greedycheater (77), Oklahoma, USA
Mar 5, 2008
Thanks to the good folks at Cork and Bottle in Oklahoma City for inviting me to this rare tasting. Rumors were Oklahoma would not see this specific brew, then switched to "only 6 bottles were received" within the state. Whatever, I got my taste! And that makes some of the guys I work with jealous!
Aroma - incredibly, strongly, intensely alcoholic at first, changing to a warm, butter rum. I couldn’t keep my nose out of the Riedel. Poured a dark, rich, ruby red with no head, carbonation, or lacing - normally a bad sign for a beer - but this is no ordinary beer. Full-bodied and thick on the tongue, I sensed bread pudding, raisins, and almond oil. A very complex and unique barleywine. Too bad I didn’t have a Cohiba to enjoy with it. On a musical scale, this beer is George Clinton’s Parliament - unique, funky, and out of this world.
thickfreakness (61), Austin, Texas, USA
Sep 1, 2008 Thanks again to gregmcq on BA for the rest of his 2003 bottle. This one was opened and tried about two months ago but I’m just now reviewing the very last bit of the bottle. Its just as amazing as when it was first opened though. Pours murky golden brown and has amazing legs when swirled. Smell is amazing brown sugar, nuttiness, booze (bourbon), raisins, caramel. So much going on here I love this stuff. Flavor is much of the same with a huge booze component (again mostly bourbon) that works well with intense caramel, nuttiness and some raisin.. Syrupy smooth and warming in the belly. I just love this stuff and wish I had another bottle to sit on for a while. Not really very beer like but one of my absolute favorite alcoholic beverages I have had to date.
 arjoseph (554), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Aug 30, 2008 GABF 2007. Cquiroga warned me to have this at my peril, as it ruins your tasting glass and taste buds for a while. He was right. After having a few samples, I couldn’t get the oily, vanilla smell out of the plastic tasting cup for about half an hour and a few pours of acidic beers. Pours a murky brown, no head. Smells like a shot of bourbon with fruity whiskey oak and imitation vanilla very strong in the aroma. Upon the first sip, I wrote "strong ass" in my notebook; I’m pretty sure I’m referring to the push of the body and alcohol, rather than any particular ass-like qualities in the beer. Port sweetness and syrupy feel with grapes and brown sugar. The finish is more syrupy than the middle as the beer leaves a film coating the mouth. This is definitely an after-dinner sipper. While you can tell it’s there, the alcohol isn’t obtrusive or detracting at all.
Tmoney99 (3539), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Aug 9, 2008 Bottle 2002. Pours a cloudy brown color with a minimal creamy off-white head that diminished and produced minimal lacing. Heavy complex aroma of roasted malt , maple sugar. Medium to full body with a thick texture. Good flavor with heavy complex bittersweet and heavy complex sweet finish of long duration with a nice alcohol burn. Great brew.
zeke626 (215), Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Jul 31, 2008 Bottle, 2007 vintage labeled 09231. Pours a dark brown body with no head. Strong alcohol and maple syrup nose with hints of raisin and vanilla. Thick, syrupy mouthfeel. Flavor of maple syrup, vanilla, and maybe some butterscotch beyond the alcohol. Alcohol burn throughout the palate and finish. Interesting beer, but not really very drinkable.
Vas19 (214), Maryland, USA
Jul 31, 2008 Reviewing this from memory at a friends place. Pours amber/brown with no head. Aroma similar to cognac or brandy. A lot of caramel and alcohol, with a few intracacies of coffee and maple syrup. Good, but I felt it was trying to hard.
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