4.6

Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 5 | Overall - 18

An IS monster. A dense dark tan head on a near black body. The nose is a feast - smooth whiskey, roasted coffee, sweet chocolate, caramel and dark berries. The taste is explosive but well blended. Rich chocolate, chocolate fudge, roasted coffee, whiskey with a burn, rich toffee, butter, and touches of fruit hops and dark berries. There is a slight whiff of the Chilies under all that. Rich, chewy, dense and smooth. Beautifully slick and slightly sticky. Off the charts great.

9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9

Bottle from Hopt. Aroma is dark malts, cocoa, soft bourbon, oak, dark chocolate, subtle chili, vanilla, espreso, some alcohol. Flavour is sweet and mildly bitter with a slight chili burn and mild booze. Body is full. While I like the original just a bit more, I must say that this is how you do proper barrel aging. None of that harsh boozy liquor nonsense. Delicious!

8.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5

Appearance is oily black, opaque, no head at all. Aroma is rich chocolate, fudgy malt, coffee, woody barrel, vanilla, oak, boozy dark rum, treacly caramel, more oaky bourbon. Taste is smooth rich dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, bourbon, oaky earthy wood, roast malt, treacle, espresso coffee, nutty earthy malt, sweet chocolatey finish, boozy notes. Very rich and decadent. Oily smooth mouthfeel. Lingering spicy finish.

8.5

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9

Draught at Ale Arsenal. Pours ink black with brown head. Lusciuos and smooth chocolate and anise. Barrel comes through on both the aroma and flavor. Nutty on the flavor. Fantastic and smooth, hiding the alcohol well. So good.

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle at home. Four years old. Has a dark brown to black colour with a no head. Aroma of ash, tobacco, dark, oak, bourbon, brown sugar, chocolate and leather. Flavour of cocoa, leather, tobacco, jalapenos, very dark chocolate and ash. Warming alcohol in the end. Has a silky mouth feel, full-bodied and a soft to medium bitterness. Tasteful and complex.

7.1

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

Whiskey is super strong here. Takes over and dominates other flavours, to the extent where I'm not sure why this is rated so high. Roast and booze, chocolate. Black oily pour with decent head. Bittersweet boozy finish. A cheapened version of the original base beer. Bottle from three years back.

9

Bourbon and vanilla on the aroma, thick and smooth. Chocolate and lots of vanilla, bourbon, dome milky coffee. Alcoholic taste without burn. More roast when it warms up. Fantastic.

9.5

@ 2017

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 8

No best before date on the bottle, 12 fl oz (355ml), bought at Beergium Online Shop

AROMA: loads of crushed cacao nibs, bitter chocolate, soft vanilla notes but more in the background, sweetened coffee with earthy character, notes of chocolate fudge and slightly more toasted sugars, especially brown sugar but not caramel forward; toasted bread underneath all spices, mild dry chili peppers, smooth bourbon & woody notes shines through and adds complexity to the whole picture; soft red fruit/dry fruits esters in the background (hints of berries); as it warms up more dark chocolate forward with some degree of sweetness and vanilla; no obvious sign of 13% abv on the nose and no other flaws so far;

TASTE & MOUTHFEEL: soft & low carbonation, medium to medium full body, a bit thin on the edges (quite a normal effect for barrel aged beers), slightly syrupy & oily mouthfeel (moderate strength); harmonious sweet onset of toasted sugars, dark caramel, mild butterscotch notes, dark chocolate, smooth cacao nibs & earthy bitterness, no obvious roast elements (definitely not burnt or charged), soft aromatic coffee lingers at the end with a subtle chili peppers (earthy, dusty vibes); vanilla beans are very restrained (probably faded away); light spiciness in the finish with smooth bourbon touch but not boozy or hot at all for 13% abv; quite dangerously drinkable for that abv; also a bit savory & woody (light dryness from the barrels);

OVERALL: very enjoyable BA IS, harmonious with no off flavors; most of the adjuncts are nicely noticeable but I do miss vanilla & chili peppers; also not so bitter neither sweet which is great in my opinion.