UPDATED: FEB 10, 2023 660ml bottle, shared at Indy Man 2016. Pours opaque deep brown to black with a loose tan head. Aroma: vinous, jammy dark fruits, plums, prunes, molasses, cocoa, hint of oxidisation. Taste: moderate sweet, roasted malts, vinous, woody oak, burnt brown sugar, molasses, dark fruits. Medium bodied, light carb, sweet cider barrel tinged finish. It's lasted well, all things considered

Mar 2015 - Bottle share, thanks to Ken and Leighton. Black, slight red tinge, small foamy tan head. Aroma is sweet, molasses, oxidation, prune. Body is medium to light, smooth, low carbonation. Taste is tangy, puckering cider, sweet treacle, oxidised, no bitterness.

Bottle shared at Bruce’s place. Many thanks to Kenny. Black opaque coloured pour with a mid tan head. Aroma is big dark fruits, plummy jammy fruits, viscous dark fruits, plummy, flavour is dark choc, tart fruit, little oxidisation, soy. Tart fruit. Palate is light, moderate carbonation. Nice jammy fruits. This has lasted impressively.

Bottle split at Bruce’s, big thanks to Kenny, 06/03/15. Pitch black topped with a decent tan swirl. Nose is spice, earthy cocoa, oxidised notes, light must, toffee fudge, dark fruit peel. Taste comprises chocolate soufle, earthy, hint of coffee, wooded tones, ripe fruit, brown sugars, less oxidised than the nose - gentle trace, dates, fruit cake. Medium + body, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Not bad age considered.

Bottle shared in London - huge thanks to Kenneth for digging into the archives for this one. Pours deep brown with a frothy beige head. The nose holds dark malts, cocoa, dark fruits. Hints of old toffee. Medium sweet flavor with some chalky cocoa, old dried dark fruits, earth. Sweet finish with some well toasted dark malts, a bit of earth, toasted caramel, more dried berries. Mild oxidation but this is still great stuff overall.

Bottle thanks to Kenny/Leighton. It pours darkest brown with a small tan head. The nose is rich, toasty, vinous, plum, prune, vinous, jammy, blackcurrant, mild oxidation and earth. The taste is smooth, toasty, bitter-sweet, charred wood, roasted malt, earth, merlot grape, vinous, prune, jammy fruits and earth with a dry, woody finish. Medium-full body and fine carbonation. So smooth.

22nd January 2010
Opaque black beer. Light brown head. Nice combination of malt, bubblegum and sweet apple on the nose. Palate is semi soft and semi dry. Sweet dark malt with unsweet bubblegum that slowly morphs in to something appley. Finishes semi dry and with more dark malt. Was really looking forward to this - a Cider Brandy barrel beer! The reality is the flavour is mostly malt and bubblegum. Decent enough.

Bottle, bought @ Beermerchants.com.
Pours opaque black with a small, staying, creamy, beige head. Aroma has chocolate, kinda fresh-feeling, brandy, oak, green apples. Medium carbonation, lovely dry and creamy mouthfeel. Flavour is light oaky, roasted, chocolate, a bit sharp apple, coffee, clear oak, a bit of sugary caramel, light liqourice. No sign of age. Vinious. Super delicious and elegant.

2010-08-21, 7-4-7-3-15=36
Dark brown color, almost black. Aroma of chocolate, paper, ash, alcohol, caramel; initially unexciting, then getting better. Good chocolate flavor, with pleasant residual sweetness; light ashy, coffee trace; reasonable hopping, for an English beer; the final has some alcohol too. Very pleasant.

2010-06-04. RBESG 2010, bottle at Johnny’s Off License, Rome, 7-4-7-4-14=36
Black color; creamy head. Nice aroma of roasted malt, cheese rind, coffee, all mild. Good body strength, chocolate flavor, with light roasted malt, enough residual sweetness, salty liquorice, and an English touch that makes it more interesting. Warming alcohol. Good.

Tasting at the 18th Mondial de la bière, June 8, 2011. Dark brown, thin head. Fine aroma of malted barley, light smoke peas. Chocolaty barley taste, a little raw, aftertaste of sweet fruity cereal and licorice. Well malted and very tasty, fun to drink!