Addition: 6/28/02. Only the 2nd 10 for flavor I have given (along with St. Feuillen Brune). An outstanding beer. Original: 6/27/02: Bottle No. 5279. Coppery red color, bone white head, rapidly dissipating, yet still hanging on. Aroma of deep woodsiness, dark roasted malt...the closest to the Boyne River Brown aroma I've yet found. Yes, light coffee aroma as well. Take all of the few other ratings here...they are all correct in identifying components of this brew. For example, some unidentifiable fruitiness and other bits as well -- VENOM says prune, yeah. JPDIPSO says sulphur, check. Very mellow. The lightest, airiest Porter I've had, but one could not call this watery, believe me. Kev is right; the yeast (pure English moors in the evening mist, a la An American Werewolf in London for the nose) calls about mid-pint and never stops ringing in your ears. Seek it out; but unfortunately, I believe that vintagecellar.com is out.

(10/23/02) Lovely bottle (#3084), wish more beers came in such a nice container. Pours with a big beige head that only slowly goes down, leaving a clear mahogany liquid. Aroma is strong chocolate maltiness, offset by floral hoppiness and honey. Flavor is richly chocolate, some roasti-/smokiness and coffee, with earthy hoppiness and English yeastiness hanging in the background. Bitterness at the end is pretty mild. Simply a wonderful beer. Rating based on this experience. (5/6/03) Bottle #3097. Alas, I fear that just over 6 months later, the beer I hoarded is not worth the trouble. Huge beige head, atop clear dark copper body. Aroma is mildly sweet, light chocolate. Flavor is moderately sweet, some chocolate, hint of coffee, but sadly, that's it. The king is dead -- whither went the king? (6/4/5/3/11)

First of all, it opens with a satisfying pop - we should be able to rate the sound of a beer here, too. Full, rich roasty flavors with a nice bit of floral hoppiness.

Bottle 215: The bail-top removal resembled a bomb detonation. The delicate pour still yielded a dense caulk-like foam. Transluscent maroon liquid. Huge aroma of cedar, moist chocolate cake, vanilla, cola, licorice, vinous notes, lactose, and typical porter-like heavily roasted malt. Abundant carbonation from the bottle conditioning is perfect on the palate. Immediate flavors of fruity English hops and yeastiness. Back of the throat lingers chocolate, espresso, and graham cracker. Finishes mildly dry, firmly woody, and long. This beer is in no way overly assertive, but such a subtle beer is appreciated by me. This is a fine testament to the English craftmanship. They continue to produce mild, low alcohol beers with amazing whispers of quality in their product. A world classic to be saught by beer masters.

<b>Release 1999 Bottle #3051:</b> The beer pours a very deep garnet color the head Bunyanesque in size, the texture frothy, and the color a winsome light tan, as it dissipates, it leaves a thick sticky sheet of lace to hide the glass. The nose is a bit sweet with the aroma of lightly toasted grain also a bit musty and a pleasant sniff to be sure. Start is slightly sweet, nicely malted, the top svelte, the finish minimally carbonated, the hops scrumptious in their spicy bite, droughty aftertaste, maybe even a bit vinous, a quite pleasant beer, different than most porters, and a real treat.