No.2 Horninglow Street
Marston's Plc.

Bottle conditioned. Pours an opaque dark brown/black colour with a thick dense creamy head.
Dark chocolate and coffee bouquet with a suggestion of hops.
Upon tasting there is a sombre flavour reflecting the aroma. Charred wood with a mellow earthy presence.
Smooth. Full in body without being viscous.
A very tasty and easy drinking imperial stout which doesn't need aging.

At this point I haven't read the lable beyond on the front 'Imperial Stout 7.4%' as I want to reach my own conclusions on this hopefully rather special beer first.
L- To the eye it's pitch black. Held right next to a halogen bulb I struggle to get a glint of deep ruby-red through the bottom corner of the glass. Pours with 3mm fine-bubble tan head.
S- Toasty, charred, reminds me of cold timber log ashes in a fireplace. There might also be some smokey coffee notes lurking within that.
T- Toasty for sure, and distinct smoke notes, but also quite bright with hoppy bitterness there too.
F- It doesn't feel 7.4% to me! Blind-tasted I might guess around 5.4%, just with a very roasted flavour; I find that 2% difference striking and usually at 7.4% a beer would give the taste/feel-buds something of a ding dong. If it presented a typical circa 7.4% character I likely would have rated this beer overall about 0.25pts higher.
O- A lovely beer, quite pungent flavour, relatively light feel (for 7.4%). Ideal for slow-sipping in winter and colder months.
500ml Bottle No. 25144. BB: 30/Sep/20 Bought from a Waitrose in London, £4 in an elegantly designed box.
After-thoughts, on now reading packagaing: 'dark chocolate and coffee aroma' from oak barrel aging. Contains: barley, wheat and oat malts.