I have to be honest I dislike Black Saisons. I am also not in love with smoke in a saison, and I am a pretty down on collaborations – I don’t admire Stone like I used to either, so put that all together and it sounds like the recipe for success, doesn’t it?

To be honest, it all goes to plan.

The beer doesn’t (obviously) look like a saison, nor does it smell or taste much like one.

OK. The pour is a simple one with a small one finger head that disappears quickly. A thin film settles, with almost no lace. Retention is poor.

Nose is quite sweet and bready. There is a little (simple) bitterness that hits the tongue initially. I suppose that is whatever the darker/roasted malts are doing.

The smoke is not really especially ‘smokey’, but I suppose it does add to the bitterness somewhat.

Meh – no point.