 SDbruboy (1822), San Diego, California, USA
Aug 27, 2005
750 ml, from the brewery. Pours a deep and hazy chestnut color with a small off-white head that diminishes to a ring of bubbles and leaves spotty lacing. Aroma is rich and pleasing with heavy maltiness reminiscent of figs, molasses and brown sugar, with balancing floral and herby hop notes along with nutmeg and assorted spice. Flavor is also dominated by heavy, sweet malts, with maple, more molasses and dark, ripe fruits, a countepoint of humble floral hops and a prominent alcohol presence. Thick body and very smooth, gentle carbonation gives this one a very pleasing mouthfeel. This is definitely one to age, and I look forward to trying it again in a year and then two. But I couldn’t resist breaking a bottle out tonight to reach and celebrate my 1000th rating!!! Thanks also to Peter for letting me pick up a few bottles a day early.
kramer (1946), sunbury, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 31, 2008 25 oz bottle, consumed Aug 2008. Pours a beautiful clear amber to dark copper body with a small fizzy beige head that faded to a thin ring. Lotsa carbonation visible. The nose is richly malty with dark caramel, burnt toffee, cocoa, figs, and marzipan. Some very light sherry like oxidation, and a touch of alcohol. Reminds me in alot of ways of aged North Coast Old Stock. The flavor reminds me of NC Old Stock as well. Big rich and deep toffee and caramel maltiness with perfect attenuation, it’s not cloying or tiring on the palate at all. I really love the aged character of this, it has really mellowed and smoothed out incredibly from when it was fresh and rather hot. The alcohol is reallty minimally noticable. Finishes with a little cocoa and fig fruitiness, maybe even a touch of coffee. The feel of it is just so smooth and easy drinking it’s extremely hard to believe that this is 10% ABV. Sometimes I’m a big stickler for carbonation and the soft gentle nature of this suits it well. I had to break out an 04 NC Old Stock to drink side by side with this, and while the OS is a bit darker and has a bit more toffee, the comparison has some validity. Wish I had more of these to cellar.
Wasatch (170), Layton, Utah, USA
Oct 25, 2008 A - Pours a very clear ruby red, not much carbonation, tiny head, some island lacing.
S - Scents of plums, sweet malts, raisins, caramel, and slight alcohol.
T - The taste is kinda sweet/tangy, slight caramel, nice warm feeling in the throat, due to the alcohol I’m sure, finishes dry.
M - Medium body, Well rounded brew.
D - Drinkable. I let this one sit for quite a few months (8-9 months). Very tasty, watch out for the 11% ABV. AleSmith is one of my favorite brewers.
SpringsLicker (1846), Tennessee, USA
Oct 18, 2008 Thanks to Beer Hawk for sharing this one!
Pours a clear dark amber with a lasting off-white head.
Complex aroma dark fruits, caramel, raisin.
The flavor follows the aroma.
Very tasty sipper that is holding up (improving?) very well.
Yummy.
Beer_Hawk (801), Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
Sep 29, 2008 Bottle. Poured brown with an off-white head that settles out with time. Good mix of caramel malts and fruits with a slight hint of alcohol. The flavor finds caramel, chocolate, and some fruits with a very slight alcohol presents. Medium to full body that is sweet up front and bitter in the end. Very nice!
MI2CA (1101), Noblesville, Indiana, USA
Sep 29, 2008 Sample at J Gumbos Aug 2008 Indy tasting - I’ve been holding this and the BA version for the right tasting and this was it. Aroma of prune, plum, dark malts, chocolate, caramel, toffee and alcohol. Flavor matches with some tobacco on top. There’s a lot going on. Palate is sticky. A tasty brew for sure.
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