Anniversary Ale IX (2020)

Bottle from Westhill Service Station. It pours jet black with a thick, dense tan head. The aroma is rich roasted malt, umami, liquorice, aniseed, big bourbon soaked oak character, vanilla, toffee, fudge, dried fruits, currant loaf, black bun, plum and blackcurrant jam. The taste is thick and sticky, rich roasted malt, bitter - sweet, perhaps note bitterness, charred toast, liquorice, aniseed, umami, salted caramel, vanilla, rich bourbon character, oak, warming spice, light tannin, dried fruits, fruit cake and a touch of ash. Finish is lingering roast, spice and warmth. Fulsome body and moderate, foamy carbonation. Interesting and good depth of flavour. Moreish and quaffable.

Bottle from Appellation Wines. Appearance - almost black and opaque. Nose - molasses, leather and nuts. A suggestion of liquorice. Taste - molasses and liquorice for certain this time. Dates, jerky. Palate - full bodied. Rich texture with an edge of spice. Good length. Overall - like a black barley wine really. Lovely gear!

Bottle at ash's. Pours deep ruby black, nose is cheesy bourbon, wood, roasted, molasses, taste is chewy, black pepper, fudge, roasted, sweet, aniseed. --- Beer merged from original tick of Anniversary IX (2020) on 29 Dec 2020 at 15:28 - Score: 8

Bottle thanks to Ashton McCobb. Pours black with a thin tan head. Aromas of bourbon, wood, vanilla, toffee, hazelnuts, leather, praline, a suggestion of liquorice. Taste has prunes, chocolate, bourbon. There's a lot going on.