My first beer from Melbourne brothers/brewers after being recommended two of their drops at the Robin Hood Hotel (as well as the Voodoo Baltic Porter). They’ve stepped up the campaign recently, with some great new designs and a few awards at the recent Australian International Beer Awards.

Bottle. Cola coloured – deep ruby/black with no head. Aromas of fruit cake full of rum soaked raisins, a touch of baked banana and candy sugar. The flavour profile carries on the rich sentiments, with stewed plums, hints of chocolate, roasted caramel, Christmas pudding, cherries, sweet brewers sugar and rum. A big, brooding beer that improves as the as you drink, perhaps not inviting another glass at 7.5%, but leaving you warm and deeply satisfied.

Appearance: 4/5
Aroma: 7/10
Flavour: 7/10
Palate: 4/10
Overall: 14/20