emacgee (1859), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA Feb 28, 2008 Boy oh boy. I’ve been saving this for my 700th rating. Many thanks to polomagnifico for hooking me up with the 2007 and many thanks to turdferguson for sharing his 2004 for a comparison. The 2004 poured a darker red brew with less head. The aroma showed less raspberry, had a more mature round aroma, mellow fruit, less chocolate and caramel, sweet, no alcohol present in the aroma. The flavor had a lite tartness, matured raspberry, a smokey/meaty tobacco flavor, a little oxidized and some earthiness. The palate was smooth with no alcohol. The 2007 poured a dark reddish brown with a thin tan brown head. The aroma epitomized raspberries covered in chocolate and caramel, very distinct for all three, goddamn that is a beautiful nose. The flavor was smooth and full, sweet chocolate covered raspberries, caramel, light alcohol, a hint of medicinal fruit at the rear sides of the tongue. The palate was warming with hidden alcohol and lite carbonation. This one is a little green still. I’d like to see it with a year or two on it. I still preferred the 2007 but man they were both amazing. DenverLogan (421), MileHi, Colorado, USA Feb 26, 2008 Updated: Mar 1, 2008This is from the 2004 batch. Dark brown. Aroma of dark chocolate cherries with very wet cardboard (not in taste). Beautiful balance and flavor of liquid chocolate raspberries...has held up beautifully. I find this first batch to much more chocolately than the more recent.
Re-tastedthe 2004 at 3/1/08 at big tasting...no cardboard in aroma and more raspberry.
Also had the 2007 which is less sweet, chocolaty, and to me tasty. heylrule (46), Maryland, USA Feb 20, 2008 EBF sample, man was this stuff great. 1st id love to get my hands on some. Pours red, tasted sweet but not over powering. Fresh rasberry taste not syrup. LooseCannon (914), Norfolk, Virginia, USA Feb 18, 2008 Thanks to Immy for this one. 2004 vintage. Pours red in color with very thin white head. Aroma is of sweet raspberry. Taste is like a mouthful of raspberry with dry finish. gunhaver (1024), Tampa, Florida, USA Feb 17, 2008 Updated: Jun 5, 2008Gigantic thanks to hopscotch for opening this bottle at the end of an epic Vero Beach Throwdown. Awesome! 2007 vintage. Pours a dark reddish brown, with thin braids of lacing prevalent. Very thin, but well carbonated head. Aroma is great: raspberry, chocolate, candy corn, silky slivering malts. The candy corn especially comes through in big chunks. Flavor is powerful. Well blended raspberries, very warming chocolate, candy corn, nougat intertwined with a waterfall of caramel. Delightful. Very bright finish, bitter mouthfeel. Astonishingly drinkable, and exceptionally well-balanced. Deserved of its praise. tertons (74), East Providence, Rhode Island, USA Feb 17, 2008 Updated: Jul 19, 2009EBF V Session I. Outstanding balance of fruit with malt on the opening and continues and is left at the end with added hints of warm alcohol and dry sourness. Stands out and will fit in well with many styles. kms399 (267), plymouth, Minnesota, USA Feb 15, 2008 very small sample thanks to justincredible’s awful pour, dark with minimal head. nice slightly yeasty and alcoholic aroma with mabye a touch of caramel and raspberry. taste is much of the same with a bold upfront flavor of raspberry, chocolate and caramel. there is a lingering caramel and rasberry. the raspberry is very mild and easily enjoyed. great beer. anyone want to trade? bager (2121), Copenhagen N, Denmark Feb 15, 2008 Bottled 2004(thx Chris and Jim). Outstanding aroma of chocolate and raspberries. Semi clear and deep red in colour with almost no head. Complex and very well balanced with notes of liqourice, hazel nuts, raspberry marmelade andchccolate. Yummy.
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