750mL bottle from Dorwart, drunk on 9/30/07 at about 18 months of age.
I’d love to know the story behind the brewing of this beer, as there’s a lot more in here than just a caramel and chocolate malted brown ale. For starters, there’s the question of the yeast. The beer tastes borderline Belgian. No doubt this could be attributed to a bottling line infection, but as far as I know, those always end up causing massive diacetyl bombs, and this had no diacetyl to speak of. More likely it was brewed with house yeast and some other type of adjuncts were introduced, lending a light amount of wild yeast, accounting for the very dry esters and light clove and pepper-like phenols.
The beer has continued to attenuate, as the carbonation built up quite heavily in my bottle, gushing out lightly upon opening. The flavor was very, very attenuated, not overly so, IMHO, but to the point that you know it wasn’t this dry when fresh. Still, the dryness and light "Belgian" nature combine to make a very drinkable beer that incorporates flavor and aroma profiles you rarely come across in Belgian styles. A very interesting graininess, honey, maple, apples and green raisins, with light caramel lingering and bits of roast lingering. After allowing it to warm and breath, it drinks down nicely, but the esters do give it a slight vaporous quality and there is some fusel-like activity on the finish. Intentional or not, I like the unique character of the beer and enjoyed drinking it.

Bottled. A hazy amber beer with no head. The aroma has notes of wood, fruit, and heather, as well as light smokey notes. The flavor is sweet and very smokey, combined with notes of over ripe peaches, leading to a dry and rather bitter finish. The body is powerful and the alcohol burns slightly in the throat. Very interesting - very complex.

750ml from beastiefan2k enjoyed at my tasting 10/12. Pour is clear orange - yellow with pretty much no head. Aroma of cane sugar sweetness and not too much else. Taste does not have hardly any of the sweetness with a nice yeast spiciness and finishes with some peppery spice. Maybe a bit over the hill, but still a nice one. Thanks for sharing this retired gem, Eugene.

750ml bottle; Nose of yeasty breadiness, with some apple fruity notes; lightly hazed copper with a big beige head that leaves heavy lacing as it recedes slowly; flavor of a tart, slightly funky fruitiness, rye graininess, and yeast.

Courtesy of Degarth, thanks Joe. 12oz bottle pours a thick brown with thin light brown head. The aroma is sweet molasses, hints of burnt malts, sweet caramel candy and oxidation. The taste is very similar with sweet molasses, some burnt malts, caramel yumminess, some slight astringency and there is a fair amount of oxidation present. Aside from the oxidation, that does distract from the experience, this is a very tasty brew.

12 oz bottle I received from both Beastiefan2k and willblake in separate trades. Pour is nearly all black, some ruby highlights. 1 1/2 inch tan head that settles to about a 1/4 inch. Fairly well retained. Aroma of faint roasted malt and big soy sauce. Taste features a bit more of the roast character, but the soy is still present. Black licorice is pretty strong in the taste as well. Some almost syrupy sweetness exists as well. This one may have been past its prime. Regardless, very happy to have had a chance to try this one.

(Bottle 35,5 cl) Courtesy of pineypower. Dark brown with a reddish hue and a small, light brown head. Roasted, slightly coffeeish nose. Medium body with rather sweet, roasted malt and a note of coffee without being overly burned. Subdued bitterness. Nice. 080707

From 12 oz bottle. Pours dark brown with no head. Aroma is roasted malt and coffee with a slight dry wineous dried fruit note. Chocolate malt flavouvered with a coffee note. Little winous raisin dryness. Nice and solid.

Light brown color. Aroma and flavor have coffee. It isn’t an outstanding beer but about as good as a brown ale can get.