Woof, this one is a big complex beer not for the faint hearted. Pours an opaque red to black in the tulip glass, no head, aroma of booze, banana, flowers, dark fruit, a real mix bag here. The first sip, truly a sip, was burn and mulled wine. Once it warmed and opened up a little, the bourbon came through big time, this isn’t an easy beer to drink but it is enjoyable.

Appearance: Cork-n-caged. Basically black, oily. Minimal head. Aroma: Oak, whiskey, wood. Taste: Lots of whiskey, wood, slightly roasted. Warming, some alcohol. Bourbon-barreling a bit overpowering. Overrated. Info: 375ml bottle, 28/12-2013

375 ml bottle bought through Brill & Co. Pours black with a very small dark chocolate brown head that quickly dissipates without leaving any trace worth mentioning. Smell is sweet, malty and boozy with caramel, toffee, vanilla fudge, caramelized almonds, bourbon, brandy, sweet liquorice candy, charred wood, leather, moist soil, blueberry glazed doughnuts and subtle hints if chlorine. Taste is sweet, tiny bitter, malty and boozy with toasted malts, caramel, biscuits, toffee, cocoa powder, charred wood, brandy, bourbon, rum soaked raisins, vanilla fudge, roasted nuts, leather, sweet dark bread, moist soil, hay, blueberry jam and dried pine needles. Mouthfeel is round, slightly sticky sweet, tiny creamy, boozy and medium to full bodied. Finish is sweet, bitter and malty with caramel, toffee, bourbon, rum soaked raisins, charred wood, vanilla fudge, moist soil and leather. Very good but for some reasons I expected more. Especially the mouthfeel feels a bit off being surprisingly light bodied and boozy.