Brown. Full malt profile. Caramel, toasted bread, some dates, light chocolate notes, too. Medium bodied. A fairly expected and nondescript American brewed English Strong. It’s not bad just predictable.

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, best before 2/25/2014. Pours fairly clear deep reddish brown color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with some light streaming carbonation. Aromas of big caramel, toast, toffee, raisin, plum, fig, brown sugar, dark bread, chocolate, herbal, light pine, light pepper, and herbal/yeast earthiness. Nice aromas with good complexity and solid balance of dark/bready malt, earthy hops, and yeast ester notes; with good strength. A light metallic note is present in the aromas as well. Taste of caramel, toast, toffee, raisin, plum, fig, brown sugar, dark bread, chocolate, herbal, light pine, light pepper, and herbal/yeast earthiness. Fair amount of herbal/spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, toast, toffee, raisin, plum, fig, brown sugar, dark bread, chocolate, light pepper/pine, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Good complexity and solid balance of dark/bready malt, earthy hops, and yeast ester flavors; with a solid malt/bitterness balance and minimal cloying flavors after the finish. Some light metallic/astringency in the taste, but not overpowering. Medium carbonation and body; with a smooth, fairly creamy/bready, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is well hidden with only a small warming present after the finish. Overall this is a nice English strong ale. All around good complexity, robustness, and solid balance of dark/bready malt, earthy hops, and yeast ester flavors; and very smooth to sip on. I felt this could have been better if it were less hoppy, but was a nicely enjoyable offering otherwise.

Draft pour. Pours a dark reddish brown color wi th a sweet malt aroma. Mostly sweet, caramel malt flavor with a hint of chocolate. Nothing here stood out, but it wasn’t bad.

Reviewed from notes.
I poured this into a pint glass.
The appearance was a decent looking dark brown to black color with a decent looking one finger white foamy head that ends up leaving some decent spider web lacing.
The smell was mainly malty but roasty as well. Lightly spiced with what seems to be perhaps some ginger, and cinnamon.
The taste was kinda sweet roasty and winter spiciness allowing a decent spicy aftertaste leading into a dry finish.
On the palate, it sat at/about a medium with more of a sipping aspect to it than sessionability. No worries at 7% and being a winter warmer, it is where it should be.
Overall, I say this was a fairly good winter warmer I’d have again.

Bottle 0.355l from local market at San Francisco. Colour is brown with small head. Aromas and flavours: Chocolate, spices and roasted malts.

Pours dark brown with light beige foamy head. Smoky aroma ,peat, wood barrel, burnt toast. Taste is roast grains,molasses and peat with very little hop bitterness.Dark and brooding, but very drinkable.

Draft @ Lucky 13, San Francisco, CA. Pours a dark amber color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity malty caramel aroma. Fruity sweetish malty caramel flavor with weak hoppy hints. Has a sweetish malty caramel finish.

Bottle. Pours clear brown-amber with a small tan head that dissipates with nice lacing. Aroma is faint, with notes of caramel, orange. Flavor is a bit spicy, with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and fairly strong orange peel riding a caramel back. Medium body, light zesty bitterness. Not really my thing.

12 ounce bottle. Translucent brown liquid topped by a small beige head. Light toasted malt nose. Slightly bitter toasted malt upfront with hints of black pepper and treacle. Bitter hop finish. Lacks depth or complexity.