 berkshire_john (1058), Bracknell, Berkshire, England
Aug 5, 2008 1pt 2.6 fl. oz. bottle #42548, bought from the brewery and saved for my 1000th rating.
Pours clear golden amber with thick billowing caramel colour head that falls back quickly leaving the glass well-laced.
Aroma is deeply vinous, like the cork from an old bottle of good claret, but also has lots of burnt caramel and wood smoke.
The flavour is similar, to start you could be sipping a good wine, rich, smooth and velvety, but then the roasted malts become apparent with a deep earthy caramel, followed by a touch of orange and spice. There’s also leather and tobacco in there as well.
The alcohol shows in the finish, but in a very mellow, warming way, with a touch of smoke and sweetness - not unlike a highland
whisky.
Overall a truely outstanding ale, still at it’s best after 8 years. I’m looking forward to my next major milestone now, as
I have a bottle of the 1999 vintage put aside.
jjpm74 (2953), Connecticut, USA
Jul 7, 2008 Pours copper with a thin white head. Smells of caramel, honey, touches of fruit. Tastes earthy with some decent fruity hints and a big hint of apples on the finish.
EHSRanders (702), Randers C, Denmark
Jun 11, 2008 Bottle. Hazy amber colour with huge creamy off-white mostly lasting head. Powerfull malty aroma. Sweet spicy flavor. Warm alcohol finish.
WeeHeavySD (1720), San Diego (Hillcrest), California, USA
May 17, 2008 Bottle from Wetherel at Sean and Ryan’s tasting. Pours orange with a bigger head than the 1999. Nose is so much more muted than the 1999. Taste is sweet and nice, its a quality brew but the 1999 beats the crap out of it.
wetherel (1012), Carlsbad, California, USA
May 17, 2008 Bottle from CaptainCougar. Thanks! 8yr old bottle. Opened at Sean and Ryans party, and compared against 1999 and 2004. Everybody, including myself, prefers the 1999. I think they are similar though. I think the 1999 by chance has held up a bit better than the 2000. Darket amber color. Mellow, but not as sweet and mellow as 1999. Mildly sweet and malty. No oxidation or off flavors. Pretty good.
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