UPDATED: MAY 30, 2023 2017 bottle @ monthly tasting, Chez Sophie, May 23. Thanks Craig for this! Pours dark, small tan head. Aroma of dark malt, leather, dark chocolate.. quite rich to taste, woody dark malt, a lick of liquorice and distant chewing tobacco. Nicely presented.

UPDATED: DEC 21, 2022 Bottle @Craig's. 2020 version. Black, lasting light tan head. Sweet dark malty aroma, swewt wood, swewt tobacco. Sweet dark malty flavoir, dark choc, sweet tobacco, . Warming. 2017 version. Black, lasting light tan head. Brighter, more woody aroma than the 2020. Dryer, more roasted. Also gooood. 2015 version. Oilier than the previous ones. Has some sweet, dark berry jam, perhaps a lttle oxidation, but works well. More sweet oak in the aroma. A little sweeter than 2020. 2014 version. Bright, dark malty, quite woody aroma, chocolate. Dryer than the previous ones. 2009 version. Quite a lot of dark berries in the aroma. A little lighter, but the fruity berries are nice.

UPDATED: OCT 1, 2022 The 2020 version cuckoo brewed at Grain. Ordered from Beer Shop HQ, St Albans. Aroma had liquorice, coffee, molasses and a hint of tar. Glossy. Dark. Creosote. Foamy tan head. Medium-heavy bitter - coffee and liquorice - soon followed by sweet molasses and figs. Burnt sugar. Dark chocolate The sweetness plus the booze result in a desert wine effect. Thick. Oily. Flat carbonation. Long somewhat astringent finish. Warming - the bitterness and sweetness compliment each other.

UPDATED: OCT 1, 2022 330ml bottle, shared. Very dark black with a very thin tab head. Aroma is vanilla, caramel, roasted malt, leather. Flavour is more of the same, tastes nothing like its strength. Lovely

UPDATED: OCT 1, 2022 Black beer, tan head soon fizzes away. Boozy smell of dried fruit, a little chocolate. Flavour has the woodiness, dried fruit again, sweet spirits, a little medicinal. Smooth, sweet, warming. Excellent stuff.

UPDATED: MAY 24, 2021 Dark brown, tiny tan head. Coconut, nutmeg, chocolate, vanilla. Very balanced, dark dried fruits, licorize, plum. A delight! With jmd and Jke at vb,

UPDATED: APR 2, 2020 heb de gehele serie geproefd 2017: 4.75 2016: 4.25 2015: 4.25 2014: 4.25 2012: 4.25 2011: 4.00 2009: 3.50

UPDATED: MAR 19, 2020 Bottle. 2014 vintage. Thanks, Ben! Nose of dark chocolate, tar, licorice.Dark dark brown. Strong dark chocolate, with tar, light licorice, some chalk, and a rather large umami note from mid palate onwards/ Medium-heavy body. Wow!

UPDATED: FEB 22, 2020 Flesje ' Special edition 2014' gedeeld door Benzai na proeverijtje. Zwart, stroperig bier. Geur van vanille en smaak van vanille en rook. De rooksmaak blijft even hangen.

UPDATED: NOV 2, 2019 Bottle, at RB bottle share, 2007. Pours pitch black. Chocolate, soy, nutty, plum, dark chocolate, toffee. Full body. Excellent.