UPDATED: MAR 21, 2019 Aroma: malty, spiriotus, some plum notes Appearance: dark red with a quickly vanishing cappuccino head Flavour: initial coffee overridden by burnt toffee giving way to plum and some mocha notes Palate: thin and gently carbonated, finishes with the overriding burnt toffee

Fruity aroma with caramel overtones. Very dark brown reddish colour with good head. Caramelised citrus fruit flavour with a nice smooth finish. Very heavy body with medium carbonation.

Bottle at fletchfighters tasting. Thanks guys! Pours a hazy brown with an off-white head. Aroma is quite fruity and malty with caramel, oxidisation and toffee notes. Taste is medium to high sweet leading to a sweetish fruity finish. Past it’s prime no doubt but still pours alright.

Bottle. I still have a few left over from the case i bought and i try one every now and then. It is past it’s best, but still plenty of flavour, but the alcohol flavour hit has taken over.

Bottle shared by STLWill at Woodshop 5.0 (2/20/10): Pours a transparent dark copper amber with a spotty-lacing off-white head. Aroma of semi-sweet dark caramel malt with some light fruity oxidation. Starts with pretty good fullness and light doughy caramel biscuity malts before a sweettart fruity finish. Has some signs of age, but is still quite drinkable and fairly complex.

Woodshop 5.0 ruled for many reasons. One reason it ruled was when Yespr was excited to see the bottle you held because he hadn’t tried it before. Tasting side by side with him was cool. This had a rich, sweet and spicy barleywine nose. Taste is creamy and caramel and brown sugar.

75 cL bottle. Pours hazy dark orange to brown with a small white head. Aroma is dark malty, oxidised and dry, Sweet caramelish and dry oxidised to wooden base flavoured. Light sweet caramelish finish. Way past prime I would assume.

Bottle at Woodshop 5.0 shared by STwill. Pours copper bubbly. Nose is sweet. Taste is sweet and malty with a nice bubbly mouth feel.

Poured hazy amber brown, cardboard, little roasted malts, little dark fruit, little chocolate, little caramel.

Vintage 1999. 400th rate! Last bottle in my collection that was originally half a dozen. Ten years in the bottle, best part of 4 spent in my cellar, and it certainly looks worse for are with most of the label missing and dirt all over the side of the bottle. But it’s what’s inside that counts right? Served in a big wine glass at cellar temperature, i’m presented with a deep burnished copper body, reminisant of a tawny port. Seems to have a real depth to the clarity, perseived hazyiness, suggesting age. Offwhite collar of foam eventually dies off with legs that cling to the glass. Vinous nose straightupl; sultana, raisin, bitter orange, plum, date, honey and golden syrup sweetness. Undertones of oak, spice and alcohol. Very clean considering age! Smooth body, good length, texture is lean and dry from you’d be led to believe from the nose. Nice welcome alcohol warmth towards the finish. Once again comparisons to a tawny port come to mind with the flavour; buttery nutty oak, sultanas, dates, brandy-like undertones, brown sugar, earthy spices perceived as cinnamon and nutmeg. Mildly bitter roasted malt notes and dark grain bread combine with subtle citrus and peppery alcohol flavours that linger and dry out the finish. Bitterness is quite low otherwise. Lovely complex and remarkably clean aged ale. Somewhat dry sherry-like at times, without the body. Excellent flavours and certainly is a beer that has stood the test of time very well indeed, especially consider its humble beginnings!