500 mL bottle, courtesy of @lnashsig – thanks mate, VERY much appreciated and twice in just about a month. Cheers! Interestingly the bottle cap say BBE: JUN13 which goes to prove that freshness concerns in the USA, even with relatively low ABV is ONLY really an issue when all of your beers are hop-forward and hop-based. For more subtle beers, the panic is unnecessary.

Pour is a resplendent copper color with a modest head. Retention is slight with some spotty, creamy head and a white collar. Lace is limited.

Nose gives the expected, strong fruit based malt aroma.

This is a very clean beer with a fruit element upfront, but with some significant bitterness in the finish. Rounds out beautifully to give a very satisfying pint indeed.

The beer brings a truly, deeply satisfying moreish fell, and makes me want to gulp it down. Luckily, I refrain and savor every, single drop as it kiss my taste buds and conducts a symphony of complex flavors in my mouth.

Obviously this feels a touch too carbonated from the bottle as opposed tot he cask, but I can live with that!

The amount of flavor packed into the 4.2% is colossal, but of course not a surprise to me. Beers like this are the staple of great, English brewing, and continue to warm the cockles of my heart. Delicious.