Vibrant Forest Black Forest

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	04 Jun 2026
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	02 Jun 2026
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	02 Jun 2026
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	31 May 2026	Hanging on in there
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	31 May 2026
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	30 May 2026
Philip Pirrip		28 May 2026	Some loss of condition since yesterday's
Hogan Sampling		28 May 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Third day on now and no longer presenting its creamy top. Some head still and lasting lacing on this jet-black porter from Hardley, Hampshire, on the edge of the New Forest National Park. A very coffee-infused first hit. A dark chocolatey maltiness climbing up from its charred, roasted and chocolate malts. A berry-infused fruitiness winning over with a parading across my palate of woodland fruits comprising red, purple, and black berries. Tart and sweet flavours coming to the fore of bilberries, elderberries, damsons and sloes, and the latter a sharp wild berry from the blackthorn bush. Its British hops aiding its foundational bittering balance. A bittersweet maltiness emerging with a cocoa-infused bitterness and smoky malty chocolate flavours lingering before their sailing out. Served still in good condition on its third day on. Because of its sweetness with a touch of treacle also in on the mix, once again a half certainly sufficed.
Philip Pirrip		27 May 2026	Rather glutinous porter
Hogan Sampling		26 May 2026	2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on and presenting a very creamy top to it and sticking firmly to the sides of the glass for its whole performance on this jet-black porter crafted “in the style of those brewed in old London”. Its brewery comes from humble beginnings set up in 2011 as a hobby in a tiny garage and is located in Hardley, Hampshire, on the edge of the New Forest National Park. A roasted coffee-infused first bite off this creamy creature. A dry maltiness rising up from its charred, roasted and chocolate malts with slithers of dark chocolate and espresso caressing my tongue. A fruitiness of dark forest deep-red, purple, and black berries that grow in woodland areas getting in on the act. These fruits for me lending a tart and sweet flavouring reminiscent of the likes of bilberries - the wild cousins of blueberries, elderberries - noted for being tart and sharp, damsons - the smaller version of tart, dark purple plums, and sloes said to be astringent, sharp wild berries from the blackthorn bush. Its British hops aiding its foundational bittering balance. A bittersweet maltiness with touches of charred malty chocolate flavours lingering before their slide down my passage with a cocoa-infused bitterness. Served in very good nick on its first day on but just slightly too sweet for my liking and not also aided by treacle-like flavours.
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	21 Feb 2026
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	19 Feb 2026
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 Feb 2026
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	17 Feb 2026
Philip Pirrip		17 Feb 2026	Poured flat in glass. Lacking condition to enhance the strong flavour
Hogan Sampling		24 Nov 2024	Had tried a half the night before for the first time. Was good and so repeated the pattern and not disappointed with the head and lacing but some 20 minutes after ordering, a gentle decant woke up its bubbles. A moreishly chocolatey and hint of expresso mouthfeel with a pleasantly dry aftertaste.
Philip Pirrip		24 Nov 2024	One was quite enough
Hogan Sampling		23 Nov 2024	Very good head and lacing on this porter. A very bitter first hit with a dark chocolatey, coffee-flavoured and slightly fruity mouthfeel and with a bittersweet aftertaste.
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	22 Nov 2024
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	08 Sep 2024
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	08 Sep 2024
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	07 Sep 2024
Hogan Sampling		06 Sep 2024	Fresh on for this Friday's visit and had a head when poured and presented with but vanished some 10 minutes later when ready to try this half of porter. Slightly fizzy on the tongue and medicinal tasting as in sour. It was helped down with a bread roll of spicy sausage and tomato.
Philip Pirrip		02 May 2024	Not sure I'll bother with VF again. Flat and with little condition made this a chore to finish

The Farmers Boy, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		30 Aug 2025	This thick London-style porter from Hardley, south of Southampton across Southampton Water, presented good head and lacing but sadly its head did not last. That was like my steak and ale pie which it ably washed downwards. A fruity maltiness in its first bite. Dark chocolate, espresso and roasted coffee notes tantalising my taste buds alongside toasted caramel-infusions. A dry bitterness and a fruity finish aiding its passage down my gullet. Vibrant Forest started in a tiny garage in 2011 and this porter is one of their oldest brews, created that year in starting life as a homebrew beer called "Dark Castle Porter" and inspired by old recipes for porters of 18th-century London.

The Prince, Wood Green, Greater London

The Rusty Bucket, Eltham, Greater London

The Queen's Head, King's Cross / St Pancras, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		10 Aug 2018	A break from Trinity I found this syrupy sickly black coffee gloop hard work.

Royal Albert, New Cross, Greater London

The Congress Inn, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Nick Willis		07 Nov 2014	Cracking porter