2005 bottle HUGE thankks to OldGrowth for the opportunity. Consumed on 1/22/2006.
Purple-magenta tinges throughout a garnet to mahogany brown. Head is off-white, medium in size, receding quickly to cover but retained there. No lacing. Quite clear, having settled out in the bottle nicely, with plenty of sediment on the bottom. Head is foamy/creamy and bottle conditioned. Smells right away, of intense cabernet notes. Very grape oriented and as it warms and breathes, the oak character emerges and dries it out. The beer characteristics are last to emerge, but once they do, they form a more complete picture. Prunes, raisins, and a touch of alcohol dryness, very elegantly apparent. Rich chocolate and toffee and sweet dates, with a light Belgian yeast apparency, though rather reserved in that aspect. As it warms and breathes further after 20 minutes, the aroma is soft and inviting. Plenty of dry grapes and wood, but yet tons of soft maltiness. Flavor is full of cab grapes turning to dry wood and gaining a yeast dirtiness, unfortunately. More vinous notes and some barley. Light bits of caramel, minor drying alcohol warmth but no alcohol flavor or sharpness. Finally, chocolate, raisins and prunes. Chewy toffee and yeast dryness combine to provide a balanced finish. Never gets very sweet, being very attenuated. Alcohol masterfully hidden. Carbonation is low, bottle conditioned and quite engaging. As with the regular maitresse, the texture is just a bit too lean, IMO. I think it would benefit from some chewier maltiness and a more supple texture. Though, to its credit, it is no where near over the top in sweetness, yeastiness, or alcohol (the barrel character is overdone, though). Quite drinkable on account of the lean body.

Having Cambridge’s wine-barrel aged Blunderbuss has made me rethink my rating, showing me that even young, the wine does not have to be as overpowering as it is here. It really is about 75% of the aroma, perhaps more, whereas the blunderbuss is incredibly subtle, yet still noticeable enough to add a very pleasant aroma and flavor.

RBSG M has a dark brown body that supports a small off white head. Caramel and molasses come through in the aroma. The flavor is off balance somewhat, being a bit too sweet. Cloying.

Hazy orange ale with a thick creamy white head. Pinhey hops with stong sweet citrus aroma. Sweet honey hoppy beer with orangey notes. Rather overhopped in my taste, unbalanced. Medium bodied.

I can see the headline now: Busy beer label causes seizures in beer geek., and don’t get me started on the tacky salmon reference...damn someone though that was clever.

Oh, you want me to talk about the beer? Sorry. The colour is golden-amber...an attractive golden-amber. Don’t know the intangible that makes it better all the other "golden-amber" beers out there but it is to my eyes a pretty beer. The aroma is spicy, minty and toasty. Overall the character is moderate for style, with the expected citrus and toast notes, but not particularly chewy. Nothing awesome, but quite enjoyable.

Slightly rubyish brown colour. The aroma is chocolatey, richly fruity. The flavour is quite sweet, chocolatey with notes of oranges and sultanas. A little too hot and too spritzy, and these elements make the beer seem uncohesive.

Thanks to Suttree for sharing this one! pours with a frothy head over a murky brown body. Off white head that gave off very little aroma cold, but conjured up nice warm, sweet, malt notes with spices, licorice and fruit. Some alcohol is present in the aroma that persits in the flavor and finish. Smooth fruity flavor is sweet and slightly spiced.

Bottled. Mahogany colour. Sweet and lightly almondy with some banana. Richly malty, toffeeish and raisiny, slightly salty finish. Big, flavourful brew, but too sweet.

September 2003 bottle. Fizzy, bubbly, heavily carbonated pour, but it’s natural carbonation and departs pretty quickly from the beer. Dark brown, hazy, with sediment at the bottom. Some magenta highlights on the edges and mountains of off-white/beige head. Aroma showcases English yeast and light coffee. Dark fruits, not altogether like fruit flavored coffee (raspberry predominantly). There is some earthy, dusty appeal from the yeast as well. Flavor begins strangely sweet, but has a dry, bitter edge to it, like black coffee broken up by lots of sugar. Some earthiness and dustiness from the malt and/or yeast. It almost tastes like there is some malt in here that is used in Belgian brown ales, but maybe I’m just getting confused. Ends watery, but not overly so, with an otherwise medium, rather uninspiring body, with light signs of oxidation. Texture is peppery at first, from the carbonation, but then turns much smoother after breathing. Finishes with some light coffee and chocolate and a bit of sticky caramel and dough.

A hazy brown beer with a small brown head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of chocolate. The flavor is malty with notes of caramel and chocolate and a dry end.

Dark amber color. Pretty mature malty aroma. Malty, verry nutty, loads of caramel.