7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

bottle - Pours dark brown with a small, lingering tan head. It has a rich toffee and caramel smell and taste. It’s sweet and full bodied. It’s kind of different and may be a little sweet for some, but I enjoyed it.

7

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

On tap at City Beer SF. (vintage 2009) Brownish red with a small head. Aroma and taste of malt, toffee, dried fruit and warming alcohol. Sweet and with a sticky mouthfeel. A beer to sip.

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 9

Rating from 8-28-2010.....Bottle....Pours very dark brown...medium brown carbonated head....thick rich body....dark slightly bitter malt--sweet up front on the first sip....aroma some brown sugar/dark malts (roasted)....a little cocoa throughout aroma and palate---I get the essence of oak. But I’m sure its the birch (never had birch in this way, only in soda).....the maple is present but subtle---thanks Wayne....It got better and better the more that I sipped

6.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle. Pours a dark brown color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity malty spicy caramel aroma. Fruity malty spicy spicy caramel flavor. has a fruity malty spicy caramel finish.

7.1

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Sample from 75 cl. bottle. Near black with dark amber hues and a thin, tanned head. Sweet, fruity aroma with spices, dark fruits and malts, caramel and spices. Taste is sweet. Full body with an oily texture and a soft carbonation. Finishes sweet and spiced with a hint of alcohol. Nice - complex.

7

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Sample from Bottle - dark brown pour with beige head. Aroma and taste is sweet malty, caramel, toffee, pretty sweet, brown sugar, sweet malty finish.

7.4

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle 75 cl. Pours a dark brown with an orange hue and a creamy, beige head. Spicy, oxidized aroma of dark, dried fruits - mushy. Rich and filling body, dark dried fruits, slightly peppery with a warming alcohol finish. Interesting and complex. 081114

6.5

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Bottle courtesy of nimbleprop at first DC tasting of 2010. Dark brown with a medium beige head and moderate lacing. Aroma of milk chocolate. Flavor has toffee, chocolate and licorice, with obvious alcohol. Decent body. Average and inoffensive.

7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Batch 2, 750 mL bottle. Aroma has a fairly strong syrup note with with moderate dark fruit notes of figs, plums and prunes with light cherry and raisin character. Light honey notes with medium roast and toasted bread and light chocolate. Medium caramel and toffee along with light alcohol spice. Pours a dark brown, almost black with a thick, dark tan head with really nice retention. Fairly high amount of lacing with somewhat small legs. Flavor starts slightly sweet and fairly malty with a lot of toasted bread, moderate roast, and lighter notes of caramel, toffee and chocolate. Syrup note is present, but lighter than in the aroma. Flavor has a bit of a tootsie roll note to it. Moderate bitterness with light alcohol spice. Light dark fruit esters and a faint hint of honey. Mouthfeel is medium full to full bodied with medium carbonation. Low astringency and medium low alcohol warmth. Overall, a better beer than I was expecting and the syrup notes have held up surprisingly well. Nice malt character that works well with the syrup. Alcohol is pretty well hidden and the dark fruit and honey notes integrate nicely.

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