Dark Secret
Monty's Brewery

Bottle conditioned. Gluten free. A dark chestnut colour with a frothy, light tan head. Cobweb like lacing.
A muted aroma of coffee and chocolate and tastes similar.
Quite a sparkling carbonation for a stout. A well conditioned beer. Medium body.
A CAMRA finalist for bottled beer.

Bottled in dark brown glass, purchased from Anglesey Spirit shop in Beaumauris pouring a jet black body with handsome tan head
Aroma treacle and cuppa joe
Bramble jam on burned toast

 

L- Black, no light gets through even held up to a halogen bulb. Chilled, handled/opened carefully despite which some foam over-flowed from the bottle = be prepared! Pours with 1Cm fine-bubble pillowy tan head, that'a holding really well (still is 15mins later!).
S- Toasty, coffee and cocoa, hints of smoke, reminds me of cold log ashes in a fireplace.
T- All of the ^ Smell facets translate directly into the taste too, which is quite pungent as a whole. Goes down very well, nothing out of place here for me.
F- Lovely, decent carbonation in the mouth, neither rich nor over dry, making it very drinkable indeed.
O- I never used to enjoy black beers (in the UK), until I discovered some great German Schwarzbier whilst living over there. Now home in the UK I'm very game for finding quality UK 'black beers'. This is certainly one such find. It is highly polished, full of character, zero out of place/balance here for me. A full-flavoured stout, that I'll happily buy again - though hopefully less expensively another time.
Bought from Selfridges, London W1. 500ml bottle £3.30 BBE: July-2020
ps. 'Great Taste 2018, 3* Award'. Gluten free + vegan friendly.