UPDATED: SEP 4, 2019 A 1 pint 0.9 fl. oz. bottle, 2011 vintage. Poured into a snifter glass. It was dark dark brown to black in colour with a half finger brown head that stuck around for a bit while leaving some spotty lacing. Aromas roasty, dark fruit, prunes, raisin, smoke. Maybe just call it smoked prunes. Tastes roasty, moderately sour, prunes, raisin, smoked dark fruit, oak, chocolate, cocoa. Full bodied with soft carbonation. Overall interesting flavours which perhaps could be described just as ‘sour smoked prunes’. I’m unsure if this is past its prime, but if there was just a little more roast malt, chocolate, cocoa to balance the sour part, it would’ve been even better.

UPDATED: MAR 2, 2019 500ml bottle. Pours a deep black with some tan head. Considering its age it has great head retention. An intersting nose with a large raisin hit which reminds me of wine barrels. Some alcohol in the nose too. Full body with rich raisin and toffee notes, some light sweetness and hidden dark chocolate. Exceptional beer!

Bottle sample at a tasting at Alexey & Raphaela’s place. Thanks Alexey. Opaque black with brown head. The aroma has lots of wood, roasted malt, milk chocolate and alcohol. Sweet flavor, alcoholic with lots of wood, umami, salted fish, roasted malt, vanilla, cocoa, alcohol warmth in the finish. Oily texture, full-bodied. Intense and complex. Great.

Bottle sample at a tasting. Thanks Alexey. Pours brown black with a huge beige head. Aroma of wood, wine, cherry, chocolate and cocoa. Sweet, flavors of chocolate, oak. vanilla, coffee, soy, a bit salty and roasty acidity, quite complex. Full-bodied, smooth. My first NZ beer and this is a great one.

At a tasting, many thanks, small stable slightly dense, light brown head, pitch black color, lots and lots of wood and vanila in the aroma probably from new oak barrels, with salted peanuts, cocoa and chocolate, chocolate and charred wood flavor, quite strong mellow sourness, warm alcoholic sensation, Very good but feels a bit all over the place.

Bottle sample at a tasting at Alexey & Raphaela’s place. Thanks Alexey. Black with a tan head. Big smoky aroma with lots of wood, roast, chocolate, vanilla, soy sauce, and a bit of alcohol. Sweetish-bitter flavor, a bit salty, with wood, smokiness, chocolate, cocoa, roast, vanilla, a bit of coffee, warming alcohol. Full-bodied, rounded. Great stuff.

A very good smoky porter. Pours a deep thick black with a tan head. Smells of bourbon, vanilla and smoke. Taste is so smoky, lots of char and bacon, followed by bourbon and vanilla in the finish. Tastes like a campfire. Paired with lamb chops with toasted bread salsa, brings out sweet and smoky flavors. Had in the bottle.

Appearance: jet black with thin tan head Aroma: Chocolate, tobacco, whiskey Taste. Chalky texture with loads of mocha, tootsie toll finish is smoky with leather and tobacco

16.9 oz bottle. Dark brown tone with a 1-finger tan head. Semi-sour, smoked grain nose. Oak, smoke, bourbon, cocoa/Baker’s chocolate, cherry pit flavors. Medium to full body and medium+ carbonation.

Coffee, sour funk, chocolate, smokiness, umami. Dark, dark brown with thick head. Smokiness with sour, fizzy notes. Lot’s of notes come up but it’s all mixed in perfection.