12oz bottle. Pours a deep, orangey copper with a thick - though shortlived - light tan head. Some lace (though very little) remains on the side of glass as it is consumed. The aroma is thick and sticky with vinous malts, caramel, and some alcohol. There are notes of spice and fruit that cut the aroma so that it isn’t grossly sweet. The flavor starts bittersweet with notes of caramel, fruit, and spice. It is very malty with lots of caramel and notes of toffee, treacle, and molasses. There is a slight hint of licorice in there, too. By the middle of the tongue, the tinge of alcohol grows - and the spice and fruit grow, too. The finish is spicy with a balancing bitterness and a firm alcohol presence. The bitter hops in the back are distinctly earthy and spicy. The mouthfeel is thick and full, but not syrupy. The high alcohol accentuates the tingle on the tongue delivered by the carbon dioxide. The carbonation level is right on for style - low though still far from flat. It carbonated enough to slightly lighten the beer’s texture and make it lively on the walls of the mouth. Overall, a very decent English barley wine - and a strong one, too.