Vocation Naughty & Nice

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
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	17 Mar 2026
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 Mar 2026
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	15 Mar 2026
Philip Pirrip		15 Mar 2026	On a few days, poured flat, little if any condition
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	14 Mar 2026
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	12 Mar 2026
Hogan Sampling		12 Mar 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on today and displaying a welcome head and some lacing on this Hebden Bridge-brewed* chocolate-infused jet-black milk stout but not holding onto it for me to avoid a decant of it to waken it up in the half pint measure I ended on. Chocolate comes at you on the first bite unmistakeably with hints of roasted coffee, caramel and hazelnut to my taste buddies. Its roasted barley and dark crystal malt lending it coffee and biscuit flavourings alongside dark fruits like plum and fig, and aided by its extra pale and chocolate malts. Its lactose (milk sugar) aiding its general sweetness and an initial creamy-textured head. A malty chocolatey flavouring steering it on its downwards journey. Too sweet for me for more than a half but great to accompany a chocolate brownie if you just happen to have one spare. Should I bring such a brownie with me on my next visit? *Hebden Bridge is a picturesque market town located in the Upper Calder Valley of West Yorkshire which sounds good to visit if a real ale pub or two to be found and 8 miles west of Halifax if you need to get your bearings.
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	29 Sep 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Sep 2024
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	28 Sep 2024
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	27 Sep 2024
Philip Pirrip		26 Sep 2024	Lacked the condition that a heavy stout really needs to complement the strong flavours
Hogan Sampling		26 Sep 2024	Minus a head for very long and no lacing. Like drinking a Christmas pudding/cake in flavours.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Sep 2024
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	24 Sep 2024	Heard this chocolate stout was very good from another regular.

The New Inn, Canterbury, Kent

Star & Garter, Bromley, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		18 May 2024	Chocolate stout poured through the duff handpump but some multiple decantings between two glasses brought this up to scratch

The Cockpit, Chislehurst, Greater London