Strong blackcurrant and raisin aroma. Blackcurrant flavor with hops, tannin, grapes and a hint of licorice. Just a bit thin. Very fruity and complex ale, very well brewed also, but I liked the 2001 version better.

How: Bottle.
Where: Shared at home.
Appearance: Deep amber colour with a small beige head.
Aroma: Hops, spices, dried fruit, raisin.
Body: Medium body and carbonation.
Flavour: Hops, malt, spices, caramel.

All beers shared by csbosox, courtesy of his departed friend Mark. Cheers to you Mark.

Side by Side of the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Vintages:
1999 - Pour is a ruby brown, hazed, with a thin rim of an off white head. Aroma of big full nutmeg, soft, spiced coriander, bunch of yeast. Nice delicate and full nose. Taste is pretty metallic, oxidized, behind that, and after the oxidiation clears there is some of the spiced nutmeg of the nose. Palate is medium, lightly carbonated, with a lingering yeast aftertaste. (8,4,6,3,14 - 3.5)
2000 - Pour ditto to the 1999, though a bit flatter looking. Aroma is metallic showing substantial oxidation. After that clears, a bit of nutmeg, clove. Taste is showing the oxidation with a dry metallic nature, followed by spruce, nut, tree bark. Palate ditto the 1999. (6,4,5,3,11 - 2.9)
2001 - Pour ditto the 1999. Aroma is full and round, chestnut, vanilla, cinnamon, even some cranberry. Certainly the best nose of these three. Taste is really well integrated, some of the nut berry and yeast of the nose, along with a pleasant dry fruit character. However, there are also some phenols present that detract. Palate ditto the 1999. (8,4,6,4,16 - 3.6)

Side by Side of the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Vintages:
2002 - Pour is a hazed brown ruby with a 1/4 inch tan head. Aroma is big spice yeast, clove, hazel / nutmeg, dry fruit even. Nice. Taste is dry fruit light sweetness, along with the spice yeast, touch of oxidation in the back. Palate is thinner than some of the older vintages, medium to thin. (8,4,7,3,15 - 3.7)
2003 - Pour ditto the 2002. Aroma is the typical potpurri of spice, with some light metallic. Taste is showing oxidation, up front followed by the potpurri spices, dry fruit ester sweetness and a hint of vanilla. Palate is medium to thin, some light carbonation, long spiced finish. (6,4,6,3,12 - 3.1)
2004 - Pour ditto the 2002. Aroma ditto 2002. Taste is spice, cinnamon, earth, yeast and nuttiness. Nice integration of flavors, really get the malt in this more than others. Palate is medium, more full bodied than the 02 and 03. This was the class of the session. (8,4,8,4,15 - 3.9)

Tasted by itself:
2007 - Pour is hazed brown ruby with a 1/4 inch tan head. Aroma is softly spiced, potpurri, clove, yeast esters. Much more subdued than others. Taste is clove, light white pepper, general yeast. Not much malt, some faint pine hop. Palate is thin to medium, long dry pepper aftertaste. (7,4,6,3,14 - 3.4)

Bottle from Liquid Solutions. Pours a deep brown with ruby tones. Head is finely bubbled tan. Aroma is lightly xmas spice. Full bodied with creamy carbonation. Flavor is toffee/treacle, cinnamon, and malt. It is very smooth. Very integrated. Some hot bits in the finish. Quite flavorful.

Rated December 2008. 2002, consumed during our 2002 to 2006 vertical Dec. 2008. Pours dark hazy brown with mocha head and a bit of cobweb lacing. The aroma comes across as gingerbread cookie, molasses, hints of pepper and a whiff or two of caramel candy. The taste has a mix of concord grape jam, chocolate, hints of burnt molasses and smooth highly roasted malts. It ends with a bit of drying roasted malts and lingering sweet dark fruitiness. Very nice. Another one that has aged wonderfully.

2002 Bottle, although I also got 2001 and 1997 from the same place. Pours with a small, dark brown head and an opaque brown body. Aroma is really good with vinous qualities, brown sugar, port, molasses and currants. Taste is raisins and a bit oxidized with nuts, pine and sherry. A touch of cardboard. too. I think I like these better fresh as the last couple I have had, even as early as 05 are oxidized. Mouthfeel is a bit thick and seems to stick to the tongue in a sort of sickly way. Light bubbles. Still holds up well for a mere 5.5 percent bottled beer.

Bottled
Dark nut brown color, very small off-white head. Chocolaty, rye breadish "vintage aroma". Very coffeish, roasted flavor, some American hops. Liquerish, specially in the aftertaste. Loads of coffee and chocolate.