Bottle, 2005. Coffee colored, very dark for a barley wine, almost no head. Aroma is sweet hops, vanilla, cheese, bourbon, vinous, salty, (smells like Chinese food). Sweet and smooth, salty smoked meat flavor, almost no bitterness. So sweet, very well masked alcohol, weirdly smooth, and unbalanced in an interesting way.

Eric, your absolute generosity is second to none! Thank you so much for this amazing treat! <br /><br /> 750ml bottle. 2005. Thick, syrupy toffee initially on the nose. Vanilla, wet wood tannin, raisins and plums with hints of lighter tropical fruit as well. A very light bourbon influence, but the barrel presence, thankfully, isn’t overpowering. Very malt heavy. The smallest hint of earthy and slightly musty hops in the background, but by now this one’s all about the chewy, sweet and confectionary malt. The slightest touch of oxidation, but far from detracting. Pours a very thick dark copper/amber. Not quite opaque, but close with a well kept off white head. Subtle, but chewy on the tongue. Vanilla, toffee, creme brulee... Very mild, but still inescapable barrel presence. Damp wood, tobacco leaf... The smallest hint of bourbon spice. Honey... Maple syrup drizzled panckes ... Candied raisins and plums. Shit, this is excellent stuff... much better than expected. Quite balanced for an 11% BA BW! Malt, barrel and hops all in elegant unison. Decadent on the tongue... loads of sweetness but never cloying. The carbonation seems damn near perfect. Finishes with a nice amount of wood tannin (reminding me that it’s a BA brew), spice and a delicate sweetness. <br /><br />Damn... I knew this was going to be good, but it truly surpassed all of my expectations. Thanks again for you extreme generosity Eric!

750ml bottle, 2005 vintage. Thanks to Immy for this one. Pours copper in color with thin white head. Aroma sweet, malty and bourbon. Taste of malty, bourbon and oak with clean finish.

Sampled @ RBSG (thanks Odeed!). Dark amber color, thin white head. Sweet apricot aroma, mild peppery English barleywine hop character, not a whole lot of barrel character on the nose. Dark fruits, rich oak and alcohol mix, light spice on the back end. Nice.

750 ml bottle courtesy of willblake. Pour is hazy ruby cordovan brown. Fizzy off white head falls fairly fast leaving behind only specs of lacing. Aroma of stale cardboard and some vinegar notes initially. As it warms, some currant fruit, honey and sweet raisins comes out. Also, the wood becomes very present Taste is very soft, floral, sweet honey raisin fruit and some alcohol heat towards the end. There is a bit of woody saltiness in the taste as well, along with mild black pepper. Interesting and complex. Thanks for sending me this one way back when, Jon, just off the charts generosity.