7/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Courtesy of the Hollingshead Deli in Orange, CA. I liked this one a little less than the 2001 version, which I tried yesterday. I'm not sure if it is because the recipe is different, or because the 2001 version had some time to mellow out. This one just seemed more rough around the edges. Pours a nice dark ruby/brown with a medium thick and lasting beige head. Minimal lacing. Aroma is nicely spiced and heavy on the nutmeg. Flavor is seriously spiced, mostly ginger and nutmeg, and a little cinnamon. Had a sweet finish that kind of reminded me of a flat cola. Overall this was decent but a little too much spice.
Tried
on 21 Jan 2003
at 21:01
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
12/5/2003 (3.6): This was a nice little find at City Beverage in Winston-Salem. 1998 Bottle: The downside is I think this beer is starting to get a little long in the tooth. Pours a nice dark brown color with a ruby halo and a thin light tan head. Aroma of malt, spice and a little soy sauce. Medium-bodied and smooth with an interesting mixture of caramel, roasted malt and a hint of chocolate. The finish is where I felt this beer came up a little short, and where I think the age might be showing. There was a slightly sour character toward the end of the glass that contradicted the initial flavor but it wasn't too distracting. Either way I'm happy I had a chance to try it this holiday season. 1/20/2003 (3.8): Another good find at the Hollingshead Deli in Orange, CA. 2001 Bottle: Dark brown/ruby color with a medium thick light beige head and decent lacing. Nicely spiced aroma of cinnamon and ginger, and a little sour apple too. Flavor is super smooth and lightly carbonated. Dark fruit, plum, anise, cinnamon, etc are all present. I even tasted a tiny hint of chocolate in the finish. Very good, and I am looking forward to trying the 2002 edition.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Jan 2003
at 20:57
5.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Copper in colour....copper in smell!!! Good in overall flavour, a decent amount of hops and a great flavour. One of my favourite beers that I can find anywhere!
Tried
from Can
on 12 Jan 2003
at 12:09
6.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6.5
Same old porter, different company...aley taste, not too burnt and carameley...but thats about it from the taste!
Tried
on 10 Jan 2003
at 11:40
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
2000 Batch (01-May-2000) (8.8% abv):
Crimson/amber coloured body with no head at all. Strong aroma of pit fruit, toffee, malt and powerful must. Full-bodied; Chocolate, caramel, must and pit fruits dominate the taste. Aftertaste is VERY mild-time did its job to cut the alcohol taste. Very mellow after 4 years time...this beer is great right now. I sampled this 7 ounce bottle purchased a few years ago at Premier Gourmet in Buffalo, New York on 24-December-2004, more than 4 and a half years after it was brewed. Score for this rating: 8,3,8,3,15
2003 Batch (11-March-2003) (8.8% abv):
Ruby/copper colour with a thin off-white head. Very strong aroma of pit fruit, caramel and alcohol. Medium to Full-bodied; Strong alcoholic flavour with subtle pit fruity taste. Aftertaste shows some malt and pit fruit sweetness. Overall actually quite good fresh! I had this beer in Knoxville, Tennessee on 28-September-2003 courtesy of Haddon90, Thanks Phil!
Rating for this tasting: 9,4,8,4,15
2001 Batch (7-January-2001) (10% abv):
Dark copper colour with a very nice ruby colour roaming throughout. Thin tan head which dissipates very quickly. Strong aroma of pit fruit, caramel, alcohol and malt...very nice. Medium to Full-bodied; Flavour of alcohol, prunes, raisins, malt, caramel and even a slight sour cherry taste. Aftertaste is very warming (because of the alcohol) and leaves a bit of the sweeter flavours inside the mouth. A tiny bit watery after waiting a few seconds after the beer is a bit warmer, but it is still a very respectable barley wine. I remember this beer to be a bit better than this...so perhaps it died down a bit with the age. I tried this at cellar temperature. This particular beer was brewed on 7-January-2001 and I purchased it at Beers of the World in Rochester, New York.
2002 Batch (8.8% abv):
Small 7 ounce size. Dark brown in colour, smells like a strong ale. Tastes like a strong belgian ale. Sweet tones, nice aftertaste!
Crimson/amber coloured body with no head at all. Strong aroma of pit fruit, toffee, malt and powerful must. Full-bodied; Chocolate, caramel, must and pit fruits dominate the taste. Aftertaste is VERY mild-time did its job to cut the alcohol taste. Very mellow after 4 years time...this beer is great right now. I sampled this 7 ounce bottle purchased a few years ago at Premier Gourmet in Buffalo, New York on 24-December-2004, more than 4 and a half years after it was brewed. Score for this rating: 8,3,8,3,15
2003 Batch (11-March-2003) (8.8% abv):
Ruby/copper colour with a thin off-white head. Very strong aroma of pit fruit, caramel and alcohol. Medium to Full-bodied; Strong alcoholic flavour with subtle pit fruity taste. Aftertaste shows some malt and pit fruit sweetness. Overall actually quite good fresh! I had this beer in Knoxville, Tennessee on 28-September-2003 courtesy of Haddon90, Thanks Phil!
Rating for this tasting: 9,4,8,4,15
2001 Batch (7-January-2001) (10% abv):
Dark copper colour with a very nice ruby colour roaming throughout. Thin tan head which dissipates very quickly. Strong aroma of pit fruit, caramel, alcohol and malt...very nice. Medium to Full-bodied; Flavour of alcohol, prunes, raisins, malt, caramel and even a slight sour cherry taste. Aftertaste is very warming (because of the alcohol) and leaves a bit of the sweeter flavours inside the mouth. A tiny bit watery after waiting a few seconds after the beer is a bit warmer, but it is still a very respectable barley wine. I remember this beer to be a bit better than this...so perhaps it died down a bit with the age. I tried this at cellar temperature. This particular beer was brewed on 7-January-2001 and I purchased it at Beers of the World in Rochester, New York.
2002 Batch (8.8% abv):
Small 7 ounce size. Dark brown in colour, smells like a strong ale. Tastes like a strong belgian ale. Sweet tones, nice aftertaste!
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Jan 2003
at 11:05
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Great hazy orange colour, amazing smell. Hoppy, fruity taste...very smooth finish as well! A great overall 'summer' IPA, where the taste is quick and somewhat hoppy, but not overly drying. Not a horrible Imperial IPA which will leave you full beyond belief, but one that compliments a good seafood dish or something along those lines.
Tried
on 10 Jan 2003
at 07:53
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
31-October-2003 Batch: Very dark brown in colour, almost black. A nice tan head develops and stays atop for a long while. Smells of vanilla, cloves and anise come out from the beer. The taste is equally as complex: roasted malt, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla are very noticable. The hops aren't very noticeable, but the malt is very evident. This was the first vintage of this beer I had, but I was pleasantly surprised, and am looking forward to next year! I bought this 12 ounce bottle in July at Beers of the World in Rochester, New York.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Jan 2003
at 07:37
5.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
Black with brown head. Chocolate malt nose. Rich malt flavor with mild alcohol heat
Tried
on 02 Jan 2003
at 12:14
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Draft:Hazy brown with tan head. Great hop malt nose .Great malt flavor with some balancing hops. Mild alcohol heat compliments , not overpowers
Tried
from Draft
on 02 Jan 2003
at 09:51
8.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Dark ruby colour. Nice, light brown head. Spicy aroma. The flavour is spicy, very spicy. Lots of nutmeg and cardamom. Gets Porter-like in the finish.
Tried
on 27 Dec 2002
at 12:02