Theakston Old Peculier (Bottle)

500 mL bottle shared with Lubiere (thanks Luc!). App.: deep reddish-brown, smallish tan head. Aroma: diacetyl (butterscotch), dried dark fruits, woody and vinous, caramel and toffee. Like a strong Newcastle Brown (am I allowed to say that...?). Palate: med.-thin body, a touch flinty, med.-full carbonation. Flav.: woody, raisins, roasted malts, nice finish of burnt sugar and a touch bitter.

Dark brown, nearly black appearance. Thick, foamy tan head that leaves some sticky lacing on the glass. Lots of carbonation. Sweet malty aroma with some hints of cocoa and some light spiciness. Malt-dominant flavors, with elements of cocoa, spices, and a light fruitiness. Smooth and velvety mouthfeel, perhaps a bit "light", but a very dry and crisp finish. Good stuff.

Very sweet and a tad malty, but slightly bland for an ale of 5.7%. Not to my liking at all and stereotypical of a dirty northern brew of low quality. Northerners should stick to baking bread, putting ferrets down there trousers and beating their wives!

12 oz. bottle. Aroma is of alcohol and chocolate with a little spice. Pours very dark, but slightly transparent - almost purple quality to it. Frothy off-white head. Flavor is of alcohol, malt and spice. Finish is dry. A unique experience.

Pours to a brown body with a thin and rapidly dissipating light tan head. The flavor is interesting to say the least. Lots of dried dark fruits like figs and dates with some light raisins and bananas thrown in the mix. A roasted malt fills the back-end. The palate is carbonated and medium bodied. The aroma is dried banana chips and something like a holly wreath or other Christmas plant.

Pours deep mahogany into a tulip. Medium sized mocha head leaves sheet lacing as it slowly recedes. Raisins, figs, apricots and roasted nuts. Sticky sweet rotting banana peel turning slightly bitter for a lasting aspirin finish...but in a way...

This one has fallen away over the years. The bottled version is quite average. The cask version can be good but has to be particularly well looked after.

12/16/06: Bottle.
Brown body with a malty, caramel aroma. Flavor is nutty with caramel, toasted vanilla and alcohol. Finish has a touch of bitter coffee. I have not had this one in awhile – it seems like it used to be a bit better.