Cask at Guildford arms. Pours black, rich and fruity, figs, chocolate, spicy fruity whisky.

330ml Flip-top, bottled on 15th Jan 14: Gyle # 701. Poured slowly into a Gordons badged thistle shaped glass at home on 28th Nov 14. Exceedingly dark body, a true jet black in fact, on top a thin and fast fading tanned covering which soon became a wisp and collar. The nose is a lovely rich roasted malty affair with woody overtones and whiskey esters. Taste wise it follows the same lines, rich maltiness with wood and whiskey notes: add some dark fruitiness and a block of Bournville chocolate into the mix and you just about have the flavours nailed down. Half way down the beer I had some French soft cheese from the Vosges area and they complimented each other beautifully along with some ’Tuc’ biscuits. What a lovely, lovely beer this is. Rich, smooth and complexed, each sip a joy to behold. Beers like this are the reason I love sites like this, I would never have known about this beer if I had not been a member of RateBeer or BA. One of the best beers I have ever had!

Bottle, 2010 vintage, enjoyed three years after bottling. This is a beauty even before pouring, and continues to be so when it hits the glass black with a red hue and a very small mocha head. Aroma is amazing and sweet with roasted malts, leather, tobacco, vanilla and a deep cellar of oaken barrels. Full creamy body with very soft carbonation. flavour is sweet with oak and chocolate, as well as vanilla, tobacco, prunes and some very fitting and pleasant notes of alcohol. Long nice finish of oak, tobacco and vanilla. Tremendous stuff!

330ml bottle from Beers of Europe. Pours deep dark brown, thin tan head. Aromas of whisky, wood, coffee, vanilla, spice. Taste is more of the same, hanging together with a boozy-cakey sweetness. Medium body, long finish. Nice.

0,33 flaske (gyle no. 701), delt med importør Ovesen, kveldens siste denne fine maikvelden på Holmen Nanobryggeri: nydelig mørk farge, bittelitt skum og en lekker duft av eik, vanilje, svisker og mørke bær. Rik og fyldig smak, en vidunderlig vinøs følelse, som den fineste årgansportvin.

Gyle No 701. Ebony. Small beige head. Aroma of vintage port, sherry, ripe berries and oak. Similar and complex taste. Alcohol is evident. Dark chocolate in aftertaste. A very enjoyable barley wine.

Old rating rerated 01.03.2014, 0,75l bottle (hand-bottled 25.11.2010) @ home:
Small slightly bubbly light brown mediumlasting head. Aroma is slightly rich, lots og licorice, dark malts, coffee, burnt caramel, grass, cough syrup, butterscotch, dark fruits. Taste is slightly rich, licorice, old rope, grass, whisky, coffee, dark malts, cough syrup, burnt caramel, dark fruits. Medium bitterness, slightly dry syrupy mouthfeel. Very nice, but I think maybe it’s even better with less aging.