Received in trade from VncentLIFE, thanks for the opportunity! Pours a deep dark brown color with a decent tan head that shows moderate retention and minimal lace. Smells of dark dried fruit, caramel, and burnt sugar with a hint of ash mixed in there as well. Taste is dark malty with a hint of mineral and ash. All the usual suspects are here, caramel, dark sugar, prunes, plums, raisins. Light roasted grains are a bit out of place. Little to no hop presence, but there really shouldn’t be. Medium to thick body light level of carbonation with a caramel thick mouthfeel. There are better examples of the style, but this is one damn fine brew. I quite enjoyed this one, roasted grains and all.

Thick, rich deep brown coloured body with a cola coloured glow near the bottom and a dense, three centimetre tall orange, copperish tan head - beautiful beer. Aroma of cherries, pit fruits, raisins, malt, brown sugar, molasses, grapes and a bit more deep fruits and a slight bit of oak. Full-bodied; Dense, thick mouthful with a rich malty flavour at first then hits hard with the sugars - brown sugar, molasses and even a hint of vanilla comes through. Aftertaste shows a bit of complexity with caramel showing first, then some fruits, peat and a little chocolate finishing it out. Overall, a very good beer that isn’t light by any means, but the complexity and accuracy of the style is impressive, even for this beermaker who already produces great beers. Quite simply, if you like beer - buy this. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased from Total Wine in Alexandria, Virginia on 20-July-2011 sampled at home in Washington on 28-July-2011.