Everards Pitch Black
Everards Brewery Ltd.

Not retired.
Cask - Black with a long lasting and light tan head.
Aroma of fresh ground coffee and roasted malt.
Taste is disappointing. A lighter version of the smell with the addition of hops. Bitter finish.
Moderate body.

Transcribed from Notes of 23/10/2006, this was the sixth beer tasted at the Capitol, a JDW pub in Forest Hill, SE London, during the chain’s Full Moon Beer Festival.

A: coming in a very dark brown hue, nearly black but with mahogany glows when seen against light; the fluffy beige head lasts well.
S: the aroma is as fruity as roasty upfront, where a fruity touch of hops constantly underlines the mainly roasty theme; meanwhile, a slightly stinky edge of nut shells and hayish hops also retains a consistent presence.
T: a mouthful of roasted barley, dried fruits (like dates+plums), and dryish walnuts, quite like a Guinness! But the fruity hoppiness from Challenger hops quickly prevails, providing a rather subtle accompaniment to the roasty maltiness; the aftertaste sees a restrained sourness of roasted malts sneaking through to balance with the equally subtle bitterness, finished surprisingly clean.
M&D: for a stout, the mouthfeel and palate are just ideal, that it's light, even crisp, but with a sound flavour structure. Very quaffable!