UPDATED: APR 12, 2024 375ml bottle from the source. Pours a deep plum brown with thin ring of tan foam that leaves light lace. Aroma of big cherry and plum dark stone fruits, acetic acid balsamic vinegar, light tannic oak, hint of funk. Taste is moderately acidic from the mixed culture, lightly sweet from the booze and perceived fruit, light tannic astringency with a fairly dry finish and lingering acidity. Solid for the style, though not my favorite.

UPDATED: SEP 1, 2021 Because I wanted more of that fruitiness rather than anything, something just more pronounced and to bring me to that bit where you go 'this is it!' I like this enough to have it again, I think I've done it a dis-service by not having a counterpoint, like some cheese or something that would or could accentuate those notes that I'm looking for and are there. Lots in here, some of it lacking a lot of it adding enjoyment

UPDATED: AUG 7, 2020 750mL bottle from Carwyn Cellars 7.7%ABV no date stamp Pours a deep bronze body, poor clarity, holds a small dense beige rim. Richly complex nose - base of brown toffee & sweet biscuit malt, but it takes a turn toward adventure and funk rather quickly... vinous red & dark fruits, touch of raisin & prune, good slug of old oak, touch of vanilla and toast, Balsamic notes, slightly horsey/barnyardy. Lifted carbonation propels the palate; good acidic & tannic bite about it, full bodied upfront with a long lingering finish. Shifts up a gear on the palate with complexity & intensity - savoury toffee and burnt cookies, old oak barrel(room), new oak cherry & toast (?), raisins and prunes and figs, tart plums & cherries, gets more earthy, almost dirty, sweaty, leathery towards the finish, aged Balsamic with a slight acetic twang that keeps lingering and gripping long beyond the finish. Challenging but very rewarding - deeply complex; they've done well!

UPDATED: JAN 31, 2020 7.7%ABV. Oud bruin. Poured out dark brown. 31°SRM. Nose has aromas of fig, dates, plums, prunes, black cherries, sour cherries, haw fruit, and haw flakes. There are malty aromas of caramel, treacle, toffee, hint of chocolate. There is a hint of sweet alcohol suggesting port or sherry. Overall, there is plenty going on in the nose that makes this very appealing to interrogate and certainly opens up an eager palate. There is a hint of ripe bitter orange in the nose as well, together with the sweet, reminiscent of marmalade. As it warms there are aromas of stewed honeyed pears, and stewed prunes. The lactic funk also becomes a little more apparent…suffice it to say the aroma is just very very pleasing and so inviting. Mouthfeel is medium-light with moderate carbonation. Almost a heavily-watered honey, prune juice as it warms. Palate has fruity flavors of plums, prunes, and bitter oranges on first approach. There is a pronounced sour that is almost tart is obvious up front but fades into the background with progressive tastings and as it warms. This tartness is balanced by some malt body that is slightly sweet that is closer to malted grain than anything actually sweet. Of course, as it warms, the malty palate develops body encompassing flavors of malted milkshakes, salt water taffy, and cereal (with a weird twist…maybe just in my brain…suggesting Raisin Bran). There is a dry woody flavor near the end that slips very comfortably into a woody bitter almost like sucking on a peach pit. This may also be a function of the phenols that can a bit spicy and bitter which add to the impression of woody bitterness like sandalwood or incense. There is also the element of chocolate, earthiness, and roast, with that woody dryness that references the use of roasted malt. In this particular tasting, the aging has likely influenced the palate and focused it on the sour and tart, where oud bruins are typically more malty. Hop flavors are absent. Bitter is woody. Finish is medium, dry, and woody. Overall, a complex ride that is utterly enjoyable to the palate, almost overloads the senses, teases appetite, and is certainly hefty enough to be taken seriously. The palate might be a tad on the sour end because this bottle was cellared for almost a year. I expected a sour balance to aged examples. Certainly smells a lot sweeter than it tastes. Finally, I would definitely recommend allowing this one to come up to room temperature before enjoying to allow the full character of the ale to unfold before making any value judgments…personally much much better when it “opened”.

UPDATED: JUN 18, 2019 Pours brown with a small head. Nose shows heavy oak, chocolate, berry notes, funk, nutty notes, burnt caramel and toasty malt. Flavours include oak, vanilla, blackberries, cherries, toasty malt, and a reasonable whack of acidity.

UPDATED: MAY 24, 2019 Pours a deep dark red, sweet smelling, sultanas and berries. A little bit tarty but refreshing. Enjoyable beer!

UPDATED: APR 19, 2019 750ml bottle. Pours a mild brown with off white head. Rich toffee on the nose with subtle zesty notes. Medium body with a strong carbonation and initial zest front. Thins out around the sides but has fruit notes. Very enjoyable on a warm day.

UPDATED: APR 11, 2019 Dark red/light brown, out of the bottle. Aroma of berries and wood. Excellent balance of sweet and sour, finish a bit short, but really enjoyable.

UPDATED: MAY 23, 2019 Deep claret colour with minimal head. Aroma of red fruits, sultana. Thin on the palate with a complex enjoyable flavour

UPDATED: APR 4, 2019 Rich dark caramel colour, nice malty nose, palate slick and sour. Lovely lovely beer.