Hurlimann Caesarus Imperator Heller Bock

Bottle [355ml] shared with HogTownHarry & garthicus -- c/o HogTownHarry. Pours a cloudy, deep ruby-amber with a spare diminishing off-white head. Aroma: Wow, I didn’t expect that, it smells great -- Fruity along with caramel malt, toffee, wood and alcohol. Sweet, malty, fruity flavour along with spices and some alcohol in the finish. Surprisingly great!

Bottle (355ml). Share with blankboy and garthicus, via trade with JJPM74. No diea of the vintage, but I think it’s old enough to vote - or at least legally have sex in the Netherlands. Murky reddish amber, smallish white head. Aroma of one of those great English strong/vintage ales - alcohol, dry wood resin, sweet malt and herbal dry bitterness with fruity overtones - nice. Taste - same, sweeter, some yeasty spiciness, lovely blend/balance of alcohol, malt sweetness and dry herbal bitterness, with raisins and dry oak around the edges. Thick, almost sugary, alcoholic and yeasty, a long malty/boozy finish, but never aggressive, just a sweet sipper. Too bad it’s retired! What a surprising brew.

With thanks to HogTownHarry for sharing this with Blankboy and I. Appearance:Caramel colour, no head despite severe swirling. Aroma: a ’thick’ aroma if that makes sense? With caramel, alcohol, some oak, dark fruit, new leather. Flavour: How unusual! I didn’t expect this, very smooth mouth feel, lots of alcohol but not overpowering, maple syrup, spices, coffee, port, cinnamon, just a lot going on, it’s delicious. Long sweet finish, enough to send one into diabetic shock.

What a true gem thanks to John via a trade some while ago, thanks Cletus. The vintage is not listed, as others have said it is at least a 1997 vintage, making it over 12 years old when consumed! Pours a clear brown/amber color, a vigorous pours produces a paper thin white head that quickly goes down to nothing. The aroma is nice; sweet boozy notes, very sweet sugary aspects and some dark fruit. The taste was dominated by an oily slick mouthfeel, no body at all. Sweet sugary flavors stand out, caramel and sweet candies. Like a older Thomas Hardy’s somewhat. Much like a fine liquor.

Alright #1200, shared with BeerVirgin.Poured a gloomy amber with a virtually no head.Huge sweet caramel nose.Flavor was sweet, caramel like with a nice boozy, warming finish.

My 600th rate! WOO HOO! Botte courtesy of Dragonstout. Thank you so much Brian for the beer and for sharing this special rate with me. Pour was a murky amber. No head. Aroma was delightful. Sweet carmalized sugar all the way. Flavor was almost sickening sweet up front...The very light in the middle, almost disappointing, then finished with a lonnnnng alcoholic burn. Stayed in my mouth burning like black pepper long after the last swallow.

Bottle from my cellar, courtesy my brother DYCSoccer17. Hazy amber brown pour with no head. Lots o floaties. Sugary aroma, with some ethanol present in the nose. Wow, sweet...almost cloyingly so. Alcohol is hidden quite well, although I am not sure how old this beer is therefore it may have just mellowed nicely. Drinkable in small amounts, warming finish. Thinnish mouthfeel, which is appropriate. Good beer, I just wish it was a little more balanced.

Bottle sampled at RBSG ’08. Pours with a deep amber body topped by a thin head with little lacing. It’s slightly sweet and malty with a nice candy sugar note and a touch of toffee. nice. Medium to full bodied and warming.