Bottle, vintage 2008 from trade with oh6gdx, many thanks Patrik. Black color with small beige head. Aroma of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, licorice, wood, ash, whiskey, wood. Taste, roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, wood, raisins, wood. Alcoholic, complex finish. Superb stuff.

On tap at Haand ølfestival. Black with a brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, dark chocolate, dark fruits/berries, wine, wood and hints of alcohol. Moderate sweet with a balanced bitterness and a slightly dry finish. Full body. Long aftertaste with notes of chocolate and dark fruits. Delicious sipper. (2013-05-25)

17/04/2012 - 2007 vintage bottle shared by Matt (thanks 50belair!) @ Brasserie 4:20. Nera, densa, impenetrabile, leggerissima schiuma color cappuccino. Aroma intenso di cioccolata fondente, caffé, liquirizia, leggera ossidazione. In bocca è meravigliosamente bilanciata, sebbene sbilanciata sul dolce, cioccolata fondente, caffé, ancora una leggera nota di liquirizia sul finale. I cinque anni di invecchiamento gli hanno fatto perdere un po’ di corpo e forse un po’ di carattere, ma rimane una grandissima imperial stout.

Appearance: Black color with a creamy brown head.
Aroma: Coffee, chocolate, licorice and roasted malt.
Palate: Thick oily body. Slightly sweet and a mild bitterness. Soft carbonation. Lovely creamy texture.
Taste: Mild floating chocolate and coffee.
Overall impression: Powerful, complex and lovely ale.
Personal stats: Sample @ Haand 13 (The 2007 version)

18.04.2014, 0,25l bottle (2007 vintage) @ Bishops Arms Gamla Stan:
Small brown creamy mediumlasting head. Aroma is sweet, dark sugar, dark malts, sweet licorice, butterscotch, burnt caramel, dark fruits, hints of honey. Taste is kind of sour-ish oxidized, dark sour fruits, licorice, dark malts, grass, sour coffee, caramel, alcohol, paper, butterscotch. Medium bitterness, slightly dry mouthfeel. Nice, but I guess it’s passed it’s pride quite a while ago.

16.06.2012, 0,18l bottle (2008) sampled @ BBGTC summer tasting:
8-4-9-4-17=4,2
Fyldig sødmerik lukt med preg av mørk malt, humle, mørk sjokolade, mørk tørka frukt, mørkt rørsukker, kaffi, whisky, trefat, honning. Fyldig sødmerik smak med preg av mørk malt, humle, mørkt rørsukker, mørk tørka frukt, sjokolade, kaffi, trefat, lakris, gras, vanilje, karamell, honning, alkohol. Lett oksidert. Middels bitterhet som set godt. Veldig god.

Vintage 2006. 250mL bottle at Akkurat, pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of rich dark fruits, some light roasted malts, and more dark fruits - very fruity. Flavour brings out heavy roasted malt, a little faint licorice, some dark fruits, and more roasted malt. Remarkably complex, with an exceptional depth. There is a syrupy quality to it as well, which would normally not work for me, but in this sense it is incorporated beautifully and only adds to the complexity. In general, there is an amazing balance of roast and dark fruits. Can only imagine what the Kaggen! is like!

Bottle at The Big Stout Tasting, London - many thanks to Ken for providing this major player. Vintage 2008. Pours dark brown with a rich, brown foam head. Musty dark malt nose with burnt bread, wood and dark chocolate. Medium to big sweet flavor, lightly tangy, with burnt/ wet wood, strong earthy bitterness, dark baking cocoa, some meat. Full bodied with fine, chewy carbonation. Dark sugars on the finish, brownies, dark earth. Rich and full character. Nice.

[Thanks to oh6gdx]. 25cl bottle. Dark brown colour with a quickly dissapearing tan head, great viscosity while poured. Aroma has toasted and roasted malts notes, licorice, light alcohol, coffee notes. Flavor has notes of dark coffee, alcohol, bourbon, light cocoa notes, black chocolate, wooden hints. The final has notes of dark coffee with an excellent sensation and duration in the aftertaste. Very dense on palate, creamy and smooth. Light alcoholic sensation that is hidden by the coffee and black chocolate notes. Carbonation is low. Body is high. Texture is oily.

2007 bottle at Akkurat. It pours jet black, with a thin tan head. The nose is rich espresso coffee, roasted malt, vanilla, almond, Christmas cake, dark fruit, molasses, cocoa powder and a touch of soy sauce. The taste is roasted malt, rich coffee, vanilla, dark chocolate, salted caramel, charcoal, toasted coconut, chocolate, gateaux and toast, with a dry, bitter chocolate finish. Full body and fine carbonation. Incredibly smooth, complex and perfectly balanced. A joy to drink!