 dmschefke (371), Eastpointe, Michigan, USA
| 3.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Jul 13, 2009 Thanks to Jaaaaarspaaaaaggggg in sunny cali for this baby. Bottle less than a year old. Have another that I will age for at least one more year before retrying. Pours a dark nut brown with thin tan head that dissipates quickly to an ever so small ring around the glass, no lacing. Aroma of toasted to slightly roasted malts, alcohol, whiskey, raisins, and chocolate. Flavor matches well, alcohol dominates and a bit more bitterness than expected. Mouthfeel is thin, slick, and surprisingly lively in carbonation. Finishes dry, bitter, lots of chocolate, and a bit metallic. Overall very nice, but might do better with some age.
jcwattsrugger (5223), Florida and, New Jersey, USA
| 3.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 6/10 | 3/5 | 11/20 |
Jul 11, 2009 750ml bottle–pours a retaining light brown head and deep red/copper color. Aroma is medium/dark malt-chocolate/molasses, dark fruit-cherry/raisin, earthy. ASA meets Scotch ale. Taste is initially alcohol, bitter then dark malt-chocolate/molasses/bready, dark fruit-cherry/raisin, earthy. Hops as it moves to cellar temp, taste improves…nope. Thanks to Joe-jwc215 for sharing.
leems (147), Portland, Oregon, USA
| 4.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 5/5 | 18/20 |
Jul 7, 2009 750 Shared by Beardface on the weekend of my wedding. Dark brown with a red tinge and nice lacing from the off white head. Chocolate, caramel, brown sugar for the aroma. Flavor is malt, salty peat, caramel, dark fruits. Slightly boozy. A whirlwind of a weekend and this started it off right!
gorditoabd (162), San Diego, California, USA
| 4.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 18/20 |
Jul 7, 2009 Bomber. Pours somewhere between coffee and cola, mostly opaque with a finger or so of off-white head. Aroma of chocolate and brown sugar come first, along with roasted malts and an anticipatory touch of the booze. Flavor is like dark chocolate, with the bitterness almost making it like smokey baker’s chocolate. This really is an interesting one because, as other raters have noted, it LEADS with the booze and then closes out to a very well-rounded, caramel and malt finish. Mouthfeel is spot on, just thick enough to make you know what you’re dealing with, a VERY good ale, without ever being overbearing. I have to say, I was expecting great things, and I am not disappointed.
thirdeye11 (501), Texas, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 |
Jul 6, 2009 Bottle thanks to blutt59. Pours a deep ruby brown that is mostly opaque; head is not very present here, but color is great. Aroma is of dark raisins, smoky malt, and toasted sweet grains. The taste is the same with the raisins making a big appearance here; a welcome surprise! I generally do not like this style, but see why Alesmith brews are so highly rated. The palette finish is usually where scotch ales are horrible for me (too roasty/toasty/smoky) and this one is just balanced perfectly where the sweetness is what lingers as it should be.
Very glad to have had this one.
Gypsy19 (617), California, USA
| 3.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 14/20 |
Jul 5, 2009 Pours a deep ruby brown, nearly opaque, with a small head that reduces to a thin film. Aroma has a lot of cinnamon at first, then becomes dusty, bailed hay. Also a little candy sugar in the aroma. Flavor is very smoky at first, then tarry and leathery. Not as sweet as expected. No hops detected. A little sweetness comes around at the end with the whiskey finish. Palate is medium, little carbonation. This reminds me very much of the old ales I’ve had to date; I guess they’re somewhat similar styles anyhow. Overall, good.
BeerBelcher (937), Columbus, Ohio, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 3/5 | 8/10 | 5/5 | 17/20 |
Jul 5, 2009 This is a BIG beer. Unlike some other 10% ABV that surreptitiously sneak up on you, this one bares its character with the first sip.
Pours sort of muddy-brown, with scant head that quickly fades. Aroma is a touch smokey, peaty, and alcohol ester-y. Unmistakenly Scotch Ale. Flavor is a smokey, butter-scotch-y, slightly sweet, and peaty. Very good. Mouthfeel is odd - simultaneously both sweet and dry.
I know I’ve had this before - can’t believe I haven’t rated it. Thanks to SurlySober for bringing it up from Cincinnati.
This isn’t a beer for every occasion, but it’s good. Enjoyed this out of one of my thistle glasses...just kidding - it was from a tulip.
Ethereal (1500), London, Greater London, England
| 4.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 17/20 |
Jul 2, 2009 Bottle at the Bishops Arms, Malmo, 18th May 09, shared with Tobias & Johan from DDM - cheers guys! Dark brown, small white head. Fruity, malty, superbly balanced. Very enjoyable taste and a perfect palate. Chocolate, fruits. Difficult to break down into components and analyse, but in totality, an awesome beer. The word ’voluptuous’ leaps out from that commercial description!
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