Appearance:   “It’s a dark brown, or should I say even a mahogany color. When first poured, it shows a deep, and rich beige head which seems quite long-lasting.”

Aroma:   “Pronounced toffee or caramel in the nose. Maybe even a dark molasses smell.”

Taste:   “It’s a big flavor. You can tell that it’s full, but at 6.7% alcohol, it’s not a hugely alcoholic. Some nice spice is present and just a whisper of cocoa. I’m not sure I would favor the toffee if I were to have more than one bottle, but it seems like a very likely candidate for a sitting-in-front-of-the-fire-and-sipping drink on a brisk day.”

Food Affinity:   “Not the sort of beer I’d try to pair with a savory dish or full meal. Still, it might be lovely with a piece of fruitcake (Yes, I do enjoy fruitcake at this time of year) or a dessert of flan or crème caramel.”

    --Guest reviewer Malcolm Smythe is a general contractor who fancies a brown ale any time of the year.