Big thanks for Lithy for these, I’ll never be able to pay him back for this lived experience. Had these 2003-2005 TH’s at the RB Pittsburgh December 2012 Post Apocalyptic Beer Tasting. James and Justin provided carefully guided beer experiences with these beers. First I thought I was in for an American wanna be style BW blast but it ended up being much more like the lees harvest experience of the past. Though I rate this review for all three, each has a different number rating. The 2003 looks like flat root beer. Smell is just plain old old beer. Perfectly flat. Quite strong on the initial taste. Mouth coating nice sherry feel to it, in a pleasant way. For a ten year old beer, this stuff is pretty good. The 2004 is sweet smelling like fine wine. A dark beer with plenty of sparkling going on. Decvent co2 on the tongue too. A little weird and unique in some respects on the tongue. Yes, goes down like fine wine. Nice easy sweeter appeal. For the 2005, a very mild smell. Some mild co2 on the tongue but the 2004 had more. Smooth and easy and like the 2004 it goes down like fine wine, a sipping drink fer sure. Does have some alky heat in there. This one finishes up with a warming effect. Over all, for all the brews, I am quite surprised about liking real old well made barley wines. After all those harsh American bullshit BW’s, I was afraid to keep trying but now I’m glad I did. Where have these fine English style BW been for the last 6 years?

Bottle from Vinens Verden. No head. Color is brown. Aroma and taste are caramel, fruits, nuts, molasses, alcohol, malt and hops. No carbonation, but oily palate.

Fra flaske på Cardinaltreff nov-12 (2010-utgave): Mørkerød, litt uklar. Aroma av bringebær, bjørnebær, solbær mm (og litt lær iflg. Odd Tune). I smaken litt tillegg av humle, krydder og creme brulee. Litt besk ettersmak. Portvinøs. De 12,9% er godt kamuflert. Et kompleks øl som er verdt å prøve en annen gang. Ikke en umiddelbar favoritt.

Gravity dispense at the White horse Parsons Green. It pours hazy deep mahogany brown with pretty much no head. The nose is spice, earth, chilli pepper, caramel and ketchup. The taste is dark fruit, raisin, caramel, touch of chilli spice, earth, chocolate and some alcohol warmth. Medium-full body, soft carbonation and sticky mouth-feel. An interesting brew for sure. Although it doesn’t smell great....

Hardly any head, just coarse froth at edges. Hazy deep red body. Nutty honey and cocos aroma with earthy caramel and alcohol notes. Dry-sweet alcoholic cocos taste with nutty plummy notes. Mid-to-full body. Hot, sharp mouthfeel. Dryish earthy waxy aftertaste with fruity notes. It’s nice, but too musty and alcoholic. (0.25l bottle at Den Gode Nabo, Trondheim.)

Cask at Holborn Whippet with Sarah. Pours a clear yellow gold with a white head that dissipates to the edges and laces. Aroma has notes of bread and hay with just a hint of sweetness. Flavor has mainly notes of bread and grain with some hay coming out towards the finish.

Retro reviews from Spring 2012 Wetherspoons Beer festival; amber colour some grapefruit in the hop quite floral almost like an IPA.

Cask at the Prince Of Wales, Twickenham - 30/09/12. Clear pale yellow with a thin white cap. Pale malt on the nose, light caramel and floral tones. Taste follows, sweetish, and a little citrus. Medium bodied and carbonation. File under ’W’ for whelmed !

Cask at the Prince Of Wales, Twickenham - 30/09/12. Clear copper with a thin white head which soon clears. A nose with little promise comprising some caramel malt tones and muted hops. Taste follows, bland, a little toffee and fruit. Medium bodied, moderate carbonation - dull !