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.

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 River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater 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