No head (left); nearly black beer with some red highlights. Burnt malts, burnt liquorice, burnt-sweet taste, does that exist? Liquorice, moccha, faint cigarette ash and a discreet, but (dark sugar) syrupy sweetness. Slick & syrupy, well bodied. Chocolate in the aftertaste. I had expected MUCH more from this. 6 months didn’t do it much good. Mind you, it was not served in ideal circumstances, but all the same. Thanks to the Londoner Aussies for bringing this rare bird!

Bottle at RBG Low Countries 2005 Tasting Session
Totally black body, like very strong coffee or motor oil. Virtually no head. Molasses and strong coffee in the nose. Moderately bitter initial flavour. Lightly bitter finish. Very weak, especially since it’s 6.8% ABV.

2003 bottle. Thanks to Mutant for the trade. Pour is a dark black with deep maroon tinges on the side. Very little head, even with a vigorous pour. Interesting to try this without ever having the regular best extra stout. Immediate flavor is very roasty and black. Like black coffee and dry, dark baker’s chocolate. Huge amounts of black patent malt. Has an ever so slight hint of sweetness (oats, cream and bananas) which is quite pleasant. Some definite treacle, a touch of sticky tar and just tons and tons of bitterness. Not as complex as the Southwark, nor as flavorful as Lion (nowhere close). Body is medium though I didnt find that it was watery or drastically thin (certainly a lot less body than Lion Stout). A good beer though, they dont comprimise the bitterness and I like that. Aroma has black licorice, dark coffee and bitter black malt in it. Bottle conditioned, moderate carbonation.

Dark black. Roasty aroma with a hint of menthol(!) and licorice. Medium to full bodied, rather sweet and only mildly bitter finish.