6.9/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
a: dark brown coloured clear body | super thin tan head
a: cherries | bourbon | cedar
f: woodsie | earthy malts | alcohol warmth at end
t: nutty | slightly astringent | mellow oranges
o: quite pungent (still) | true-to-name | nice-to-sample in Winter
12 ounce bottle | Total Wine: Alexandria, Virginia | 02-November-2020 | US$4,99 | best by: 08-June-2021 (whoops!) | sampled: 05-February-2026, a bit longer than five years after purchase!
a: cherries | bourbon | cedar
f: woodsie | earthy malts | alcohol warmth at end
t: nutty | slightly astringent | mellow oranges
o: quite pungent (still) | true-to-name | nice-to-sample in Winter
12 ounce bottle | Total Wine: Alexandria, Virginia | 02-November-2020 | US$4,99 | best by: 08-June-2021 (whoops!) | sampled: 05-February-2026, a bit longer than five years after purchase!
Tried
from Bottle
from
Total Wine & More - Alexandria
on 05 Feb 2026
at 19:57
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
2025 bottle - labeled as 8.2 percent - a gentle tilt results in a froth as fuck pour - there is so much foam - a nice mix of malty sweetness, lactic tartness, and bretty funk - deep cherry flavors, a lot of oak and red wine, a hint of chocolate, leather, moderate bretty funk on the end, with lingering oak and long lacto tartness hanging out on the tongue - nice balance of acid and malt - a bit of plum - warming finish - I dig it.
Tried
from
Mayfair Liquors
on 04 Feb 2026
at 23:03
8.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 9
Overall 8.5
10oz pour at Hops & Bottles. Near black pour, razor thin ring of beige foam. Robust aroma, boozy, chocolate, raisins, grapes. Taste is super smooth considering the ABV, sweet, warm, chocolate covered raisins. Still a sipper, but very enjoyable.
Tried
from Draft
from
Hops & Bottles
on 04 Feb 2026
at 22:55
7.5/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 7
Overall 7.5
16 oz can. Aroma is chocolaty, graham crackers, marshmallow, coconut, vanilla, bourbon. Pours very dark brown with a one finger beige head with good retention. Taste is lightly to moderately sweet with some moderate hoppy bitterness in support. A little thin in body. I like that it’s not sickly sweet. Good flavors, but it would be better with more body.
Tried
from Can
from
Pilgrim's Market
on 02 Feb 2026
at 01:17
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
sampled many years ago - going back and ticking some that i missed - decent but pretty average
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Jan 2026
at 14:40
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
12 ounce bottle. Mahogany brown pour. Puffy beige head. Aromas of dark cherries, oak and spices. Flavors of dark dried fruits, baked apples, cinnamon and oak. Big, boozy notes in middle. Bitter, spicy finish.
Tried
from Bottle
from
Trenton Road Takeout
on 26 Jan 2026
at 04:36
7.3/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 7.5
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
4-pack from Liquor2Go in Downers Grove, which maybe I'll add later as a venue. Nice little cherry soda nose right under the cap. Brownish red beer body under fizzy head that acts like a soda again. Taste also has cherry to it, luckily it's still soda strength, and not cough syrup strength. A bit of Belgian character to it, Not really strong like a Quad, I'd agree, and not big on alcohol, meaning it will probably sneak up on me.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Jan 2026
at 03:29
6.4/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 6
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Aromas are more like a stout with black patent, roast, dark malt, licorice, molasses. Flavors are similar to nose and lean sweet with dark ripe fruit, brown sugar and coffee. Kind of thin body. This is what happens when big corporations take over.
Tried
from Bottle
at
Bodega Brew Pub, Inc.
on 17 Jan 2026
at 05:36
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7.5
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle at home watching Rip City. Dark ruby brown and small sudsy head. Nose is cherry and wood and vanilla. Tatses the same some bourbon. Medium bodied
Tried
on 17 Jan 2026
at 04:32
8.1/10
—
Appearance 9
Aroma 8
Flavor 7.5
Texture 9
Overall 8
a: pitch black body | perfectly nitrogenated tan head
a: cardboard | oatmeal | roasted coffee
f: nutty | light caramel | chocolate
t: toast | toffee | smoked meats
o: flavourful | easy-drinking | yes, quite similar to guinness!
16 ounce can | Mike's Wine & Spirits: Kansas City (Waldo), Missouri | 12-January-2026 | US$9,99/mixed six pack | no can date | sampled: three days after purchase, on 15-January-2026
a: cardboard | oatmeal | roasted coffee
f: nutty | light caramel | chocolate
t: toast | toffee | smoked meats
o: flavourful | easy-drinking | yes, quite similar to guinness!
16 ounce can | Mike's Wine & Spirits: Kansas City (Waldo), Missouri | 12-January-2026 | US$9,99/mixed six pack | no can date | sampled: three days after purchase, on 15-January-2026
Tried
from Can
from
Mike's Wine and Spirits (Waldo)
on 16 Jan 2026
at 04:39