 Mes_and_Sim (4476), Highgate, Greater London, England
Jan 28, 2008 Updated: Mar 5, 2008
A Mes rate: Bottle on the train on the way back to London with Reakt.
I was expecting this to be good but I really wasn’t quite expecting this. This is a world class beer, there is absolutely no doubt. Totally black and opaque with a thick and solid tan head. A glorious pour indeed. The aroma is an incredible balance of sweet fresh oak, whiskey, juicy raspberry, crème brûlée, incredibly rich but perfectly poised malt and SO much more. This is complexity like you very rarely find. As for the flavour, I may be just over spec’ing it but honestly, this is really not far off Kaggen. The oaky notes are only bettered by the number 1. Such incredible rich chocolate, vanilla, candy sugar and caramel that is all held perfectly in check by the amazing barrelly bits. It’s so rich and extravagant that, if I am being honest, a full bottle may be too much. But that is not what this type of beer is about. This is something to share and savour amongst friends. The alcohol is utterly superb. It is very clear throughout with a real kick at the finish but not even a hint of any aggressive burn. Mellow, refined, elegant... think of a superlative and add it here. An incredible desert beer. Such unreal chocolate in the finish. So bloody much of it, it just doesn’t stop. Mouthfeel again is close to (and only bettered by) Kaggen. It’s almost melted ice cream. If I wasn’t sat down when I first sipped at it I would have needed to in a hurry. Worth every bit of its high status and my Närke comparison shows how much I think of it.
MASSIVE thanks to Craig for deciding to let me have one of his bottles.
fonefan (4850), Ulfborg, Denmark
Sep 29, 2008 Bottle 275ml @ home. [ My UK Beer # 1000 ]
[ Courtesy of Mes_and_Sim ]. [ Vintage 2005 ]. Clear dark black color with a large, creamy, excellent lacing, fully lasting, light brown head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, burnt, chocolate, dark berry - forest berry, cigar - tobaco, wood, oak, light alcohol. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a long duration. Body is full, texture is oily - syrupy - creamy - smooth, carbonation is soft - flat. Plain and very very complex and very easy to drink ... give me more ;o)) (020708)
DSG (867), Yuvalim, Israel
Aug 29, 2008 Bottle. 2005 vintage. HUGE thanks to Phil_L for giving me this at the last ZBF just out of generosity. I wanted to save this for a special occasion but after trying and really enjoying the regular Good King Henry it got harder to keep seeing it just seating in the cellar. Black-colored with a small bubbly brown head. Wonderful aroma full of chocolate (pralines), some alcohol, light fruitiness and some oaky notes. Flavor is sweet upfront with some chocolate notes, caramel and some fruitiness, continues slightly drier, very roasty, with some coffee, a great woody touch with vanilla notes and a bitter finish with big roastiness and a bit of alcohol. Full thick-bodied with light hints of alcohol on the tongue. A bit acidic and maybe lightly salty when I pour the bottom of the bottle. A magnificent balanced Stout.
footbalm (1217), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Aug 26, 2008 Damn, I hate it when I get guilted into rating.Bottle shared from Douglas88. Thanks for the very special brew. So many flavors blended together and harmonizing perfectly like all 50 members of Jet. ( they were a band in the 70’s) You now when you enjoy an Expedition Stout, the flavors can almost yell at you: "hey,grey haired old guy, this is the molasss crew over here smacking your taste buds or " gee can you guess that we are from the Coffea canephora family?". The flavors in this brew whisper in your ear. Simply a wonderful brew.
douglas88 (808), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Aug 26, 2008 A huge thanks to Doppelganger for this bottle. What a find. 275 ml bottle September 2005 vintage drank August 2008. Pours a dark brown body with a nice medium orange brown head that stays throughout. The nose is very strong and awesome; cocca, burnt malts, light dark fruits and some hints of oak. The flavor is very damn complex and so good; smoke and woody, almost meaty flavors, some barrel and soy sourness, sweet chocolates and roasted malt. I drank this with footbalm and he remarked aptly that this beer is so full of flavors, none of which are overpowering in any way. Just full enough to give you the ability to taste it all. Amazing.
wickedpete (569), Lexington Park, Maryland, USA
Aug 21, 2008 Big thanks to Ken for this one. Dark black color with a creamy brown head. The aroma is predominantly alcohol at first, quite boozy, then lends itself to chocolate, bittersweet cocoa, sweet dark fruit, and dark fudge eventually comes through. Flavor has a tangy sweetness, smooth bittersweet chocolate, a light bit of coffee, and slight lactic sour quality at first but then fades. Not too tick or heavy, delightfully smooth imperial stout.
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