UPDATED: JAN 14, 2024 Historic : bought 250 ml bottle in 1995 for $NZ 3 50 , brewed in 1991 , opened 23/06/97 : Opened at room temperature , 8°c , winter in NZ : Poured a thick syrupy gloop , deep malty brown colour , faint sparkle , rather muddy looking ... very yeasty aroma , quite vegemitey ... slightly spritzy mouthfeel , enormous malt flavour , dirty earthy astringency , puckering ... relieved the bottle was just 250 ml .

UPDATED: NOV 27, 2021 Poured from 25cl bottle (bottled 1997; bb 09/2000 - courtesy of fiulijn, label says 'dark'). Some nice molasses and raisin notes on the nose along with some burnt toffee, hint of honey. Taste is bit thin, a bit boozy, flavours are there, but more muted.

UPDATED: MAR 4, 2020 Bottle from Cheers Liquor Store, Todmorden. Dark hazy amber-brown with next to no head. Lots of alcohol, but plenty of chocolate too, with the latter developing with a sweetness in its aftertaste, and also going a long way to hiding how strong this brew really is. My vintage is from 2011 and have a later produced second brew in my cellar to enjoy again at some point.

UPDATED: MAR 4, 2020 12 oz bottle '97 vintage (Old Notes) Pours brown with no head. Aroma of roasted malt, sweetness, caramel, and toffee. Taste of the same with some dark fruits coming in. this full bodied brew is well balanced and quite tasty.

1987 Vintage bottle thanks to Dan. Congrats on the 10K! It pours clear deep rub - red with minimal head. The aroma is rich, oily, tangy fruits, musty oxidised aspect (as expected for a bottle this age), marmite, dark fruits, cake and vinous notes. The taste is slick, oily, juicy fruits, jammy, tangy, plenty of dark fruits, fruit cake, compote, bit of booze, wood and vinous character with a drying and chewy finish. Medium - full body, limited carbonation and oily mouth - feel. Really pretty great actually, especially given the age!

Bottle split at the Osprey 10K tasting, CBC Islington, thanks to Danny Boyo 21/03/18. Rich murky mahogany brown with a decent beige cap. Nose is earthy, dusty fruits, soy sauce, ladies knickers on a warm day, toffee. Taste comprises fruit cake, sherry oak, toffee, vinous tones, dried fruits, light soy, modest oxidisation. Medium plus body, moderate carbonation, subdued boost at the curtain call. Fun to try and has aged gracefully.

Bottle shared at Daniel Osprey 10K tasting. 21/03/2018. Many thanks! A hazed reddy brown coloured pour with an oily head. Aroma is sweet jammy tangy, hot alchol, red fruit, cranberry. Flavour is composed of brown malts, sticky, brown sugars, maple, earthy wood, tangy fruit, cake, earthy, umami, salty. Paalte is oily, sticky brown malts, tangy, oily, lowish carboantion.

24Mar2018 1987 vintage. Sweet, dark toasted malts, very sweet grain, bread, molasses, caramel, dark candied fruits, prunes. Hazy, very dark brown, tiny, creamy, beige head. Heavy sweet. Dark, candied fruits, prunes, more sweet, dark malts, soft carbonation, medium bodied. Outstanding, aged really well. Bottle shared at CBC Islington - thanks to The_Osprey!

Bottle shared in London - big thanks to Daniel. Cheers on 10k. Vintage 1987. Pours unclear brown with no head. In excellent shape. Rich and jammy, hearty malts, burnt honey, toffee. Full bodied, soft and chewy. Warming finish, fruitcake, more toffee and brown sugar. Mellow oxidation. Outstanding, just like Danny.

21st March 2018
Craft Angel. Keg. Dan's 10K boostfest. Thanks to Dan. Hazy amber beer, small pale tan head. Smooth palate, modest fine carbonation. Rich caramel malts, mild salty bitterness. Little oxidised caramel. Good spicy fruits. Nice red berries. Tangy citric peel. Little brandy on the finish. Good stuff, aged well.