UPDATED: FEB 4, 2021 Bottle at home in Hackney - not sure where I got this originally. Pours black-brown with a super dense, cascading brown cream head. Barely shows its age - this is in great shape. Lightly sweet with strong ashy roast, bitter black coffee, baking cocoa, some burnt herbs. Medium to full bodied with fine carbonation and subtle velvety texture. Minimal warmth in the finish, lots of bitter scorched earth, drying ash, bittersweet cocoa. Great, toothy strong porter.

UPDATED: FEB 20, 2018 Large, undated bottle but, based on the label design, this is the 2012 version. 8% ABV. Pours with a full size, durable tan head. Good lacing. The aroma (6.5) is complex and spicy. The flavor differs from what the aroma suggests but remains complex and spicy, with winter spices dominant. There are some dark fruit notes and plenty of dark roasted grains as well, plus hints of chocolate and coffee.

Bottle. Thanks to Nate. Nose of dark chocolate, dark fruit, and dark sugar. Deep brown color. Chocolate, red wine, prunes, and a little coffee. Somewhat burnt. Medium body. Pleasant. Has more or less held up over six years.

Despite near six years on it, still a decent porter. Big mouthfeel, getting much chocolate malt. Taste as boozy as 8% maybe more. Dessert, bit certainly not a chugger. Musty taste, a bit sour as well.

18th November 2017
Opaque dark brown beer, good darkish tan head. Palate is airy and semi dry, decent fine carbonation. Smooth dark malts, a little dark chocolate. Smooth spices, a kind of cardamon cooling vibe. Tangy and well integrated fruits. Mellow coffee and cream. Smooth cooling finish. Smooth and tasty but yet somehow still gets a bit chewy down the glass, just lacks a bit of the ephemeral drinkability.

750 ml bottle. Dark body with a tall tan head. Aroma has sweet black licorice with firm roast and still pretty firm hoppiness. Rich velvety mouthfeel with notes of dry ashiness. Taste has hoppy roast with plenty of cocoa nibs and sweet licorice. Finish is milky smooth with cocoa nibs and mildly ashy roast. Very smooth and rich dark beer, considering the thick body and big roasty flavours I would even describe it as an Imperial Stout. Held up nicely for more than 3 years in the cellar; no sharp edges, everything just comes together smoothly.

Bottle shared with Boise RBers. Initial impression was disappointment, but this was one to sneak up on you, very subtle in many ways. I had hoped to resample before leaving to get a second impression, but was left with lots of positive thoughts and approving nods.

Bottle, pours a dark brown topped with a thin brown ring. Nose is roast, ash, licorice, a faint bitterness from maybe a baker’s cocoa. Tastes bitter, ash, and some spice. Nice weight.

750ml bottle thanks to stevoj. Pours out a dark brown almost black topped with a tan head. Nose is roast malts some Christmas spice black licorice and some smoke. Taste is more of the black licorice spice roast some smoke and a ash end.

Bue en bouteille de 75cl. Couleur noire, mousse moka foncé. Nez café glisse. Au palais, rondeur, douceur et grosse amertume café. Bel équilibre, longueur moyenne, finale sèche.