This is an awesome big beer. It’s quite sweet and could use some bitterness for balance. But being a Laughing Lab junkie for years, this XXX version is really yummy and fun. There’s really not much I can say bad about this beer. It’s from my local brewery which is also one of the best, in my opinion. Bristol stands by their motto of "quality, purity, sanity" so completely in all their brews, I have yet to find one I dislike. The expense of XXX Lab is an issue... but what the heck. It’s the problem we all face and accept in our quest for delicious, Big Beers. Get some, if you can. Bristol tells me there’s a "limited supply" but they keep the numbers a secret, even from the staff. XXX Lab popped up on tap early this Winter. It "ran out" quickly, then mysteriously came back in bottles. Trying to save some of it for the Summer has proved impossible for me... it’s too good to let sit.

750 mL bottle. Gentle chestnut in color. Interwoven aromatic toasted malt and caramel elements with hints of mocha, vanilla, strawberry and a touch of hop aromatics, which gives a subtle floral and herbaceous scent. I like the aroma. Extremely vinous flavor (which was present in the aroma, but not quite worth noting) with a glorious malt fiesta of caramel, fruit and toasted malts. Also, although I have no actual evidence of this and the brewery doesn’t describe this beer to be, I say this was aged in a wine barrel. It’s just too fruity and vinous to come from pure malt extraction and yeast and there are also subtle notes of cocunut and vanilla along with the malt elements. Extremely well hidden alcohol, considering this is somewhere between 12.5% and 14.0%. Even though the aroma is a bit alcoholic the flavor profile possesses almost none of these traits. More proof that Bristol can brew.

3rd Rating from 3rd Annual Woodshop tasting in Temple City, CA. 3/1/08. One hell of a day put on by Cquiroga, thanks for a killer day Chris. Also spent the day there with bikesanbeer, my girlfriend Cyn, wetherel, JohnC, DenverLogan, dirty martini, jasparg, DrBil, IPAFiend, awaisanen and many others, this was one crazy day. 2004 bottle. Porus brown with an off head. Nose is sweet and sweet and sweet. Taste is sweet and sour awesome. Nothing on the style, but a beer on its own it was great.

Boulder Strong Ale Fest. Thin head. Golden orange body. Sweet earthy malted aroma. Bubbly, then thick mouthfeel. Bitter up front, follwed by alcohol and rich malt. Finish is candied. Nice strong ale.

750 mL bottle 1389 of 2000. Pours brilliant mahagony with ruby highlights and a small frothy tan head with some spotty lacing. Fruity (berries) caramel lightly roasted malt aroma warmly greets you and then maple sugary oak notes rise up as an after thought. Sour, tart berry (cherry) flavor with a roasted malt caramel body with glimmers of alcohol mingling aimlessly with the oak notes. Medium bodied and warming with a fizzy, lively carbonated feel.