Bottle shared at my 5K tasting at Bruce’s pad, big thanks to our Kenneth for bring along this 1977 swing top antique, 13/11/13. Opaque dark mahogony brown with thin tan edgeing. Nose is oxidised to the hilt, sweaty socks, dark toffee, rubbery, charred wood, dates, Xmas cake, dark fruit mash, plenty billowing about beneath the oxidised layering. Taste comprises Xmas cake, spice, nutty, woody, a dark fructis epiphany, raisens, stewed dates, brown bread, Soreen malt loaf. Medium bodied, flat, no carbonation, light bread mix in the finale. Ok for a 36 year old beer and still plenty to offer below the oxidised skin.

Sampled from 1977 bottle which had been opened two years earlier. Can’t be good anymore but hey, why not just try it? So here we go. Appearance is ok. No head but a nice dark red color. Aroma is alcoholic and moldy. Taste isn’t that bad. Still barley wine there mixed with some sourness. A bit moldy and lightly cardboard as well but quite surprising that this is still drinkable. Wonder what it was like when it was fresh. Interesting experience.

Bottle (1929 Prince’s Ale) at THE others tasting, massive thanks to Ken. It pours murky deep brown with a purplish hue. The nose is wet wood, dark fruit, faint tartness, musty, light spice, mould and cherry. The taste is red grape, dark berry, wet wood, earth, jam, sherry, mustiness and leather with a dry, earthy finish. Medium body, limited carbonation and chewy mouth-feel. Smooth and interesting drinking. A real treat to try something this old, which actually remains drinkable!

Bottle (Vintage 1929 Prince’s Ale) at The Others Tasting, London - huge thanks to Kenneth for hanging on to this beer for so long. Pours murky brown with no head. Some tangy, semi-dark fruits on the nose, lots of wet wood. Medium to big sweet flavor with a prominent wood character, cork, sherry, oxidised malts, tangy berries, some caramel. Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation and a chewy mouthfeel (although, that could be cork). Lightly warming on the finish with more wet wood, lightly dried berries, leathery fruits, straight leather, mellow toffee. Quite good, especially given the age. For some reason I was compelled to slam to my face the dregs of this bottle, which meant I spent a few minutes picking cork from my teeth. Totally worth it, though! Big thanks to Ken for sharing this one. Honestly, it’s pretty cool to get to try beers like this. (4.0)

Bottle of the 1977 Kings Ale shared at Bruce’s in London - big thanks to Kenny. Pours clear amber-brown with a faint, bubbly tan head. The aroma holds loads of wet wood, dark and well ripened berries. Medium sweet flavor, a bit of dried caramel, further wood, tangy fruits. Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation. Finishes fairly sweet with loads of ripe, tangy fruits, further wood, mild alcohol warmth. Has aged impressively. (4.0)

Bottle @ fonefan tasting. Courtesy of Nightfall. As Bass Kings Ale vintage 1977. hazy brown without head. aroma is sweet, malty, caramel, dried fruit and oxidated. Flavor is quite sweet and light bitter. Sweet finish with warming alcohol. 180812

4th and 6th August 2009
Cask at GBBF. Opaque black beer. Light dry and soft palate. Sweet malt and light chocolate with some repressed dark berry fruits. A little smooth vanilla, then estery bubblegum sweetness. Rich spicy hops toward the finish and spicy bitterness. Complex beer. Tasted twice to get everything out of it.