Bottle number 43157, courtesy of Robert at Mr. G’s in Dallas, TX (and ilovedarkbeer for his work at getting Robert to give it to him at no charge). Pours with a huge, long lasting egg shell colored head over a hazy bronze kettle hued body. The head will not quit, even after about an hour in the snifter. The beer leaves fantastic, sheets of lacing on every swirl and sip. Aroma is, wow, complex. Sweet, bready, tang, sherry, port, light oxidation, British ale yeast, rum, chocolate, dough, cinnamon, raisins, light alcohol, dark raspberries, currants (from the fusel alcohol), nougat, cassis. Layers upon layers in the aroma, a new experience each sniff. Taste is sweet and doughy with spice, cinnamon, toffee, pralines, a bit of oxidation (9 year old beer here folks, but it is really amazingly well kept). There is a bit of lingering bitterness too (ancient British hops). Now for the second sip. More golden sweetness, wood, light cedar, ashy, fruity with blackberries, some alcohol, and old library books. Really holding up well, but the aroma cannot be matched by the taste, no matter how hard it tries (but that might be more the complexity of the aroma over the taste of the beer). Mouthfeel ties the knot on this beer, syrupy, velvety and smooth, light carbonation. Absolutely brilliant and a treat to have tried.

Bottle shared by Chris at Woodshop Quad. Bottle 64253. nose of caramel, toffee, and a spicy note. Clear copper with a medium offwhite head. flavor had caramel, toffee, sweetness, and a spicy note. Best Fullers Vintage I have tasted

55cl bottle. Finally I got a reason to open this bottle. Pours amber/orange with a full creamy white head and lacings. Nose is sweet and vinous. Lots of port, dark fruits, caramel and sugar. Quite earthy, a bit mouldy/matured as well. Full , creamy and smooth body. Medium carbonation. Oily, slick and sticky. Taste is vinous and has loads of caramel, dark fruits, sugar and a hint of liquorice. Bitter end. Maaaaad Nice!

1pt 2.6 fl. oz. bottle #42548, bought from the brewery and saved for my 1000th rating.

Pours clear golden amber with thick billowing caramel colour head that falls back quickly leaving the glass well-laced. Aroma is deeply vinous, like the cork from an old bottle of good claret, but also has lots of burnt caramel and wood smoke. The flavour is similar, to start you could be sipping a good wine, rich, smooth and velvety, but then the roasted malts become apparent with a deep earthy caramel, followed by a touch of orange and spice. There’s also leather and tobacco in there as well. The alcohol shows in the finish, but in a very mellow, warming way, with a touch of smoke and sweetness - not unlike a highland whisky.

Overall a truely outstanding ale, still at it’s best after 8 years. I’m looking forward to my next major milestone now, as I have a bottle of the 1999 vintage put aside.

Bottled (thanks chris_o!). Amber colour, beige mediumsized head. Aroma is sweet caramel, alcohol, malts, hops and mild oxidation. Flavour is raisins, malts, some hops and spices. Also mild notes of alcohol.

Bottle. Creamy off-white excellent fully lasting head. Amber colour. Heavy malty and light hoppy aroma. Light sweet and moderate bitter really nice flavor. Long powerfull finish. Creamy palate. Great stuff.