Old Chimneys Good King Henry Special Reserve

Brewed by Old Chimneys
Style: Imperial Stout
Diss, England

Serve in Snifter

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Bottle shared by Duff (huge thanks!). Pours dark brown with a ring of bubbles. Aroma is incredibly deep, with some bourbon and sherry notes on top of some dark fruits. The taste is really superb as well, with a touch of smoke, some raisins, peanuts, and toffee. Later on I get some tobacco taste as well. I agree with puzzl that this is tastes older than it is, but it’s still damn good. Goes down very smooth for a beer of this heft. Reminds me of Bass King’s Ale.

Colore nero,abbondante schiuma cremosa, che cala velocemente. Meraviglioso profumo, malto tostato, cioccolato, cuoio e forse formaggio. Buona consistenza del corpo, volume in bocca perfetta, caramello e sapore di cioccolato, vaniglia, liquirizia, cuoio, qualche acidità.Decisamente ottima.

Malt, honning, kaffe, chokolade, sveske, blomme, grape, tobak, portvin, tømmer, tørv. Sort, sød og bitter men ikke alt for meget. Sirupsagtig og flad.

2006 Bottle thanks to Gabriel. Poured a dark brown almost black with no head. Aroma is oak, dark fruits, and raison. Taste is oak, dark fruit, raison, with a hint of smoke and alcohol. Smooth with a nice warming finish. Unique and good. Thanks Gabe

2007 bottle. Pours a dark, rich black-brown colour from which no light may escape. Nearly flat on the pour with a hint of brown head. Crazy strong aroma of bourbon and oak with rock sugar and vanilla. This may be the finest stout aroma I have ever experienced. The flavour is well balanced with lighter vanilla bourbon, green grapes, milk chocolate, and some nice roasted malt and earthy hops to finish. As much as I do enjoy the flavour, it is just a touch thin for the style. However, I am amazed at how well the alcohol is concealed and the balance between sweet and sour flavours. A very fine brew that is a real pleasure to drink.

This bottle founds it’s way to Santee, California from England via Scottland, DLD, Ohio, and to me. Wow! alot of work but worth it. Pours dark with no head. Aroma of dark fruit, malt, and wood. Flavors were much the same. Very nice.

Pours severe black with a dark brown head. Aromas of oak and whiskey dominate throughout, but there’s a complexity here of ash and leather, chocolate and vanilla and port-like malts. In the mouth it’s sensuous and boozey, with a nuttiness added to the whiskey and bitter element. The mouthfeel is stunning - so thick and velvety. Finishes with a bitter chocolate and oak. Wonderful beer. A real showstopper.

A - Pours black, very small tan-colored head which quickly vanishes to a few bubbles and whisps on top of the beer. S - Smooth whiskey booze, dark chocolate, oak, hints of caramel and dark fruits. The chocolate and booze really work well together, and this nose is unlike any other barrel aged stout I can remember. T - Chocolate, smooth whiskey, oak, slight dark fruit notes. The booze is much stronger on the nose and it really just a flash on the palate. Mostly chocolate, dark fruits, and oak. I picked out quite a lot of wine-like notes from this one, which made this even more enjoyable by adding another dimension. M - Medium (a tad too light) body, light carbonation, smooth creamy finish. D - I really enjoyed this one. The booze, wine notes, and chocolate really combined together to create some different and special. I would def drink this one again, if given the chance.

UPDATED: DEC 2, 2008 Bottle thanks to WeeheavySD. 2005 vintage. Thanks Jon. Really light body to this one came as a real surprise. Very easy to drink and had a nice mouthfeel. I didn’t think there was that much there in the flavor profile. Off flavor of soy was detectable. Rerate 2006 vintage shared by Miketd. 2006 was definately better than the 2005.

Probably the highlight of the evening at my place, Thorpe popped this bottle out, this is how you do a RIS. 2008 vintage Beer is black with nearly no head but still manages to leave some lacing on the glass, carbonation low. Aroma is incredible. Licorice, mild booziness but not offputting, mild vanilla, oak and chocolate, awesomeness. Beer is medium in body and pretty sweet at leadoff. The finish is smooth and mildly dry with a roasty bitterness to the beer that is quite pleasant and not distracting. The late forward and midpalate are sweet with booze / bourbon chocolate and a little late vanilla. It all comes together so well, a very spectacular beer here. I’d have it again for sure.