fizzy( and a thin, but lasting, off-white head. Chewy malt aroma, with fairly subtle spice. The malt has a vaguely smoky, almost ashy, character. The spices are much more prominent on the palate, with the coriander and aniseed making a particularly strong impression. Gets close to overwhelming the malts but pulls up just short of that, leaving a pleasantly balanced overall impression. Mouthfeel is quite soft and a little too sweet for my palate, which held back the overall score a little. Decent drinking, especially at the knock down price I bought it for in a SuperBrugsen.

Bottle at Chris_o birthday bash 08. Candy sugar, spice and altogether a bit empty.

Light brown coloured beer. Average carbonation. Some hints of shrimps in the nose. Not a very special one.

A Mes rate: Bottle at the Oi Oi Saveloy tasting at Chris O’s.
Good amber colour with a thin beige head. Peaty malt, light tobacco, faint spicy notes with just a little too much alcohol. Plenty of malt with a slight bitterness on the finish. Good but not amazing.

At May Ratebeer London Gathering at Chris O’s. Amber with a small off white head. Sweet alcoholic aroma. Rather fizzy. Thick, sweet, almost cloyingly sugary. But it would be very pleasant at Christmas.