22oz bottle acquired in trade. Poured into a big brandy snifter, the color is glossy black. The aroma is lots of bitter roast and rich chocolate. The flavor is deep dark chocolate and biting hop bitterness. Good but not particularly interesting. Hopefully I can try it again the future and discover what I’m missing.

Bottle shared by Afterexile. I love the aroma and the licorice and woodiness in the flavor. This rich and complex flavor stands out. I love this beer! It has a certain tingly texture as I sort through all its nuances while other RIS beers are heavy and sweet. This one keeps my attention and has a nice coffee-like finish. Thanks Kevin! The only negative is there might be a bit too much of the licorice aspect when the wood pieces shine.

I drank this as number 600 on a crisp autumn afternoon. It went well. Black pour with a medium amber head. Taste is roasted malt, licorice, chocolate. Taste is dry and I would have liked it a tad sweeter.

(Bottle, Stockholm Beer Festival, 20 Sep 2008) Pitch black colour with creamy, brown head. Malty, roasted nose with notes of tar, espresso and asphalt. Rather closed. Malty, roasted taste with espresso, cocoa, dark bitter chocolate, tar and loads of liquorice. Full body with chewy mouthfeel. Fairly sweet. Lots of bitterness with cocoa and coffe, nicely balanced by the heavily roasted malt. Really powerful beer. Excellent!

2006 bottle, sampled at RBSG 08. Pours a deep black with a nice tan head. Big, sharp aroma, of burnt toasted malt, chocolate, dark fruits, and molasses. Taste is sharp and bitter, of burnt malt, with hints of sweeter molasses, chocolate and coffee. Lingering bitter malt flavors. Wonderful.