Dark Star, Imperial Stout

Sussex's Dark Star offer a mixed bag. I love Hophead and the wonderfully off balance nonsense of their Six Hop (bottle and cask), but Revelation (bottle, cask and keg) was so-so and this one didn't tick my impy boxes I'm afraid.

Whilst it committed the cardinal sin of being over-carbonated, I was reasonably into the English hop aroma (tinged with bananas possibly?) and the heavy bitterness. It was sweet but not syrupy and there was a little nail varnish remover in the finish too. A shame, as i really wanted to be into this.

Dark Star, 6 Hop

6 hop from Dark Star: dewy grass nose, wet leaves, mulch and a fleeting caramel tinge - almost brandy? Taste is instantly bitter - mulchy, dank hops (probably pine - not overly citrusy). Minor booze around the gums when you purse your lips. Great stuff. Bottle drank in August 2013.

Dark Star, Revelation

I've had this american style (sort of) pale ale from Dark Star on a few occasions: cask at the Grape and Grain, keg at the Westow and this bottle (c/o Utobeer). Keg stood out the most for me (I drank the pint on cask ages ago though and can barely remember how it tasted). An unhelpful description might be that this is a bit like a hoppier version of ESB. Good balance, nothing too crazy.