beernovice39 (256), South Carolina, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 3/5 | 8/10 | 3/5 | 18/20 | Sep 2, 2009 2008 vint. Whew one whiff of booze a tiny taste and frown later and handed to the wife....who loved and ranked and bought more Nena (136), Seattle, Washington, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Aug 28, 2009 2009 version. Red tinged coppery brown. White head that fell pretty quick and some visible carbonation. Aroma is rich and full of caramel, molasses, vanilla, some wood and earthiness. The taste is also fruity in a prune and raisin kind of way, and has a lot of alcohol on the finish that lingers into sweetness again. corby112 (700), philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 3/5 | 17/20 | Aug 25, 2009 Pours a dark, cloudy chestnut brown color with a thin beige head. Sweet and malty alcohol aroma with hints of vanilla, oak, butterscotch, caramel and whiskey. Flavor is similar aroma with a nice malt backbone that balances out thee strong, sweet alcohol presence. Yeast/ bread notes with hints of butterscotch and vanilla with a nice alcohol warmth in the finish.
brewski519 (403), Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
| 3.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 | Aug 22, 2009 a side by side with 2 bottles - a 2007 and a 2009. The 2007 was murkier and had a much more potent alcohol aroma. The 2009 seemed hoppier and more carbonated. Both had a strong alcohol, dark fruit, caramel and sugary aroma. The taste included the differences already listed hoppier - 2007 less carbonation - more alcohol taste) but the similarities included a biscuity taste along with raisin, sugar, caramel, vanilla and a bourbon like finish. Both years were solid and very enjoyable. I look forward to trying the other 2009s I have stored in a year or two. drowland (1380), Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 | Aug 16, 2009 This is good stuff, but will obviously be enjoyed more after some time. I just did a side by side of 2007 and 2008, and even the 2007 tasted a bit young, though the 2008 had a better hop flavor and presence (go figure). Chef Chad (102), Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 14/20 | Aug 14, 2009 2009... I feel that this beer is actually ready now. I felt it was mellow and not hot on the end at all
Smells of malt, sugar, plums, oak, vanilla and carmel. Pours a reddish brown with some head. Fantastic balance and carbonation with a very smooth and pleasant finish. Flavor was intense but mellow at the same time. Some stone fruit tone, plum and raisin, brown sugar some oak and vanilla going on here.. Nice Brew.. I had 2008 and 2007 but never rated them... elihapa (1051), Honolulu, California, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Aug 10, 2009 ’06 version, on tap at Blue Palms Anniversary. Pours burnt orange-brown with a slight head. Aroma is sugary, caramel, strawberry-peach, with mature notes of peat and booze. Flavor is sweet, balancing dried fruits (peach, apricot), with wood, toffee, and nuts. Palate is very pleasant, smooth, medium-thick with soft carbonation. This is an easy beer to drink, and there is certainly a lot going on here. As a finished my 5oz, I kept getting different flavors upfront, leading to a satisfyingly confusing verdict that left me with the impression of wood, berries, and caramel. Very good. ben4321 (988), Rockville, Maryland, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Aug 8, 2009 Location: 12 oz bottle from Norm’s, 8/8/09 (2009 Vintage)
Aroma: Caramel, alcohol, dark fruits, brown sugar, roasted malts, after breathing for a few minutes this one opened up, and the nose became even nicer, wonderful mix of fruity and roasty malts
Appearance: Nice reddish-brown color, about a finger of fizzy off-white head that dissipates quickly
Flavor: Nice malty flavor, roasty, sweet, a lot like the nose, it’s complex and enjoyable
Palate: A full body, nice mouthfeel, a lot of alcohol burn (though I’d guess this would decrease with age)
Overall Impression:
I wonder if this beer would be better with age? Probably so. Here’s the problem: I’m not so patient...
Anyway, a really nice beer none the less, tons of nice complexity, especially after warming in the glass for a little while.
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