THE EXPERT Arabella Woodrow Master of Wine and wine buyer for Forth Wine This has a tawny brown colour and has a good head. There are plenty of hoppy raisin fruit aromas and the flavour is dry and malty with hints of some plum and raisin fruit. It has a medium body and is quite attractive and drinkable. I found this surprisingly close to the manufacturer's description. This is being offered at a reasonably premium price but I think it should be quite successful. Success rating out of 25 ­ 20 THE DESIGNER Matt Thompson Associate director of Blackburn's, a brand packaging designer Sadly, the packaging only brought a frown. Beyond the merry name there is nothing of distinction, reverting to the predictable language of the marketplace. Scrolls and vintage lorries may evoke the traditions of a bygone age but when every ale uses the same techniques, what's your point of difference? Such a good name could lend itself to memorable visuals that could help promote this in an original, highly visible way. I'm sure everyone at the brewery believes in the quality of the product. The task of the packaging is to make every punter, especially new ones, believe in it too. Success rating out of 25 ­ 4 The buyer Adam Marshall Licensed trading controller at Nisa-Today's I like the packaging. It feels traditional ­ in '30s way, no fake horse brasses here ­ and the label is still clean and uncluttered. I also like the clear glass. Finally, brewers have realised we drink beer out of clear glasses. A lovely nutty aroma attacks the nose as you open the bottle ­ reminiscent of the aroma that wafted out of bar towels in the days before regular washing and theme pubs! The flavour is full and malty with a bitter edge to the finish (caused by the pasteurisation according to my brewing buddies!). Pleasantly, the high alcohol doesn't dominate the palate. Success rating out of 25 ­ 18 Total score out of 100 ­ 67 {{DRINKS }}

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