2.6 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 9/20
Pensively, philosophically, I give this an appearance of "4".... the head just isn’t amazing enough, the body still a murky red-black instead of a distinctive colour. Therefore, almost there, but not quite. The aroma? Wet and burnt barley, a hint of hops, nothing too exciting for this style of beer, but at least it smells. The flavour is much the same, barley and hops thrown together without a thought of how they might dance together; wet finish. A shame, really, - there’s no finesse here, no "je ne sais quoi", there is simply a heavy barley malt and some hops boiled together to make a stout-type brew. Sure, it works, it’s all right, but it doesn’t stop your heart - not even with the alcohol content! It is just, ultimately, and sadly,,,, - average.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Raisins, brown sugar,and prunes in the aroma. Medium bodied with flavors of oak, toffee, sweet dried fruits. Finishing sweet with a touch of bitterness. Very nice.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 19/20
Nov 2008 Bottling
Poured into a tulip glass. Pure blackness with almost no head save the lace on the edge. Still, impressive blackness.
The nose is all dark molasses with some alcohol and malt.
The tongue has biscuit, molasses, wood smoke and a little alcohol. While it seems simple, the combination and balance are incredible.
Thin and crisp body and low carbonation. Seems strange for this type of beer.
Overall, very easy to drink. I was expecting more body for a cask aged beer, but I enjoyed it more this way. Not as bold as other cask aged beers, also not as obnoxious.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Bottle 33cl, a dark beer with medium head. Nose is on smoked and wood touch. Aroma is sweet with over riped fruit, caramel, smoked and toasted notes with light sour touch, light ashes too, very roasted.
4.2 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
33 cl bottle. Bottle no. 11004. Bottled on 11/2008. BBE 24.06.2011.
Rated on 20110624.
Pours pitch black color with light, lacy head. Aroma of distinct oak notes, soft vanilla and liquorice. Flavor of peat, toasted malts and dry chocolate. Silky smooth palate. Quite different product compared to the "base".
4327
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
Quite viscous, colour is deep black with dark beige head. It smells to roast malt, quite sweet and with some chocolate notes. Taste is also sweet more chocolately than the smell. Medium bitter palate.
3.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
330ml bottle. The first think that you notice when pouring the beer in the glass is not the intense black color, the small mocha head with low retention, or the oily look, it’s the whiskey in the air.
Aroma is sweet chocolate, whiskey, good espresso coffee, caramel, vanilla, malt, grains and something cheesy. Taste is dominated by burned sugar diluted with coffee and roasted malt, very balanced, round, a little more on the bitter side.
Good, but nothing spectacular and overpriced.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
16th August 2009
Cask at GBBF. Opaque black beer. Decent tan head. Softish palate. Airy dark malt with immediate blend of subtle vanilla oak. More obvious smoky whisky from the Highland Park. All very well joined up and with a nice carbonated bite.
4.1 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Thisisgoodbeer! Dark, black. Has a light brown head, mostly lasting. Aroma starts malty, then medicine notes, iodine-but not too much, just a hint, faint smoke too. Perfect flavor, sweetness to a start, nice notes of old beer, medicine, complex. Iron, long-long duration, roasted notes, perhaps Islay whisky, peat.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
light whisky aroma,black, brown foam, light sweetness, lightly bitter, medium body, creamy, soft carbonation, long nice soft tasty finish.
3.6 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Pours whisper of tan foam. Black body. Bit of carbonation clinging to glass side. Aroma of lite soy sauce. Flavors of soy, prunes and charred steak. Slight warmth in back of throat. Tar flavor lingers on palate. A bit of chewiness in the mouthfeel. Glad I finally got around to trying this.
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