Bottle from Blanchards, drunk 4/5/14
Deep mahogany, clear, with some mauve/taupe highlights. Not actually 100% sure what mauve or taupe are, but I feel like that’s accurate. Head is light beige, small and recedes to cover/ring very quickly. Kinda odd for a scotch ale.
Well, we have caramelized malt, toffee, raisins, caramel, chocolate and more caramel malt in the nose. Strong, quite unwavering. Definite esters add light cherries and pears, while some slight pruniness creeps in, thankfully. Like a stronger, more malt focused double brown. Berry skin and almost a glue-like ester seems to sit on the end....
Surprisingly less sweet than the aroma would suggest, with plenty of acidity/melanoidin-like fruitiness. Seems very caramelized up front, but attenuated through the middle of the beer ending actually somewhat dry, with anise, black pepper, tobacco and lots of prunes. Alcohol does cut through the palate somewhat, drying it, at least, but adding a sharpness that dosent belong. Texture is soft, malty, of course, and with a light carbonation. 5 or 6 sips in and I’m pretty tired of it. The strange alcohol sharpness-meets-caramelized malts-meets-vinous acidity just dosent work, palate-wise. I suppose I can see how this would have been pretty shocking and "revolutionary" for its time, but now it’s just kind of an alcoholic scotch ale without any particularly exciting nuances.

Draught at Deep Ellum, Publick House and Russell House, March 2014
Perfect appearance; Dark chestnut brown body has just a hint of chill haze which vanishes quickly leaving a bright liquid with a light beige head, medium-sized and well-retained.
Sweet caramel malts and fruity yeast in the nose are joined by leafing, somewhat spicy hops adding moderate bitterness and keeping things dry on the end. Some further notes of sourdough pretzels, buttercream (not diacetyl) and a lovely vinous tartness on the end (prunes, currant skins). Medium to medium-high strength of aroma, no flaws/alcohol.
Sweet and malty up front, not chewy, but having a very supple, soft texture. Caramel, light raisins and a bit of toffee/vanilla. The sweetness climaxes in the middle, and then crunchy, baked bread-like notes and just a touch of dry coffee interject themselves beginning to balance the malt sweetness. Green, leafy hop bitterness, with a touch of spiciness further helps dry things and that same vinous tartness from the aroma finishes off the beer, albeit mixed with some sweet maltiness. It all works wonderfully together and seems to have it all. Fruitiness, spiciness, maltiness, tartness. Held together by an engaging, moderate carbonation and a soft texture. Fantastic, right up there with the best Old Brown Dogs I’ve had. Only complaint is that I could see it benefiting from even a touch more dryness.

Bottle thanks to Reynolds314! Pours murky chestnut with a medium brown creamy head that dissipates with nice lacing on the glass. Aroma is malty, nutty, toffee, bready, a bit woody perhaps. Complex. Flavor is light sweet, medium bitter, malty, nutty, earthy body. Really strongly bitter finish takes away from an otherwise nice beer. Medium body, creamy mouthfeel.

650ml bottle. Clear, orangey deep golden colour with average to huge, foamy, fairly lasting and lacing, white head. Yeasty aroma, hints of bamboo and banana. Taste is initially minimally sweet malty, with a bready touch and herbal hoppy overtones; later dry, more Saison typical yeasty with a vegetable touch, slightly spicy yeasty overtones throughout; in the finish with a gooseberry touch that may stem from the Bramling Cross. Complex, arduous, inharmonic.

Pours deep mahogany into an English pint. Off-white head with medium retention recedes to skim surface. Dark caramel and chocolate aromas. Medium bodied and dry with brown bread, dark caramel and chocolate upfront turning to bitter espresso and earth in the lasting finish. Nice.

Pours deep amber into a goblet. Tan head pancakes and recedes leaving spider lacing. Summer pit fruit, caramel and orange peel aromas. Sweet and thick with caramel, dough and more hot caramel. Lasting mildly bitter nutty finish. I liked this one.

Ins Glas ergießt sich ein leicht trübes goldenes Bier mit geringer Schaumkrone. Geruch malzig fruchtig, hefig, würzig, Citrus, Apfel. Geschmack würzig fruchtig, leicht hefig, Apfel, Citrus, Gewürze.

A deep dark stout with a thin mocha head. In aroma, beautiful fruity chocolate malt with cherry blossom, alcohol, licorice notes, very nice. In mouth, a smooth sweet fruity chocolate malt with light floral hops, dark fruits, peated notes, creamy character, very nice. 2011 edition. OttBottShare March 2014.

Ins Glas ergießt sich ein trübes dunkelbraunes Bier mit geringer Schaumkrone. Geruch sehr fruchtig malzig, dunkle trockene Früchte, Karamell, alkoholisch. Geschmack sehr fruchtig malzig, rote Beeren, Dörrobst, alkoholisch.