Bass No 1 / King's Ale
White Shield Brewery / Museum Brewery in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England 🏴
Barley Wine - Barley Regular Out of Production|
Score
7.21
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Abv has varied between 9.0% and 10.5%.
This is the very first Barley Wine to ever be mass produced. It is named after the brewery in which it was first brewed. This beer started a tradition in British brewing in which all brewers produced a barley wine. This beer is only produced occasionally and as such is very hard to find.
Bass King’s Ale is a batch of Bass No. 1 which was started by Edward VII during a visit to the brewery in 1902.
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Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 4
Well, here it goes. The cork had a small crack in it and that worries me.
It pours a dark brown with hues of red, no foam, no lacing. As expected.
Smells of caramel malt, leather, tobacco, very fruity of the dark pitted kind, notes of sherry and more than a hint of fruity tartness. Oxidation is obvious.
Yep, the oxidation took a turn to the tart side; damn cork. Still has lots of sherry notes and leather, light sweetness, but really, it resembles a wine more than a beer at this point. Strong too, lots of heat in the swallow.
Full bodied. A chore to drink. 3rd time seeking this brew out wasn't so lucky.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5
500ml bottle. 1902 vintage. Earthy, tartish and yeasty with some soy sauce, ripe fruits and green apples. A bit weird but still pretty crazy to drink a beer from over 100 years ago.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9
Bottle shared by me at Joe's going away party - Pours ruby red. Nose/taste of molasses, raisin, leather, tobacco, smoked prune and some soy. Awesome for a 100+ year old beer.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 2 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3
Sampled 1902 vintage from lead(!)-sealed and corked bottle, at RBESG 2006 in Göteborg. The smell was simply lovely, very complex and enticing. Unfortunately the flavour had turned into vinegar, and I could not finish my small ration. But I kept the cork, and enjoyed the smell of it for months!
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
1978 Bottle shared at A Day To Sink All Sea Shepards tasting. Very hazy brown with no head. Aroma of mold, malt, caramel dark fruity notes and light wood. Flavour is above moderate sweet and light moderate bitter. Medium bodied with very soft carbonation. Pretty good considering the age and an interesting one to try.[17-09-2016]
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
500 ml 40 years old bottle shared at the original Chez Moeder Lambic’s cellar. Thanks Alex!! Hazy copper brown color with no head. Malty aroma, toasted, breadt, cookie, caramel, fruity, dark dried fruits, some wood and alcohol. Sweet and bitter taste. Medium oily body with soft carbonation.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
At Dunder 2013 as Kings Ale 1902 vintage. No carbonation left. Vinous, soy sauce and port in aroma. Oxidated taste but still pleasant considering the age.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5
Bottle shared at Leighton’s place. 25/08/2015. Thanks to Leighton for this vintage. Amber / brown coloured pour, clear, no head. Aroma is meaty, boverille, soy, wood. Flavour is composed of meaty marmite, , light malt vinegar. Palate is medium full, viscous, low condition, paper. Interesting to try. Bass King's Ale 1902. Bottle shared at the columbus tasting 22/08/2019. Many thanks! A clear deep red ruby brown coloured pour with a halo of dark tan head. Aroma is farty dungy, sweaty feet, fruit cake, raisin.Flavour is composed of semi sweet, raisin , cake tangy fruits, boozey, sherry, white grape. Paalte is semi sweet light tangy, lowihs carboantion. . Little sweaty. Really good.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5.5
Bottle kindly shared by Cuso. 1902 vintage, 113 years old at the time of drinking. Aroma initially honeyish, sweetish, dried fruits, then turns to soy sauce. Hazy brown colour. No carbonation. Taste incorporates lots of vinegary acidic and solventy alcoholic notes. Also oxidized sherry. Lots of hype, but the beer is perceivably over-aged. Objectively almost no pleasure in drinking this, rather curiosity. Little of traditional beer flavours remain. Bitterness present but I do not get hops flavours. Maybe the slightest hint of burnt sugar malt. I am glad to have tasted it but nothing too special.