Bos Vintage Ale

Formerly brewed at Bos Brewery and Bistro
Style: Barley Wine
Pontiac, Michigan USA

Bottled - vintage 2003. A black beer with a thin tan head. The aroma has notes of alcohol, wood, sherry, and berries. The flavor is sweet with notes of malt, alcohol, and over ripe fruits, leading to a dry alcoholic finish. Thanks CaptainCougar for coming to Denmark and sharing this.

Bottle 35,5 cl. Courtesy of CaptainCougar. Vintage 2003. Hazy reddish brown with a tiny, rough off-white head. Massive aroma of dried and overripe fruits and cheese with the alcohol showing. Solid body, very low in carbonation, overripe fruit, sweet figs and dates, syrupy sweet with a massive alcohol burn. No real bitterness. A pleasant sipper. Yum. 300809

12 fl oz bottle, courtesy of CaptainCougar. Pours dark brown and hazy with a small tan head. Aroma is overripe fruity, solid roasted malt and dense alcohol. Sticky raising and syrupy sweet. Smooth and sticky mouthfeel. Smooth overripe flavoured finish. Lovely stuff.

Name: Vintage Ale
Date: 06/21/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Pre-RBSG
Vintage: 2002

clear dark caramel, headless, nice legs, rich sweet dark caramel malt aroma with tons of sweet fruity brandy character, creamy body turns sweet and sticky, lots of hot buttered dark caramel flavor, tons of fruity sweetness, hot alcohol is evident but not a distraction, very much a brandy sipper and much more so than the later vintages,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 9/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 9/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: ***+/4
-------- /> Name: Vintage Ale
Date: 11/16/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Boboski
Vintage: 2003

clear dark brown with burgandy edges, headless, so thick it has legs, rich chocolate and sweet alcoholic caramel aroma with fruity essence of rum soaked raisons, huge thick body, rich hot caramel malt flavor, lots of sweet dark fruit character, vanilla sweetness,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 9/10; Overall: 18/20
Rating: 4.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: ***+/4
-------- /> Name: Vintage Ale
Date: 06/21/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Pre-RBSG
Vintage: 2004

muddy dark orange, wispy tan head, sweet caramel malt aroma balanced with funky earthy hops and a touch of alcohol, big sticky body, rich dark hot bottered caramel malt flavor, lots of sticky sweetness, touch of fruit, earthy quality adds complexity rather than balance,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4
-------- /> Name: Vintage Ale
Date: 06/23/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Vintage: 2005

clear dark red, wispy beige head, hot buttered caramel aroma, big sticky body, lots of hot caramel malt flavor, sticky sweetness, nice fruity character, alcohol never let’s up

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Drinkability: 5/10
Score: **4

Brown with not really a head. Sweet and vinious aroma with overripe fruits, caramel, raisins and dates. Flavour was very sweet with figs, dates, raisins, overripe fruits, caramel and toasted malt. Finished sweet with loads of warming alcohol.

(12oz bottle, vintage 2002, thanks CaptainCougar) Cloudy dark-brown body with no head. Aroma is moderately sweet, chocolate, plum/raisin, Brandy, some banana peel, light soy. Taste is sweet, chocolate, some raisin, Brandy. Alcohol evident but not overpowering. Minimal carbonation in a sticky full body. Yummy sipping beer.

2004 edition. Surprising lasting lacy off-white head tops the ruby brown body which is appealing. Extremely sweet nose comprises heavy licorice and juicy molasses that acts like an artificial sweetener to an already extreme fruit purée. Smoky and earthy complexities in mouth never quite balance this purée-anise-molasses heaviness that acts like pure sugar and sticks to the palate all the way through. Full bodied, low carbonation, heavy texture. The alcohol miraculously stays all concentrated toward the aftertaste. Honeyish, silky and earthy. Rich.. too rich.

2002 bottle sampled at the Pre-RBSG ’Tosa gathering on 6/21/07 courtesy of kp: Pours a transparent viscous dark mahogany with a thin ring of bubbles and thick legs. Aroma of sweet complex dark caramel and raisins and brown sugar with some alcohol fumes. Body starts thick, rich, sugary and caramely with a touch of earthiness, some mild cardboard oxidation and a big, hot burning finish. Very complex, but hard to take down.