2011 Bottle shared at Mikeys
Black with a small tan head, some lacing. Dark malts, bourbon and woody, leather
Still good but on its way downhill

500mL bottle one year before the expiration date, sent from Glouglouburp (thanks Dany), pours black with a medium tan head and lots of sediment. Nose brings out an unusual sweet, licorice-y liqueur character with some weird spice mix upfront above anything, along with a little wood, roasted malt and oats. Flavour is thankfully not along those lines -- at least not the weird dominant liqueur part -- with moderate roasted malt and subdued bourbon characterizing the flavour. The nose puts me off more and more; it's unfortunate I have to smell it every time I go to take a sip. The depth of the base beer is sadly gone in this version. I'm not sure if this is past its prime or if the barrel aging was supposed to do this, but this doesn't work for me. A sub-bar Mikkeller beer.

Bottle shared with (and great courtesy of) the Bergen tasting crew. Pours a black colour with a light brown compact coffee-like head. The aroma is sweet and compact with tones of roasted malt, coffee, oak, Irish coffee, syrup and alcohol. The flavour is not far away with the addition some spices, and is pretty complex. Has a rich and smooth mouth feel, and a medium bitterness. A balanced, compact and nice stout. The bourbon is not very distinct though.

11.05.2013, 0,5l bottle sampled @ BBGTC moving-home-tasting for Floffern:
Nice cocoa colored head. Aroma is medium rich, coffee, dark sugar, caramel, licorice, wood, soy sauce, cocoa. Taste is slightly rich, caramel, dark sugar, cocoa, coffee, wood, grass, a hint of bourbon. Slightly dry, medium bitterness. Very drinkable for being a barrel aged beer.

Aroma has nice notes of chocolate an roast as well as secondary notes of bourbon, oak and quite a bit of vanilla. There is also a fruitiness that doesn't quite fit; I want to say raisin and fig. Some alcohol in the aroma and a touch of oxidation, but wet cardboard instead of sherry. A hint of a coffee aroma. Pours a deep black with a thick mocha colored head that has pretty solid retention. Some lacing and moderate legs. Flavor has a nice malt forward character with a good balance of roast, chocolate and oats. After the initial malt character fades away you get a bit of oak and vanilla as well as a touch of bourbon. As that fades there are dark fruit notes, some tobacco and leather and more bourbon. The finish starts with milk chocolate and a hint of coffee and slowly gets more roasty and astringent. There is more bourbon and alcohol in the finish. There is an odd vanilla extract type characteristic to the vanilla note. Low hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium full bodied with medium low carbonation. Astringency is medium low. Silky, creamy mouthfeel. Moderately high alcohol warmth. Overall this beer is alright. It seems a bit oxidized in a less than good way. The esters in the aroma don't quite fit and mid-palate the vanilla/oak note is a bit off. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

500 mL bottle courtesy of maniac at the 14th Richmond Ratebeer Gathering, 3/19/11. Pours a pitch black color with a large creamy tan head. Good head retention and lacing. Aroma of roasted malts, bourbon, oats, nutty notes, vanilla, coconut. The taste is roasted malts, bitter coffee, vanilla, oats, faint bourbon, bitter hops. Medium-full bodied. Nice beer.

Bottle. Dark rown beer with a brown head. Chocolate and light coffee aroma with bourbon. Coffee and light chocolate flavor wih bourbon and light roast. Medium bodied. Coffee and bourbon lingers with chocolate and light roast.