Bass No 1

Brewed by White Shield (prev. Museum) (MolsonCoors)
Style: Barley Wine
Burton-on-Trent, England

Huge thanks to puzzl for sharing this gem. The version was a 1929 Bass Princes Ale. The bottle arrived with a slightly leaking cork and was visibly disintegrated. It ended up crumbling fairly seriously when the cork was removed. Poured through a filter leaving a clear, deep amber beer with nice orange highlights. The nose is surprisingly intense. Loads of oak, damp moss and lots of cigar tobacco. In spite of all fo the age, there is still a whole lot going on in here. Lots of chewy malt, bright rye/buckwheat spiciness and a touch of dark honey. Fairly sweet dark fruit and a lot of oxidized character. Dried mushrooms, light sherry sweetness and a lot of musty character. Dusty and chewy with a kiss of acetic character as well. The malts still manage to pop up from behind all of this. There is a bit of corky flavour that comes across a bit like astringency. Really unique and amazing brew. I’m very glad to have had the chance to try it.

Little bits of notes from two separate tastings of it. The first was at BCTC 09, and was of the 1902 Kings Ale. The second was of the later Prince’s Ale from 1929 I believe.
Bottle at BCTC. Excellent aromas, coffee, plum, chocolate, vanilla, some oxidization. Tangy and oxidized yet remarkably malty. Really delicious. 937418
Bottle courtesy of Andy at Paul’s tasting in honor of Kan’s visit. Pours a lightly hazy crimson. Light sour . Tons of oxidization. Not as good as the first time I tried it. Perhaps it needs another 27 years? 738416

BCTC 2009, Shared at the Ratebeer tent. 107 years old. A truly unique experience here. A dark muddy sludge like pour. lots of solid floaties, strange & not very good but what an experience to drink a beer that old. Big thanks to whomever brought this one out

BCTC. Many thanks to the incredible generosity of the RB crowd. Wish I could remember who brought this incredible beer. Thanks! Dark brown with ring. Oxidized caramel and nuts aroma. Toasty caramel molasses oxidization cereal and a touch of rust. Oily palate. In amazing shape after over 100 years. What an experience.

[2400-20090801] Bottle. Heavy richly roasted wood aroma has sweet vanilla hints. Murky, dark brown body with a quick bubbly light tan head and a lot of brown sludge left in the bottom of the glass. Woody cask vanilla flavour has slightly thinned steak sauce characteristics and a lovely sweet long aftertaste. Full thick body. Drinkable even after 100 years, how can such a rare and unique a beer be comparable to another of today? I wonder if it tasted like this back then when they first started their mass production.
Overheard: "It tastes like everything that’s happened since."
(w/ others @ BCTC; Cooperstown, NY)

Rating #1500. 1902 bottle shared by ggaughn and/or kkearn at BCTC. Thanks so much, Greg and Keith! Wow, P2 last year and No 1 this year. I love this fest. Pours a murky brown with a small tan ring of filmy lace. Nose was cardboard, soy, cocoa, sweet malt, molasses, sherry. Flavor was kinda sweet, kinda salty, more sherry, caramel, and oxidation. May have been past its prime 90 years ago, but its still held up remarkably well over the entire 20th century. I’m not usually too impressed by these crazy old beers, but this one was really special.

Bottle at BCTC 2009: I’m glad I got to try a 107 year-old beer. Pours a nice looking muddy brown with a tan wispy thin film. Smells of chocolates, rum, sherry, cardboard, English toasted toffee, and grapes. Slick and warm body. This bottle was in exceptional shape. Complex flavor with notes of old dried cherries, chocolate, lots of Sherry, earthy malty notes of tobacco. Evident oxidation, but it works well with the huge old fruit/earthy maltiness. I can’t believe it’s held up this well.