UPDATED: AUG 2, 2022 BBE 04/14 - Drunk 08/22 Thin light brown head on a dark brown body. Malt, chocolate & boozy aroma. Medium bodied, smooth, soft & clean. Malt, chocolate, sherry, oaky & smoked tastes with a boozy finish. Passed its best now

UPDATED: DEC 26, 2021 Bottle 500 ml at ABV 7.4 % from the Fuller's shop in Chiswick. Pours black body with beige head. Aroma of caramel, coffee, dark fruit, alcohol. Taste is rich with black coffee, smoky whisky undertones, caramel. Smooth on the palate.

UPDATED: JUN 30, 2021 Bottle. Poured very dark brown with a creamy off-white to beige head. Aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, caramel, liquorice, touch of coffee. Medium plus sweetness, moderate roasted bitterness. Quite full bodied, smooth texture, very soft carbonation. Nicely done.

UPDATED: SEP 21, 2019 500ml bottle at The Beehive, Egham in 2011. Specially ordered this in, even if I was the only person who wanted it (actually I think it proved popular with the local CAMRA constabulary). Black with a thick brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, chicory, black coffee and bonfire. Very dry and roasty with a great body and wonderful residual bitterness. One of the best beers Fuller’s ever made, IMO.

Grainy smooth nose. The beer starts fresh malty. Nice fresh hopped, malty with a nice bitterness. Round and refreshing with a nice malty bitter aftertaste. Nice.

Bottle shared with Erzengel! A dark brown/black beer with a small tan head. Aroma of mild sweet chocolate, toffee. Taste of toffee, mild sweet chocolate, lactose, good!

500ml bottle, 2011, courtesy of tashi, drunk 16th June 2011. Deep brown with a tan head. Smoky, roasted nose and a similar flavour. Hints of dark chocolate, liquorice and coffee. Very smooth, alcohol very well hidden. Very easy to drink. I really enjoyed this. Perfect strong sipping stout.

2011 vintage. A deep dark stout with a thick collapsing brown head. In aroma, musty bitter chocolate with dark fruits, light peated notes, nice. In mouth, a sweet fruity chocolate malt with smooth vanilla notes, light dark fruits, smooth alcohol warmth, still solid after more than 4 years...BB 19-APR-2014

Overall: Raisins, sherry, rather dry.
Note: Bottle 500 ml at Porterfestivalen. (Vintage 2013) Reviewed 2015-11-14.

Bottle @ home. Aged 4 years. Dark brown to black color, beige head. It has developed a nice moderate vinous sweetness. Aroma of plums, raisins chocolate, toffee, honey, some coffee, warming alcohol, malt and bread. Similar taste, sweet with a dry finish and lingering chocolate and licorice.