 GreatLibations (1330), Sasquatcho, Arizona, USA
Feb 8, 2006 Updated: Apr 9, 2006
Ah, let me clear my sinuses. Wew, just took my first sip. Did someone crank up the stereo ? I hear Judas Priest, Rob Holford and the guy’s whailing and I got front row seats. A brutal assult on my olfactory sensors. The Bordeaux of all brews, The Bully, The Dragon, The, The......all names that front themselves in my mind when confronted with such a massive, explosive combination of malts-hops-yeast-and water. Big, bold, earthy, citrus, chewy, off dry, very complex. The finish, who said finish, it’s been three months since my last sip and i can still taste it. No finish here. the flavor has to die to have a finish. It just keeps going, more like the Terminator. Alcohol is well hidden. I saved a bottle and will open winter 2006 to see how bottle age effects this gargantuous ale. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommended to those willing to try. ****REVISION 4-8-06**** this just in. I opened that bottle. Couldn’t wait til winter. So it’s been six month in my closet and it’s much more mellow. Drank it ice cold and the caramel character was front row. Kind of barely wine-ish at this point. The hops are still kicking though. Prolly go a while longer. Still fantastic.
Skeegle (335), USA
Dec 4, 2008 Mmmm. FINALLY! I have looked yonder mountains and in the wee shops of whoville for this stuff and alas! the search is fruitful. I feared the bottle would implode and cease to exist once I opened it. But nay. Mmmm. Double Bastard. This really tasted like a barley wine to me. Except sweeter. Which was bizarre. But it was great none the less. Lots of flowery bouquet notes with a definite dark raisiny cheek watering bite. Well worth the wait.
PorterPounder (2881), Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Dec 3, 2008 Savannah, Georgia - Habersham Beverage Warehouse - 22 oz bomber. Pours a medium to dark copper with a thick sticky off-white head that produces nice lace that clings to the glass for the entire time. Resiny aroma with some nice mountainy Scotch pine accents and a wee bit of alcohol. Succulent flavor with some sticky grapefruity hoppiness, some nectarines, pomegranates - you name the fruit it is in there. Nice malty backbone with some maple syrup notes, molasses, brown sugar. Sticky rich thick mouthfeel. Excellent - best beer I have had in a long time.
RedSox2004 (199), Pacific Palisades, California, USA
Nov 30, 2008 22 oz bomber poured into a pint glass. Two-finger head that stayed strong and left nice sticky lacing. Caramel and citrus were strongest on the nose, which also held a background of dark fruits and malts. Wonderfully balanced caramel malt sweetness and slightly citrusy hops bitterness on the palate. Complexity seemed to increase as the beer warmed, and additional flavors of spices, ripe fruit, and carmelized sugars came through. Medium to full mouthfeel, good carbonation, and a pleasant aftertaste. Alcohol is warming, not overpowering. Excellent beer.
branspra (86), Arlington, Virginia, USA
Nov 30, 2008 Bottle. Pours with a white head, rather small. Body is a dark amber color with excellent lacing. Aromas of hops, mainly citrus, roasted grains and malts, and some casket-like port or wine. Flavor smacks you in the face with a bold initial taste followed by a very nice bitter aftertase. Texture of sticky and carbonation almost perfect. Well worth the wait each year.
garthicus (595), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nov 30, 2008 On tap at ’Ginger Man’ in NYC. Dark ruby red, tiny wispy pancake colour head. Deathly still. Aroma: Alcohol, some allspice, hops and then alcohol again! Flavour: HUGE, just huge, alcohol, some distinct hops, very very bitter finish, long brandy in the finish too. A lot of alcohol. Woah.
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