Dark Star Original

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.

Sheffield Tap, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		02 Dec 2017

The Evening Star, Brighton, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	15 Oct 2017
Andrew	Not Tried	14 Nov 2015
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	04 Sep 2014
Judy G Garland	Not Tried	09 Oct 2013
HSB	Not Tried	23 Jul 2013
Andrew	Not Tried	26 Jan 2013
Brian		07 May 2012	Not sure that this was 5%, maybe we got it wrong. Dark, smokey ale, something like a porter, Really nice.

North Laine Brewhouse, Brighton, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Brian		25 Oct 2016	Excellent condition. Nice but given the full on brews that we'd had at the craft beer co, it seemed quite mild.

Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Leyton, Greater London

White Cliffs Beer Festival 2016, Dover, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Mick		05 Feb 2016	Good pint of this old standard.

Upminster TapRoom, Upminster, Greater London

Tap East, Stratford, Greater London

The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Andrew	Not Tried	25 Sep 2015
Jack William	Not Tried	20 Sep 2015
Andrew	Not Tried	13 Nov 2010
Brian		13 Nov 2010	Really good strong dark bitter.
Ken		13 Nov 2010	Superb as usual. Nuff said.
Mick		18 Sep 2010	Superb, rich malt and mellow hops
Mick	Not Tried	16 Sep 2010
Andrew	Not Tried	02 Sep 2010
Ian	Not Tried	27 Aug 2010
Ken		13 Jun 2009	a truly deep dark ale with that distinctive marmity depth of flavour.
Blair		07 Apr 2009	Rich and satisfying. Lots of roasted malt and chocolate.
Andrew	Not Tried	04 Apr 2009
Blair		04 Apr 2009	Rich dark ale, a little fruity with lots of roasted malt. A top old ale.
Mick		03 Apr 2009	Superb, chocolate, fruit, malt and a depth of flavour not found in many other beers.
Glyn		18 Mar 2009
Glyn		18 Feb 2009
Andrew	Not Tried	29 Nov 2008
Ian	Not Tried	29 Nov 2008
Mick	Not Tried	27 Nov 2008
Andrew	Not Tried	18 Oct 2008
Ian	Not Tried	18 Oct 2008
Andrew	Not Tried	11 Sep 2007	Had a bit by mistake. It's blackish with a sligtly coffeecane-sugar flavour to it.

The Sovereign of the Seas, Petts Wood, Greater London

Montefiore Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

The Black Dog, Whitstable, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Tobes		07 Mar 2015

Ship Inn, Deal, Kent

The Pub, Leicester, Leicestershire

The Windmill, Sevenoaks Weald, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		04 Jun 2014	Superb.
thebrewingman		10 Nov 2013

Orange Tree, Baldock, Hertfordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
HSB		26 Sep 2013	Not very good. Possibly too young.

The Queens Head, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Judy G Garland	Not Tried	20 Aug 2013
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Jun 2013
Dosser		28 Nov 2011	In decent shape but not one of my favourites.
Martin the Mildman		31 Dec 2010	The original and best. Old style mild, black in colour with a sweetish smooth malty flavour with chocolate and toffee present. The hoppiness appears in the finish. My score 16/20.
Blair	Not Tried	06 Mar 2010
Blair	Not Tried	03 Nov 2009
Leigh		15 Aug 2009	Big, roasted flavours (coffee and chocolate) dominate this warming beer. The hops come very late, with a resounding bitterness, again, like bitter chocolate. Not one to session, but a nice pint nontheless

Halfway House, Brenchley, Kent

The Queen's Head, Chelmsford, Essex

The Berry, Walmer, Kent

2nd Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11	Not Tried	20 Oct 2012
Martin the Mildman		20 Oct 2012	Classic strong fruity mild style ale with toffee malt and a fruity hop character. My score 15/20.

The Brewers Arms, Lewes, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	06 Oct 2012
thebrewingman		26 Feb 2011
Ian	Not Tried	25 Apr 2009

The White Rock Hotel, Hastings, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		31 Aug 2012
thebrewingman		09 Sep 2010	Liquorice overtones came through on this one today.

The Anchor, Walberswick, Suffolk

Craft Beer Co., Clerkenwell, Central London

Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway Beer Festival 2012, Sittingbourne, Kent

Claret & Ale (formerly Claret Free House), Addiscombe, Greater London

The Devonshire Cat, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

The Partridge, Partridge Green, West Sussex

Tower Bridge Arms (formerly The Draft House - Tower Bridge), Bermondsey, Central London

The Orange Tree, Chelmsford, Essex

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		01 Mar 2012	Near black in colour with a well rounded mix of malty flavours and fruity hop. Falls into the old ale/strong mild category with a full bodied fruit and malt finish. My score 16/20.

Nags Head, Reading, Berkshire

Opera House, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Martin the Mildman		06 Mar 2011	Full bodied, fairly sweet with good malt and some hop character. A very good old style strong mild. My score 16/20.

Artillery Arms, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		24 Jan 2011	Rich, dark and satisfying. A classic.
Blair	Not Tried	18 Dec 2009
Blair		23 May 2009	Dark and roasty. A great old ale.
Blair		04 May 2009	A fantastic beer. Thick, rich and satisfying. Chocolate and roasted malt dominate.
Blair	Not Tried	03 Feb 2009
Blair		13 Sep 2008	Great beer. Very dark with a malty chocolate flavour. Quite rich and satisfying.

Stile Bridge, Marden, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Pedro		18 Nov 2010

Hooden Smokehouse & Cellar (formerly Hooden on the Hill), Willesborough, Kent

The Elephant, Faversham, Kent

The Bree Louise, Euston, Central London

The Churchill Tavern, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		06 Feb 2010	Rich, tangy and incredibly satisfying.
Blair		09 Jan 2010	Intense roasted malt and chocolate flavours, a true classic.
Blair		18 Dec 2009	Rich, viscous and dark. Everything you want in a dark beer.

The Criterion, Leicester, Leicestershire

The Bull, Horton Kirby, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dubbel	Not Tried	16 Mar 2009
Dubbel	Not Tried	25 Feb 2009
Dubbel	Not Tried	23 Feb 2009
Ian		14 Feb 2009	Deep brown, lasting beige head. I'm not a real fan of this beer, but this is the best I've had it. Toasty, roasty, even some dark plum fruit, then some dry malt/fruit and hop on the finish. Really very good. Some good choc. Oddly enjoyable. Just more flavours and textures than I've had before with this beer.

The Rake, Southwark, Central London

Ramsgate Summer Festival 2008, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		05 Jul 2008	Very dark with roasted malt and fruit flavours. Extremely good.

Jacksons Wharf, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		06 Jun 2008	This was in great condition. Very dark with plenty of caramel and chocolate. Lovely.