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Flat White Breakfast Stout – ABV 7.4%

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Surprisingly pale for a coffee stout, hence the ‘white’ in the name, this is dominated by coffee and hoppy bitterness with a medium body and malty mouthfeel.

Look: Golden-orange and slightly hazy.

Aroma: Packed with rich roast coffee and some subtle piney grassy hops.

Taste: Layers of zesty orange and bitter citrus notes with that espresso zing still prominent; some nice sweetness the malts towards the finish.

Verdict: A really unique coffee-driven stout that packs a powerful espresso punch while remaining a hoppy, light orange colour. It won’t leave you feeling flat, that’s for sure…

Polygraph – ABV 7.4%

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Rich, smooth and malty on the palate yet with a crisp hoppy finish, this full-flavoured stout packs a lot of fruit, coffee and chocolate into just 7.4% ABV.

Look: Pours a hazy brown with creamy tan head that lasts and fair lacing.

Aroma: Waves of dark stone fruits with some citrus accents, chocolate and rich espresso.

Taste: Deep rich mocha coffee with roasted malts and notes of toffee and chocolate plus more stone fruits such as berries and cherries. Crispens up at the finish with some dry hop bitterness dry. Smooth mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Verdict: With the Polygraph, we cannot tell a lie – it’s delicious. Full of flavour and character and it’s only 7.4% – that’s almost session material.

Agent of Evil – ABV 7%

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This Black IPA / Cascadian Dark may ‘celebrate the Dark Side of the Force’ but the New World Hops positively shine through in a smooth, crisp and drinkable ale.

Look: Pours a deep black-brown with lasting lacing and off-white head.

Aroma: Smokey roasted dark malts with piney hop accents and some light orange zest and pineapple fruit notes.

Taste: Caramel, chocolate and biscuit sweetness balanced with crisp bitterness on the palate. Medium bodied, velvety mouthfeel and a lingering bitter finish.

Verdict: Well balanced, fine depth and smooth. This is an Agent of Evil we’d happily side with.

Guardian of Peace – ABV 7%

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Juicy tropical fruit the bold American hops with a gentle tingling finish, this unfined IPA celebrates the “light side of the force”.

Look:  Deep golden amber and hazy with a medium white head.

Aroma: Loads of orange marmalade and grapefruit with accents of bitter pine.

Taste: Starting sweet and punchy with apricot and orange, moving into a lingering rich bitterness. Medium smooth body with soft-medium carbonation and tingling finish that hints at the booziness without detracting the drinkability.

Verdict: Surprisingly rich without yielding on juicy fruity notes or drinkability, this Guardian can look after us any time.

Last Minute Spiced Porter – ABV 7.1%

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This collab with Birrificio Lambrate is a Christmas pudding party of plums, prunes and spicy ginger and cinnamon, backed up on rich roasted cholcolate malts.

Look:  Pours very dark brown with a thin, foamy tan head and nice carbonation.

Aroma: Big chocolatey roasted malts with loads of spicy tones including ginger and cinnamon.

Taste: Christmas comes early to your mouth with spices, hints of zesty orange and pepper, stone fruit like plums, all baked up in a malty pudding. Really full on the palate with a smooth mouthfeel and soft carbonation.

Verdict: A boozy beauty of a spiced porter. If you can wait until the festive season, this one will light up your world like a Christmas tree.

Sublime Chaos Breakfast Stout – ABV 7%

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The ‘Best Stout in Europe’ at the World Beer Awards 2015, this huge sticky breakfast stout is made with Ethiopian coffee beans and dry crisp New Zealand hops.

Look: Black pour with a thick pale tan head on top and average carbonation.

Aroma: Loads of rich black coffee and mocha, plus some chocolate and roasted malts.

Taste: Again plenty of coffee and chocolate with the roasted malts coming through stronger. A nice balance of caramel and toffee, nutty sweetness and dry bitter finish in a medium body.

Verdict: Sublime? Absolutely. Chaos? I’m not sure about that. I think these guys knew exactly what they were doing – and it seems like the World Beer Awards 2015 think so too.

Black Oktober – ABV 9%

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A beautifully balanced unfined Imperial Russian Stout with layers of chocolate sweetness, notes of spice, rich roasted malts and a bitter lingering finish.

Look: Opaque and deep black colour with brief but foamy beige head.

Aroma: Dark roasted malts with black coffee, chocolate and hints of spicy liquorice.

Taste: Malty, roasted taste with black coffee, more dark chocolate and liquorice, with some subtle bread and red fruit undertones. Pretty full-bodied with a great balance of sweetness and hoppy bitterness, joined on the palate with lingering bitterness to finish.

Verdict: A belting impy stout with loads of layers of flavour and long lingering bitterness. It’s an Oktober-fest in your mouth. Prost!

Da Hong Pao Barley Wine – ABV 9%

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East meets West in an innovative take on a British-style Barley Wine. Gansu (Sichuan) pepper brings the heat and highlights the boozy warmth in this syrupy BW.

Look: Clear dark amber colour with a slightly foamy off-white head; medium carbonation and good lacing.

Aroma: Sweet dark malts and some orange, like a classic British Barley Wine, with a strong zing of pepper and spice.

Taste: Sweet malts and spices, more dried fruit with caramel and toffee base. Towards the end the pepper kicks highlighting the bitterness and the alcohol warmth. Syrupy mouthfeel, and full-bodied.

Verdict: There are plenty of beers out there that are too innovative to be tasty, but this syrupy, peppery, sweet treat is not one of them. Gānbēi!

Export Porter 1750 – ABV 10.5%

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Brewed to an English recipe dating 1750, the Fuggles and Sorachi Ace hops plus Carafa and Caramel malts give this robust porter a huge fudge flavour.

Look: Just off-black and a little cloudy with a creamy beige head and small carbonation.

Aroma: Loads of fudge sweetness backed up with black coffee and dark chocolate.

Taste: Surprisingly hoppy with great complexity. More coffee, fudge and chocolate but with plenty of fruit, vanilla and caramel notes.

Verdict: A sturdy beast of a porter, as good as they come.

New England IPA Citra Mosaic – ABV 7%

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Strong, fruity, juicy and deceptively drinkable IPA, fermented with Vermont ale yeast.

Look: Pours hazy golden orange in the glass.

Aroma: Citrus and tropical fruit.

Taste: Big and juicy, with intense hop aroma and a nice bitter finish.

Verdict: Juice bomb that’s everything a good NEIPA should be.