Wales. I remember reading a autobiography of the early years of an English writer, Anthony Burgess, that more than hinted the Welsh, including one of his wives, considered visiting the pub as a sort of foreplay that quite shocked his sensibilities. I visited there when I was seven so I can't comment on that sort of thing.

This beer was runner up in The Champion Ale of Wales 1999. Ten years is a long time. So let's see. On the pour, there is the nutty sweet scent of oloroso sherry. Not heavy. A rocky off white head clings and froths over slightly murky orange-brown ale. A mouthful is moreish with cardamon rough hoppy bitterness, bread crust graininess, a touch of black malt smoke as well as a wee keek of apple and pear malt giving some sweetness that resolves into a drying black tea finish. Plenty of flavour for a 4.5% beer with a body that is less than an ESB but beefier than the great throat wash that are the weaker classes of British pale ale. I like well enough though it is not simple and does ask some questions of you. Would do very well with a bacon slab sandwich on olive bread. Reasonable BAer respect.