Dark tawny amber; light aroma for such a huge beer; palate is chewy, with a lot of smooth maltiness, nuts, black cherries, wood, finishing with strong alcohol. Thick.

Date: 08/09/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting

Appearance: clear brown, scant head,
Aroma: big sweet carmel malt aroma,
Body: big body,
Flavor: lots of great rich carmel flavor, nice ripe dark fruits, sticky, well balanced bitterness
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Date: 03/07/2008
Mode: bottle
Source: cellar tasting
Score: 3.6 to 3.9

Appearance: cloudy brown, frothy tan head, bits of lace,
Aroma: sweet brown sugar character in the aroma along with the dark caramel,
Body: very creamy body,
Flavor: flavor has migrated from from the caramel to the brown sugar, touch of fruityness is evolving slower than it should, light bitterness adds some balance,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: ***/4

Well contained alcohol does not hint quite at the huge 12.5% of this monster. It obviously lost a fair bit in terms of texture, but the nose on this beast is still quite spectacular. Not unlike the marvellous 02’, it combines the generous malt character of a barleywine with fitting earthyhops, but malt dominates at this stage obviously. Everything approaching brown sugar, maple, honey whatever is hinted at in the nose that nonetheless avoids to be too sweet. Its character then heads toward a toastier form that reminds of well baked cookies. Vague fruitiness is hard to define, perhaps white grapes or figs. Grows almost chocolatey towards the end which blends with the remaining hops to keep on the nuttiness and finish all malty, yet not too sweet. Sure oxidation process is well started, but it doesn’t carry any unpleasant aspects yet, though the body is loose and lacking in carbonation.

Bottle sampled on 8/9/06, thanks to OldGrowth: Pours a dark amber mahogany with a nicely-lacing light tan head. Aroma has lots of earthy dry aged caramel malt and a touch of dark fruity complexity. Body starts with a semi-sweet viscous earthy maltiness and a lingering milk chocolate finish with a touch of warming alcohol. A full, complex brew that seems to have aged pretty well.

Bottle. Poured a deep and cloudy amberish / brown color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of caramel, toffee, citrus, and dark fruits. Tastes of dark fruits, citrus, caramel, vanilla, and toffee. Malty sweet. This one aged well.