(375ml bottle shared @ VilleValla Pub, Linköping, Apr 5 2016) Pours pitch black with a tiny whitish ring of bubbles. Aroma is driven by the bourbon barrel with vanilla and coconut, molasses, dark fruit, a touch vinous, some wood. On the palate, bourbon and brandy in more balance, again molasses core with chocolate, very light roast, dark fruits, vinous brandy notes, oaky vanilla, bourbon and fortified wine. Finish fairly sweet but dried by alcohol, persistent brandy notes, wood and soft roast. Medium bodied, touch thinner than expected, nearly zero carbonation. Pleased the bourbon wasn’t as overpowering as the first smell hinted, more was buried beneath and the flavour was a much more integrated experience.

Bottle share dark pitted fruit and roasty. Smooth and tasty laugh a little abv burn at the end

Bottle from Chris, 2004 vintage. Aroma wraps up the ABV, fruity essence, dark pit fruit, oily slick body. Quad? Delicious? Yea!

375 ml bottle. Pitch black body with a dense beige head. Nice, strong aroma of dark malt, molasses, caramel, dry fruit and warming alcohol. Flavor is sweet, dark, medium roasted malt, caramel, dry fruit, spices, moderate bitterness and warming alcohol. Full bodied and long lasting nice aftertaste. A really balanced beer with strong flavors that seems to be incredible integrated with each other. Nothing really stands out, even the alcohol is pretty well hidden, at the same thing nothing seems to be missing here. Great stuff.

375ml bottle at the Hoppy Pub, Thessaloniki. Dark brown almost black color with small light beige head that quickly disappears. Malty aroma, roasted, chocolate, caramel, licorice, dark dried fruits, vanilla, wood, alcohol. Sweet and bitter taste like aroma. Medium to full oily sticky body with flat carbonation.

Appearance- pours very, very dark, just about pitch black. No head at all, apart from a tan bubbly rim. Aroma- wow. Quite boozy, treacle, chocolate fudge, molasses, brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla ice cream, golden syrup, melted dark chocolate, rum, leather, cherry skins, brandy, sultanas, booze-soaked prunes, Christmas pudding with brandy butter. Smells outrageous. Taste- dark chocolate, roasted malt, bitter coffee, bourbon, you can taste the apple brandy, a bit like slightly burnt fruitcake with apples in it. Smoky, leathery, burnt toast notes, syrup and treacle, chocolate fudge, sweet dark fruits. Roasty, bitter and lingering finish. Mouthfeel is syrupy and slick, but not quite as full as expected. The alcohol is very well-hidden. This is excellent, slightly let down by the lack of carbonation.

Bottle. Aroma is sweet, vanilla, bourbon, brandy. Flavor is sweet, cocoa, bourbon, dark chocolate, malt, roast, alcohol. Finish is dark chocolate and alcohol. Overall: great brew.