Exeter Darkness The Prince of Ales

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	03 Sep 2026
Hogan Sampling		03 Sep 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Head and lacing on being poured but not lasting on this Exeter-brewed chocolate stout on its sixth day on and from brewing set up in 2003, before relocating in 2012 to its current larger site at Cowley Bridge Road in Exeter. A dry first bite from its mix of malts. A hint of sweet honey emanating from its chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark molasses. A malty chocolatey bitterness prevailing with coffee-infusions, liquorice and a caramel sweetness. A burnt-bitter, woody flavouring lingering with a touch of thyme and marjoram from its English Goldings hops plus dried citrus peel tinged with a smoky dryness and a peppery spiciness. Thin tasting more so from last sampling it on Tuesday.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Sep 2026	Soldiering on
Hogan Sampling		01 Sep 2026	3rd beer of this visit: Fourth day on for this Devon chocolate stout from brewing set up in 2003, before relocating in 2012 to its current larger site at Cowley Bridge Road in Exeter. A momentary head and lacing to start with. Its dry first bite giving way to a malty chocolatey bitterness. Coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice and a caramel sweetness settling on my taste buddies. A burnt-bitter, woody flavouring alongside a hint of sweet honey emanating from its chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark molasses. Hints of thyme and marjoram from its English Goldings hops. A touch of dried citrus peel tinged with a smoky dryness and a peppery spiciness sailing downwards. Still thin tasting for me and with less conditioning than when last tried on Sunday.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	31 Aug 2026
Philip Pirrip		30 Aug 2026	A so so pint
Hogan Sampling		30 Aug 2026	3rd beer of this visit: Second day on and good head and lacing to start with on this Devon chocolate stout from brewing set up in 2003 as the Topsham & Exminster Brewery, before in 2007 becoming The Exeter Brewery and relocating in 2012 to its current larger site at Cowley Bridge Road in Exeter. A dry bitter first bite. A dry malty chocolatey bitterness rising with flavours of coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice alongside a subtle caramel sweetness. Ably assisted by its chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark molasses, a burnt-bitter finish. Earthy and woody flavourings alongside a hint of sweet honey winning over. Its English Goldings hops lending it hints of thyme and marjoram. A peppery spiciness pervading with a touch of dried citrus peel washed down with a smoky dryness. Slightly thin tasting for me despite all its subtle flavourings.
Hogan Sampling		29 Aug 2026	3rd beer of this visit: Fresh on and very good head and almost lasting lacing on this Devon chocolate stout from a brewing operation originally set up in 2003 as the Topsham & Exminster Brewery, a microbrewery situated on the Exminster Marshes nature reserve, before becoming The Exeter Brewery in 2007 and relocating to its current larger site at Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter, in 2012. A dry malty first hit. A chocolatey maltiness rising from its blend of chocolate malt, roasted barley and dark molasses. Hints of coffee, dark chocolate and liquorice alongside a subtle caramel sweetness. A touch of honey, thyme and marjoram, with a mild, peppery spiciness prevailing. Its English Goldings hops lending a touch of dried citrus peel. A smoky burnt-bitter finish with an earthy and woody flavouring. Served in good nick.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	09 Dec 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	08 Dec 2019

Cornfield Garage, Eastbourne, East Sussex

Halfway House, Brenchley, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		23 May 2026	5th beer of this visit: Good head and lasting lacing on this midnight-black-hued stout from the Exeter Brewery set up in 2003 on the Exminster Marshes nature reserve and located at Cowley Bridge Road in Exeter, just 200 yards from the Exeter St David's railway station. A dry malty first bite. A malty bitterness rising from its complex mash of seven separate grain types, explicitly featuring premium barley, including heavily roasted Chocolate Malt. A maltiness veering up with hints of coffee beans and dark chocolate from its roasted malts and a sweetness pervading from the addition of dark molasses. A dry bitterness aided by its traditional English hops varieties such as East Kent Goldings or Fuggles sliding downwards. Served in good nick with a great mouthfeel.

The Watch House, Lewisham, Greater London

The Furze Wren, Bexleyheath, Greater London

Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		23 Apr 2026	Another one in great nick.
Dosser		24 Apr 2025	Lost flavour and lacing quickly.
Dosser		21 Apr 2025	Good pint but sharper than the elephant a couple of weeks back. And 40% more.
Dosser		03 Apr 2024	Smelt great, coffee and malts but a bit too thin.

The Mechanical Elephant, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		06 Apr 2025	Great dark un

Express Tavern (The Express Ale & Cider House), Brentford, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		29 Jan 2025	A rich decadent (but not silky smooth and creamy) coffee and chocolate stout with a satisfying hazelnut finish.

The Sussex Arms, Twickenham, Greater London

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

The Freed Man, Walmer, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		10 May 2018	Well balanced dark ale.

Rochford Beer & Cider Festival 2017, Rochford, Essex

Fez, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		27 Jul 2017	Superb dark ale and at £3 who can resist it?

The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend, Kent

The Penny Farthing, Crayford, Greater London

The Hovelling Boat Inn, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		18 Jun 2017	Crackin
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Jan 2015

The Two Halves, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		14 Jun 2017	Went down a treat

The White Swan, Charlton, Greater London

Rochford Beer & Cider Festival 2015, Rochford, Essex