Dark Star Brewing Co. - Festival 5%

Taste: Strong, dead-end taste. Like a bludgeoning weapon. A bat. A beery assault.

Appearance: chestnut dreams.

Would you buy 2? Not tonight. I'm too full.

Would you buy 4? Maybe not. It's strong.

Rating (out of 7): 4**** it's all alright.

Location:Prince Albert St,,United Kingdom

Dark Star - Imperial Stout 10.5%

Taste: This is an exciting one. Here we go... Wowzer! It smells a bit like creosote. That takes me back... It has a raisiny rummy flavour slapped over a length of slate; a single hop rests on top. Wilting. It's so strong... I'm drunk. 2 sips in. There's a liquorice aftertaste. Or aniseed. But it's distant.

Appearance: Boastful label. But it's okay in this instance. I wanted to keep this for a year or two to age. But who was I kidding. The temptation is too much.

Would you buy 2? Yes. Of course. But to drink them on the same day is asking for trouble.

Would you buy 4? Same answer applies. I would like to own four. But I will not be drinking them in one go.

Rating (out of 7): 5***** It's great! There's something troubling me that stops me awarding this a six. Ask again when I'm finished... This one's a floozy.

Dark Star - Dark Star 5.5%

This photo was not taken as part of a top secret spy mission in 1963, it's just bad quality. Sorry!

Taste: Gingery! Spicey! Perfumed soap! Delicious bath water from a sultan's palace? A pleasant warm feeling for sure, but I'm not overwhelmed.

Appearance: Darker than a red squirrel, but in that area.

Would you buy 2? Throat warming double pint possibilities could be on the horizon...

Would you buy 4? I would sign off before the end of a 4 pint shift. The ginger might start to burn I reckon.

Rating (out of 7): * * * * - a good 4, but I wouldn't want too much of this.