330 ml bottle into snifter; bottle #06105, bottled in 4/2013. Pours pitch black color with a small dense tan head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lacing cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, vanilla, toast, toffee, dark bread, oak, whiskey, leather, light tobacco, light peat smoke, and roast/oak earthiness. Incredible aromas with great balance and complexity of dark/roasted malt and oak barrel notes; with good strength. Taste of big dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, vanilla, toast, dark bread, toffee, oak, whiskey, leather, light tobacco, light peat smoke, and roast/oak earthiness. Light roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, vanilla, toast, dark bread, toffee, oak, whiskey, leather, light peat smoke, and roast/oak earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity and balance of dark/roasted malt and oak barrel flavors; with a great roasted malt bitterness/sweetness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, creamy, and lightly slick/bready mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is well hidden with only a light warming present after the finish. Overall this is an incredible old ale! All around awesome complexity and balance of dark/roasted malt and oak barrel flavors; and very smooth to sip on for the ABV. A highly enjoyable offering.

Bottle at Bobby’s tasting. Pours black oil with tan head. Nose/taste of brownie, oak, whiskey, roast chocolate, molasses and wood. Medium body.