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

I only have two bottles left of the 1996, and I don't intend to try the 2002 for awhile yet. Don't get this too cold and think brandy, or you may be disappointed. Very complex, strong, and warming. Great cold weather sipping beer, not your refreshing kind of beer in any form. Sad to see the ratings of the 2002 are not up to the old original. If you run across this, stock up. It's not cheap, but each bottle has the ingredients of 3 beers in it. If you take it home and don't like it, you'll certainly be able to trade. A classic who's day hasn't completely passed.

Historic check-in

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

Poured from 25cl bottle (bottled 1997; bb 09/2000 - courtesy of fiulijn, label says dark). Some nice molasses and raisin notes on the nose along with some burnt toffee, hint of honey. Taste is bit thin, a bit boozy, flavours are there, but more muted.

Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Bottle from Cheers Liquor Store, Todmorden. Dark hazy amber-brown with next to no head. Lots of alcohol, but plenty of chocolate too, with the latter developing with a sweetness in its aftertaste, and also going a long way to hiding how strong this brew really is. My vintage is from 2011 and have a later produced second brew in my cellar to enjoy again at some point.

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

1987 Vintage bottle thanks to Dan. Congrats on the 10K! It pours clear deep rub - red with minimal head. The aroma is rich, oily, tangy fruits, musty oxidised aspect (as expected for a bottle this age), marmite, dark fruits, cake and vinous notes. The taste is slick, oily, juicy fruits, jammy, tangy, plenty of dark fruits, fruit cake, compote, bit of booze, wood and vinous character with a drying and chewy finish. Medium - full body, limited carbonation and oily mouth - feel. Really pretty great actually, especially given the age!

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

Bottle split at the Osprey 10K tasting, CBC Islington, thanks to Danny Boyo 21/03/18. Rich murky mahogany brown with a decent beige cap. Nose is earthy, dusty fruits, soy sauce, ladies knickers on a warm day, toffee. Taste comprises fruit cake, sherry oak, toffee, vinous tones, dried fruits, light soy, modest oxidisation. Medium plus body, moderate carbonation, subdued boost at the curtain call. Fun to try and has aged gracefully.

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

Bottle shared at Daniel Osprey 10K tasting. 21/03/2018. Many thanks! A hazed reddy brown coloured pour with an oily head. Aroma is sweet jammy tangy, hot alchol, red fruit, cranberry. Flavour is composed of brown malts, sticky, brown sugars, maple, earthy wood, tangy fruit, cake, earthy, umami, salty. Paalte is oily, sticky brown malts, tangy, oily, lowish carboantion.

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Bottle shared in London - big thanks to Daniel. Cheers on 10k. Vintage 1987. Pours unclear brown with no head. In excellent shape. Rich and jammy, hearty malts, burnt honey, toffee. Full bodied, soft and chewy. Warming finish, fruitcake, more toffee and brown sugar. Mellow oxidation. Outstanding, just like Danny.

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

21st March 2018
Craft Angel. Keg. Dan's 10K boostfest. Thanks to Dan. Hazy amber beer, small pale tan head. Smooth palate, modest fine carbonation. Rich caramel malts, mild salty bitterness. Little oxidised caramel. Good spicy fruits. Nice red berries. Tangy citric peel. Little brandy on the finish. Good stuff, aged well.

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Bottle at The Ospreys 10k tasting. Clear dark brown colour no head. Some soy sauce some oxidised. Some jammy fruit in mouth. Too oxidised aroma but rest is fine. Jammy fruit filling is fine. Thanks Dan . Higher score for interest.