8.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9.5

Fourth of the Barrel-Aged 12 Days Collection acquired from the brewery late last year. The label indicates an ABV of 13.5%. A slightly cooled-off 12.7 fl oz bottle being opened and poured into a tulip glass now. An absolutely dark body, almost black, with some amber highlights when the glass is held right. The head is a slender skim of khaki tan foam that is steadily rebuilt by a strong carbonation. Lots going on with the scent since the bottle is not cold. There is black plums, toast, chocolate and some booziness. The taste, my goodness, is superb. As I had hoped it would be. Dark raisins, scorched bread, ripe plums, chocolate, plenty of bourbon, ginger and wood. This beer shows why I enjoy dark Belgian ales so much. Maybe there is a lesson learned here in sampling Belgians too cold. Nice brew.

6

Dunno how OG tastes like but this didn't fare well over 8 years. Mostly bourbon sweetness upfront, some caramel, but with a bitter thin bourbon finish which I didn't fancy. Maybe the holiday spices left on the finish.

7.2

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

Poured from a 750 ml bottle. Aroma is malt and spice forward with light bourbon and alcohol notes and faint oak. Ginger, allspice and cinnamon with caramel, toffee, toasted bread, molasses and hints of chocolate. Pours dark brown, almost black with a medium sized, medium thick, dark tan head that recedes quickly to the edges where it lingers for a bit. No lacing and fairly long legs. Flavor is fairly sweet with moderately strong malt notes. Medium to medium high bitterness. Light bourbon and alcohol notes with faint oak. Moderately strong ginger, cinnamon and allspice notes. Moderate notes of caramel, toffee, toasted breads, and molasses with faint chocolate notes. Mouthfeel is full bodied with medium carbonation. Low astringency and low, but present alcohol warmth. Overall, a decent beer but I don't love spices beers. I'm really wondering why I collected this whole series in the first place.

6.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

750mL bottle shared by Johnniiee on 10.13.18. Dark cola brown. Yellow head to ring. Smells like old soft spices and brown sugar. Not aggressive nor sugary. Soft nutty and dry. Spicy and lightly boozy though not sharp. Toffee and caramel. Pretty reasonable but for the heavy spice.

6.6

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

750 ml bottle shared by Johnnniee. Deep black color. Aroma is mild ginger, light coffee, light oak, and oxidation. The flavor has ginger bead, figs, and spice and again, cardboard from oxidation. Not horrible for the age.

7.6

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

Poured from bottle thanks Johnniee dark amber with a tan head. Aroma is dark fruit, licorice, bread. Taste follows sugar fruit bread slightly oxidized but still nice.

8

Backlog

7.8

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

Pours a cloudy mahogany-brown color with a medium light beige head that dissipates steadily to a film. Small patches of lace on the glass. The aroma consists of bourbon, dark fruit, spice and malt. Full-bodied with flavors of oaky bourbon, fruit, cinnamon, yeast and malt. The finish is boozy with a bourbon and spiced fruit aftertaste. Pretty good overall.

7.6

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

Bottle thanks to Sean’s friend. Pours hazy mahogany, small tan head, dissipates quickly, some lacing. Aroma is mostly bourbon, oak and toffee. Flavor is quite sweet, light bitter, boozy, strong bourbon, vanilla, hints of ginger, toffee, cocoa, raisin. Medium body, low carbonation. Pretty tasty in limited doses.

7.4

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

Bottle - pours brown tan head- nose/taste of bourbon, spice, dark fruit, chocolate, banana bread and caramel - full bodied