Jet black pour with the characteristic tan head. It’s more like sweet black coffee than sweet black coffee! Not necessarily one I would always reach for, but a damn fine example of the style. I always feel that drinking and really enjoying stout is very dependent on the circumstances. It’s heavy, so you need to to in the right mood, food situation – and don’t over indulge.

I don’t know if the Mackeson beers have changed over the years, but I remember this being much more bitter in years gone by. I see that some have noted that this is being brewed in the US now, I wonder if there has been a subtle change?