The story on the label is that this recipe was found in the cellar after not having been brewed for a number of years. They tried it again, and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. Whether or not that's true, Shepherd Neame have produced an impressive double stout with traditional bitter notes. While this will appeal less to those stout drinkers who see it as an alternative to their normal evening hot chocolate, for the rest of us it is very welcome indeed. The hoppy additions really are what makes this beer, perfectly complementing the coffee flavors. It is, in its own right, an excellent example of the genre of double stout, but there is always something that stops me from picking it as a standard. Perhaps it is because, at 5.2%, it is slightly too alcoholic for a session, yet no distinctive enough to stand alone as a perfect individual pint, or even as a necessary component of a good night out. This is, of course, nit-picking. It is an accomplished and balanced pint which, regardless of taste, every ale lover should at the very least sample. 8.5/10
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