From Moorhouse's. A mild ale voted Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 2000 at the Great British Beer Festival Abv: 3.4% Price: £1.28 TARGET CONSUMER David Costello, 48, freelance designer from Vauxhall, south London The black cat is a potent symbol of luck and I hope this proves the case for this "dark refreshing brew". This bottled mild is both easy to drink with a subtle flavour to match. If you thought that mild was all about cloth caps, whippets and smoky public bars, then think again. This beer could hold its own at a Ritz tea dance. It has a rich dark colour, a slight hint of sweetness, and a head that is thick and creamy. It has a gentle burnt amber flavour that could complement a date scone. I enjoyed the tastes of malt and caramel and the slight hint of coal. And at only 3.4%, it never threatened more than a slow waltz to the senses. The electrified black cat on the label might be designed to appeal to the drinker looking for thrills, and this might prove a disappointment, but this beer can hold its own as a bottled mild of quality which was a very enjoyable drink. Pass the scones. Rating out of 25 - 19 Rating out of 25 ­ 22 Sally Easton Master of Wine and wine buyer for Berry Brothers and Rudd This beer has a dark chocolate colour and creamy head. The nose is intense and smells of molasses treacle, honey, liquorice spice and chocolate. These are not reflected on the palate, which is typically bitter, with flavours of dry spice and tea. There is complexity of flavour but the low alcohol of 3.4% leaves the palate slightly flat and unbalanced. The texture is creamy and smooth, although another degree of alcohol might improve the structure. The packaging follows the norm for a product in this category, but there is no clue as to how the Black Cat became so named. Rating out of 25 ­ 13 Graham Shearsby Board creative director, graphics, at Design Bridge It seems in the world of small breweries, when it comes to their image on bottle ­ anything goes. I feel credibility in a quality product is severely lacking in this offering. The colour scheme of red, black and dull grey makes it feel more at home in a vets' waiting room. The typography and illustration give the impression it was sketched by the head brewer's eight-year-old-old niece for a Hallowe'en party. I can only assume the name continues a themed link back to Moorhouse's little witch icon. Another quality ale has been let down by an uninspiring and tacky looking appearance. Rating out of 25 ­ 1 Steve Mayes Category controller at Landmark This a masterpiece of covert marketing ­ a great liquid shrouded with a label that is at best quaint but is actually a bit tacky. Apparently, Black Cat is an award winner but that point seems to be possibly the trade's best kept secret. As a niche product it would be easy to sell on quality of liquid alone and tacky labels are often an asset. As a mainstream product, it probably does not have a prayer. If you like to drink beer or are confident you can sell a quality regional grog, this is well up for it, but the brand could do with some upweighted public relations. Rating out of 25 ­ 18 Total score out of 100 ­ 51 {{DRINKS }}

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