Black & Tan
Naylor's Brewery

A 500ml bottle with a BB of Nov 2013 (gyle 1446). Acquired a while back from a local off-licence. Described on the label as a blending of the recipes for two of their other beers - Pinnacle Bitter and Pinnacle Porter, resulting in a mellow brown beer.

Poured into a tulip pint glass. A deep ruby-brown hue with faint haze and medium carbonation. Yields a large head of frothy beige foam that lasts for a couple of minutes before reducing to a thick surface layer. Some lacing. Aroma of nutty roasted malt with hints of caramel, toasted grain, barley sugar, mild dried fruit, ale yeast and stewed hops. Nice depth.

Tastes of dark malt with a lightly roasty character and a bitter finish. Notes of roasted malt, grain, caramel, nuttiness, mild dried fruit, ale yeast, stewed hops and faint smokiness. Attenuated, yet with a twinge of sweetness in the background. A restrained, malty bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, with spritzy carbonation and decent body. Somewhat astringent, followed by an aftertaste of bitter roasted malt, caramel and stewed leaves.

Tasty stuff. Sits nicely between a porter and a bitter, though the roasted malt makes itself known. Looks OK, while the aroma and flavour ooze nutty roasted grain and stewed hops. Nicely balanced. Body is alright, but would benefit from being a shade thicker. Nicely crafted - one for malt fans. Worth sampling if you come across it.