This so far is my favourite of this year’s Sainsbury’s Great British Beer Hunt.
Star ale is big and dark and juicy and such a different kind of beer from the rest of the range.
Pouring an impenetrable black with a nice tight foamy head, Star Ale smells like a chocolate liqueur, all sweet and fruity and boozy.
The malts are robust and heavy with digestive biscuits, rum and raisin and overripe plums inn syrup.
There’s a big sticky treacle here too, along with a dash of liquorice soaked in Bramley apple juice.
The hops are leafy green with a decent lemon astringency and the finish is good and dry without wiping out the soft chocolate that hangs around to remind you why you want another glass.
Very good indeed.