UPDATED: MAR 8, 2019 30-Apr-12 (22-oz bottle)
Most people think I'm nuts to cellar Imperial IPAs, but I love to stash these European ones for a few years. They're built differently and are far less fragile than their American counterparts and I think they improve as they evolve in the bottle. I didn't record the date of purchase for this bottle, but I'm sure it's at least three years old. The beer pours a hazy, dark-amber body, but the second (and final) pour is fully murky because of all the sediment. The tan head pours to only a quarter inch before settling to a wide ring and dusty layer, leaving some spotty lace on the glass. Taking a sip, I'm immediately thinking this beer must be what is on tap in Heaven. Take me now! Deeply earthy malts are intensely caramely and moderately sweet, while the hops are now just grassy with mild bitterness. To round things out, flavors of toffee, dried apricot, orange citrus, decayed wood, and smoked meat get this beer to the top echelon. The exceptionally enticing nose is earthy, caramely, and fruity, again showing that dried apricot, orange marmalade, decayed logs, and grilled meat character. On the palate, it's full bodied, but not heavy because the sweetness is in check and there is a moderate acidity to assist the light bitterness in balancing the malty sweetness. Carbonation is a bit light, but that's not uncommon for cellared beers, and the carbonation level is sufficient anyway. Overall, this is beyond just being delicious. It's a moment to savor, to revel in, to rejoice in how amazing beer can be. Yes, after three or four years, this is beer is no longer an Imperial IPA and is clearly in the Barley Wine range now, but who cares when a beer is this amazing! I have one more cellared bottle of this beer and I plan on sharing that one!

Bottle@home. Exp. 2009. Mahagoni haze. Small head. Intense cask stale caramalty aromas. Complex rum bitter-sweet taste. Full body. Long finish. Great brew made before Mikkeller was born.

Bottle with Pat. 24.5 oz. . Pours turbid orange haze with a thick, overwhelmingly fluffy off-white head. Aroma of caramel, chesnut, haze, vanilla, sweet malts, and tons of resiny hops. Fuller bodied with a velvety, smooth, almost chewy palate. Easy finish, with a bit of bitterness lingering on the back of the tongue. Very good Imperial IPA

Bottle. Pours dark brown with tan head. Nose/taste is heavy caramel malt with some citrus and darker fruits, bready malt and toffee. Finishes bitter malt. Thick on the palate. Some dry (not tart) apple cider notes in deep background.

No food should be combined with this beer IT Said om label (correct). The beer is slightly cloudy and pale brown. taste sensation may be described as violent and extreme. beer appears as thick and almost syrupy in texture. there is fine balance between hops and alc. This is a beer you can taste long after it is consumed. it is indeed a beer which requires time to drink.

24th January 2009
Cloudy dark amber beer. White suddy head. Very full flvoured IPA. Lemony and piney and citrus. Induces a mouth water! But it’s not dry or over bitter. Silky hop flavours, unlike any other IPA I’ve tasted before. Semi dry lemon marmalade and grapefruit finish. Fabulous!

On tap at Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà. Very good IPA. A little bit bitter, grassy pine aroma, with a long finish. Very very good!

Very old bottle shared at faroevikings house, thanks. Pours hazy amber with a off white head. Aroma and flavour is amazingly fresh hoppy fruity and caramel. Finishes with a bitter and caramel after taste.

UPDATED: JUL 6, 2010 Bottle. 24.5 oz. Split with and courtesy of Vin. Pours turbid orange haze with a thick, overwhelmingly fluffy off-white head. Aroma of caramel, chesnut, haze, vanilla, sweet malts, and tons of resiny hops. Fuller bodied with a velvety, smooth, almost chewy palate. Easy finish, with a bit of bitterness lingering on the back of the tongue. Very good Imperial IPA.

500 mL bottle. One of the muddiest looking beers I’ve ever seen, but it’s not dark; it’s kinda orange. Nice hoppy-yeasty aroma, and the flavour is the same, with the addition of a little caramel. The hops lean toward the resiny side of thing in both the aroma and flavour. Really nice Euro-IIPA.