Whitstable Bay Black Stout
Shepherd Neame Ltd

Whitstable bay stout bottled in dark glass and delivered as part of a Waitrose online grocery delivery
Pours a jet black body with frothy off white head
Aroma is caramel
Flavour is acidic burnt toast
Very thin

L- Superficially black, ultra-dark crimson when held up to a desk-lamp. 2mm tan fine-bubble head holding well (even 10mins later)
S- Nicely roasty-toasty, charring.
T- Pungent dark roasting on the front into an equally bold rising dry hop note in the finish. Boof, it's not short of flavour.
F- Carbonation the mouth is very good, and had maintained well in the glass from the pour. Hops bright and lingering.
O- Weeeell, interesting one. I'm not a born black-beer drinker, certainly not stout. For too many years such at pubs would have been over-carbonated tap Guinness (yeugh). This is waaay more sophisticated, intricate... It might be a humble 4.2% but the taste is that full-on I don't really miss it not being higher. The hops are notably brighter than I'd expect from a black beer. This might be my not previously finding 'authentic' black beers, or this recipe might be a nod to younger/hoppier taste-buds. Would work very well in the garden on a hot summer's day. This summer so far it seems we can but dream....
Bought from Waitrose, Cambridge. 500ml bottle.

Bottle. Deep brown with a cream coloured frothy head. Sticky lacing.
Light aroma of burnt toast and liquorice.
Tastes similar with balancing hops. Bitter at the back end.
Moderate carbonation and body.
A pretty decent traditional English stout.