2005 bottle from StewardofGondor, shared on 12/22/2005 with Rastacouere. Pours your typical Capital pour, that is, lightly hazy, with a bubbly head that is quick to run for cover of the edges, and only leaves marginal, spotty lacing. Head is beige while the body is a deep auburn tinged mahogany brown, with coal brown hues. Aroma of sweet raisins, cream, milk chocolate and light touches of dry bock yeast. Tinges of tart fruits combine on the end to give a well-balanced, and quite authentic feel to it. Raisins, caramel, light breadiness and vinous dark fruits all in abundance. Flavor is quite sweet, with a soft milk chocolate sweetness that gives way to a light bit of earthiness and dry yeast. Berry skins, roasted, but minimally bitter barley notes and succulent, warm, dripping caramel. Flowery, lightly herbal hops are just faintly noticeable. Dosent have that hard crystal malt dryness and intense breadiness. While it seems that overly bready, grainy, sourish munich malts and such seem to be the majority take on this style, I’ve got to say that this creamier, more milk chocolatey take increases the drinkability and sensuousness on the palate, while the light raisins and boisterous plum/prunes add a needed dryness, with a touch of light tartness. As with other Capital beers the carbonation is very low, the bubbles loose and the mouthfeel a touch wet. It would certainly benefit from tighter carbonation, but yet, it’s sort of a house character for Capital, and who really cares about carbonation when the flavors are so true and rich. The liquid bread goes down effortlessly, with no trace of any alcohol.

2004 or 2005 bottle big thanks to Robertsreality, this was awesome! Light caramel/muted-nut-brown with some light oak tones on the edges. Light beige/dark-eggshell head recedes fairly rapidly to ring. Only lightly filtered. Rich 2-row and munich malt aroma is immediately perceived. Dark, rich, soily black earth, with some light vinous notes. Flavor has a fantastic amount of malt. Caramel, brown bread dough. Rich dark sugar and caramelized honey. Rich English toffee. But through all of the richness, it is horribly drinkable! Lightly yeasty, dry earthy notes on end. Low hops bitterness and flavor. Natural mouthfeel with low carbonation, very aerated texture. I could definitely stand to drink this as my session beer day in and day out. Bits of berry skins linger with some leafy, foresty hops flavor.