Conqueror Black IPA (Windsor & Eton)

A Black IPA? Madness. However with my love for dark ales and Ed's propensity for IPAs have we found the ideal Bunker pint?

Here it is, in my hand, in possibly the smartest looking bottle I've seen this year. This is a relatively unusual beer type in the UK, with Thornbridge's Raven IPA the only other I'm aware of. The Americans are slightly more used to it with their "Cascadian Dark Ale" variant, a craft type familiar to many over there.

Windsor historically was a thriving brewing town, and new operation Windsor & Eton are aiming to bring the name back to being representative of fine beer.

It pours a deep black, with a fleeting brown head. Once the head disappears others may well think you have a pint of coke on the go, sitting flatly with a scrying mirror darkness.

The nose is a peculiar hybrid of roasted smells and pine, and is very welcoming in a wintry way.

First taste is a roasted malt explosion., and the nearest beer I can compare it to is Kingstone's marvellous Challenger. The bitterness is almost overwhelming and it makes no bones about being something other than a session drink. This is Event Beer, and a fine one at that.

The IPA character is plainly apparent here, it's hoppy, dry, strong (5% abv) and rather bitter, but like Challenger the bitterness becomes moreish the further down the pint one drinks.

Combine this with classic dark roasted flavours and this is makes for a wonderful creamy cold night pint. I can't wait to dig into the other two beers we have from W&E.

8/10 - Courageous and rewarding collision of ale styles. This brewery is one to watch.

- The Broadside

OTT (Hogs Back) 6%Abv

Its described as a "Strong Dark Old Ale" so plenty of expectations on opening.

As dark as the darkest of porters, only glimmers of light escape its grasp. A fantastic smell is unleashed on pouring, rich blackberries and dark fruit, hints of chocolate and noticeable hops.

Rich fruity tastes at the start, filling mouth like an indulgence of blackberries and black currants. Following that is the sweetness of the malt, not too sharp or tangy with all that fruit. The finish is really quite bitter, not like dark chocolate, more like the burnt edge of a Christmas cake. Fruity, bitter and charcoal in one.

7/10 A lovey winter warmer, a dark porter style ale with rich fruit.