“A toasty and malty ale loaded with the rich nuttiness of roasted hazelnuts. Brewed with real hazelnuts, vanilla and a splash of Frangelico. Smooth and nutty with a dry clean finish.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Lovely chestnut colour with two fingers of lightly tanned foam perched on top. Good retention and reasonable lace as it subsides.

Aroma: Loving the fact they’ve used real hazelnuts…it just adds that raw element that syrups don’t provide. Obviously the nutty and somewhat earthy notes of hazelnut dominate but there’s some solid support from the toasty malts, cocoa, milk chocolate, vanilla, mocha and toffee fudge. Just a beautifully balanced and rounded aroma.

Flavour: Even better than the aroma. And that is rare! The hazelnut is front and centre with its delicious nutty earthy-ness, then the back up arrives bringing oodles of chocolatey goodness, cocoa, vanilla, caramel/toffee, toasty and nutty malts, subtle roast and a flutter of mild coffee. This deliciousness surges in to the roasty and nutty finish and draws out nicely.

Mouthfeel: Nice and muscly but also fluffy and well rounded. Medium-full body (which we love in Brown Ales) with moderate Co2. The 5.6% ABV is well contained.

Overall: That is a bloody ripper of a Brown Ale. We probably did it the wrong way around…reviewing the double version before this original but it doesn’t really matter as this bad boy holds its own. Sensational drop.