 ajm (912), Los Angeles, California, USA
Nov 13, 2009 Tap at Toro SD. Nose of a rather grapey brandy with lots of esters, chocolate, malt, raisin, bread, warm cocoa. Color is a solid, velvety dark brown/black and you can tell it’s thick just looking at it. Flavor is a nice tootsie-roll bread pudding brownie mess with the brandy nicely infused everywhere. Even cold, this beer warms you. Finish is rather long and full throughout. I think the booze is an asset as it works perfectly to balance the toffee/malt sweetness.
nickd717 (1320), Palo Alto, California, USA
Nov 8, 2009 Updated: Nov 18, 2009On tap at Hamilton’s in San Diego. Dark brown color with a medium sized tan head. Aroma is dark fruits, caramel, licorice, and brandy. Flavor is caramel malt, raisin, and prune, vinous notes along with a huge brandy presence. A little too strong in my opinion. Palate is medium-full and smooth but a bit boozy. I’m docking this a bit on the overall score because I think the essence of the style is somewhat lost in the brandy barrel aging. This barrel stuff is a little overdone sometimes.
EDIT: Had some notes from the Bistro fest that I failed to take into account earlier. This beer was a lot smoother this time - maybe a week of extra aging helped? Red wine, caramel, toffee, and vanilla stand out a lot more this time compared to before. Great dark fruits and caramel on the aroma. Brandy not as intense. Increasing rating accordingly.
DaSilky1 (1960), San Diego, California, USA
Nov 7, 2009 Special thanks to lee at blind lady for giving me a sample without making me get the required flight of beers I’ve already had many times. Pours amber, frothy head. Nose is lucious, sweet and candy-like...a little licorice, rhubard, and some nicities Beautiful body...creamy and thick beyond belief...fruity, sweet, and creamy....holy shit this is nice. Seriously, holy shit. Flavors are fruity, sweet yet hoppy, thick, candy-like, and downright sexxy
TimE (1301), Tokyo, Japan
Oct 9, 2009 I think the commercial description is spot on. This beer rocked my world. Nose tempts you with lots of brandy, but digging deeper you’ll find caramel and raisins. The mouth is notably sweet, the brandy is more subdued and background flavors come out - caramel, rasins, a touch of brown sugar and fairly vinous. Alcohol pops up a bit in the finish, which is the only sign of how potent medium body brew is. Wisp of brandy and caramel in finish make this truely a wonderful sipping beer, or as my friends noted "Christmas Beer". Excellent.
papajohn (1054), San Diego (Mira Mesa), California, USA
Oct 8, 2009 on tap@BP Scripps Ranch: Dark brown color with a small (bar pour) tan head. Aroma is brandy, dark fruit and a little wood. Flavor starts rich sweet nutty caramel with a strong boozy note followed by dark fruit, wood and vanilla and a sweet, lightly bitter and hot finish. Full body is rich and smooth with soft carbonation.
wilkie (1189), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Jun 22, 2009 Draught. Pours dark brown, with beige head. Aroma is strong brandy, with some raisin, caramel. Flavor is simlar, As beer warms, the brandy is less strong, and the caramel shines through. Very nice beer over all.
bb (2905), Martinez, California, USA
Jun 19, 2009 Draft. Rich mahogoony beer with a tan head. Sweet caramel malt aroma with a bit of brandy and dark fruits. Rich malt flavor with caramel, brandy, and a nice frtuiiness. Medium-plus bodied. Caramel and brandy lingers with a bit of wood and dark fruits. Brandy barrel complements nicely.
gaffandbleed (12), California, USA
Jun 15, 2009 Had a side by side tasting with the normal version. This one was much smoother and had a better aftertaste. Toffee, and carmel with a brandy or wine flavor mixed in. Fantastic.
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