Bottle compliments of Bucknaked. Good dark brown appearance, cola-like with even the fizzy bubbles. Small fading light beige head. There is some sediment at the bottom of the bottle, I’ll be damned. Aroma gives off characteristics of an English barleywine. You’ve got the rich toffee, dry caramel, with a touch of raisins and brown sugar. No hops detectable either. Flavor begins brilliantly of sweet toffee and lightly sweet caramel malts, with a lightly dry roasted barley flavor coming in strong as well. It ends with a lightly sweet raisin and brown sugar note. Taste is almost exactly like the aroma. Somehow a bit of spiciness creeps in, but I dont think it’s from the hops, as there is nearly no bitterness in this one. No alcohol notes apparent, no yeast apparency unfortunately, would have liked to see some of that. Regardless, it’s got a great English barleywine flavor, but the problem is the body. Quite thin and fizzy, with a strange mineralesque flavor, almost like there is silt or chalk in there creating a dull sensation on the palate. The carbonation is horrible, it’s like soda water carbonation. Flavor does get a bit boring towards the end as well. Could the problems with the body/flavor be the water they are using? I don’t know, but this one is well-founded, just needs a good deal of work.

Re-rate July 17th, 2003: Orangey-medium brown; Woody, earthy aroma, slightly chalky, with a hint of smoke. Light in body for the style, but it's been that way for years. Hints of wood, toffee, whisps of smoke. Smooth and light. A strong brown ale, if anything.

Dryish, and well-balanced...................................................

The smoke is subtle but insistent. Overall the beer is quite malt-accented.