UPDATED: SEP 2, 2023 Bottled November 2016, drunk 9/2/23. Probably clear, dark, tan head and a good pop to the top, though retention is low. Thank god, no green bell pepper! Syrupy, rich caramel, nougat, apple brandy for days which is not sharp/boozey but rather rich, spicy, fruity and luscious! Coffee is not overdone and only really makes a slight appearance, though Kochere is heavily fruity so it probably just melds right in with everything. No booze. Raisin, plum, fig, but not too much dark fruit, nor too much caramel. Good and balanced all around. Elegant, rich, with caramel, roasty, fruity coffee, fruity apple and a soft, syrupy, lush body with rich malt but not too much sweetness. At 7 years, no doubt past its prime, but still a lovely beer with no flaw, no coffee gone bad and only hints of light oxidation. All the richness of the contemporary mega-syrup, overnight boiled, triple mashed stout/barleywine but without the excessive syrup or sweetness. Lingering barrel character is elegant, fruity, lightly spicy, balancing. I don't think this has lost much in the past few years, as the oxy-caps are keeping it going for the long haul. Really impressive for 7 years old.

18th December 2017
T42 Christmas Bottleshare. Big thanks to Leighton for this treat. Opaque dark brown beer, small tan head. Palate is smooth and has decent fine carbonation. Smooth mellow dark malts with nicely integrated dark chocolate. Whisper of vanilla. Touch of honey in the mid, never too much or too sweet. Mildly spicy calvados on the back end. Any coffee is pretty subtle. Smooth finish. On paper this sounded a bit left field but the disparate elements come together very well indeed. Rich and tasty.

Bottle shared on Level 42, Christmas tasting 18/12/2017. Many thanks! A Black mahognay brown coloured pour with a halo of dark tan head. Aroma is earthy green coffee beean ,pepper, chocolate, spicy wood, cascara, honey, brown sugars. Flavour is composed of medium sweet, honey, brown sugars, muscavado sugars, coffee bean. Palate is smooth, medium sweet, full bodied, soft mellow velvety carbonation. , light wood. Nutty choc and marshmallow. Many layers.

18Dec2017 Sweet, dark toasted malts, dark toast, dark chocolate, dry cacao, honey. Hazy, dark gold, small, creamy, beige head. Medium sweet. More dark chocolate, cacao, sweet, dark toasted malts, sweet, dark, dried fruits, prunes, more, sweet oak, soft carbonation, full bodied. Outstanding, well balanced, rich and intense, very complex. Bottle shared at Level 42 - thanks to Leighton!

December 2017 - Tasting at One Canada Square. Bottle shared with big thanks to Leighton. As 'Hill Farmstead Birth of Tragedy - Kochere'. Pours opaque black with a foamy brown head. Aroma initially gives a chilli vibe, red pepper, fruited milk chocolate and coffee. Body is smooth, quite oily with soft carbonation. Taste is 60% cocoa, little woody, some chilli, vanilla, fruited dark chocolate, a little honey sweetness and then port-like in the finish with a breathy, woody linger. Very, very tasty. (8-4-9-5-17=4.3)

Bottle shared in London - sourced via trade. Pours black-brown with a creamy, beige head. Big aroma, loads of baking cocoa, dark fruits, raisins, burnt honey, a little ash, raisins. Medium sweet flavour, lots of creamy chocolate, nips of alcohol, hearty coffee, hints of toffee. Full bodied, rich and velvety, with small bubble, massaging carbonation. Warming finish, some further toffee, dried berries, almost a little tangy berry, mellow coffee, rich and chewy chocolate. Incredible depth. Even with the complexity and strength, it is amazingly drinkable. Stunning.

Bottle shared at L42. Thanks to Laytowne for this one. Pours jet black with a thin dirty tan head. Aroma is coffee, chocolate, molasses with a hint of bourbon. Taste is marshmallow, coffee, chocolate with the Apple brandy popping out at the ebd. Really smooth and easy drinking. Lovely.

Bottle big thanks to LKS. It pours darkest brown - black with a small dark tan head. The aorma is rich roasted malt, big coffee vibes, toasted nut, berry skin, snickers, toffee, oily, vanilla, honey, fudge and oak. The taste is slick, oily, juicy, chewy, roasted malt, vanilla, quite decadent, toasted coconut, bounty bar, fudge, oak, coffee (loads of it), toasted nut and oily apple with a slick finish. Full body and fine, foamy carboantion. Very nice.

Bottle split at the L42 Xmas Boost Up '17, big thanks to LKS, 18/12/17. Black with a decent tan covering. Nose is coffee beans, chocolate, spice, charr, toffee, dark malts. Taste comprises cacao nibs, caramel, coffee grinds, spice, mellow barrel, black pepper sprinkle, light roast. Full body, fine carbonation, drying close with a rising boost. Solid impy affair.

Near pitch black pour, a thumbs worth of tan head, little lacing. Aroma of rich fudge brownie, Fresh brewed coffee, light brandy. Brandy is toned down in the taste (though still detectable), chocolate fudge, fresh coffee, light dark fruit, slight honey sweetness. Medium to thicker body, lighter carbonation - perfect mouthfeel for this type of beer. Dynamite.