Aarleks (404), Sydney, Australia
| 3.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Sep 6, 2004 Bottle: Poured a black to very deep ruby with a bubbly yellow/tan head that diminished to a ring very fast. Aroma of raisins and molasses with spicey herbal notes (smelt thick!). Golden syrup flavour intensity with some refreshing herbal hop to balance in the background. Very strong and nice. A thick, syrupy beer, the golden syrup flavour remains stuck to the palate for some time. Nicely balanced by some bitterness, although I found the carbonation somewhat sharp. Very nice. vanvenlo (794), Glen Iris, Australia
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Aug 31, 2004 31 Aug 2004 - Mega sweet malt aroma, good hop and malt balance aroma. Good head retention, dark black-brown colour and nice sheet lacing. Oppulent complex hop earth malt flavours. Lovely smooth gentle palate but I’d like a touch more malt. Lunkie (1020), Glen Iris, Australia
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Aug 31, 2004 Very strong malt fruit aroma. Nearly brought tears to my eyes. Black colour with good head and lacing. Bitter malt burnt flavour. Very full beer. Big palate. cquiroga (370), Sylmar, California, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 | Aug 23, 2004 8/6/04. Poured out of 500 mL bottle, bought at Liquorama in Upland, CA 7/26/04. Pours a dark, bark-colored brown. Dense and creamy head, lingering in a gentle sheath. Lacing is quite good, perhaps a bit fast and not that sticky. Aroma of rich autumnal malt, some dark and pale malts, some shades of fruit, raisins, some wood and a light earthy spice. Rich, earthy matls and dark bread with subtle yeast flavors. Edge of sweetness and a veil of smoke or roast, some apple, a bit of tobacco. I wish it gave a little bit more. Body is very nice, medium-full and gentle, complex but very drinkable. Finish is long and lightly sweet and earthy, very smooth and with subtle dark honey flavors and a touch of acidity. Sort of grows with time after you swallow it-- very good. This beer’s no Celebrator, but it’s pretty damn good-- lighter and more refreshing. Reminds me of early autumn or early spring. Would be great with a roast, or with applewood bacon. Gotta love the doppelbocks with your pork-eatin’ moods. beerinmarch (2781), Alabama, USA
| 3.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 6/10 | 3/5 | 14/20 | Aug 22, 2004 Pours a very dark red with a tan head that leaves good lacing. A sweet caramel malt aroma tops this tasty bock off. A slight metalic taste left behind near the end which kinda pissed me off a bit, but otherwise this was one hell of a good bock. jmm1 (108), Andorra
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 | Aug 18, 2004 From bottle. Dark amber color with a small caramel head. Malty and fruity aroma with some roasted notes. The malt is also present in the flavor with some caramel sweetness that remains in mouth. Little carbonation but that fizzles on the tip of the tounge. Nice smooth finish. beerledgend (919), Meadowbank Auckland, New Zealand
| 3.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 4/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 | Aug 5, 2004 Dark brown in colour with big thick toffee coloured head. Could smell or taste anything of note was masked by the chemical smell of high abv.
Was an oily finish. mdi (573), Nebraska, USA
| 3.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 14/20 | Jul 31, 2004 16.9oz bottle BBD 06.01.05 Black, tan head died in the glass, no lace. Big malt nose, slightly musty, medium bodied, smooth, somewhat oily feel, Robust maltiness, creamy, hop spice detected in finish, though certainly not bitter. Fairly chewy malty beer, enjoyable, big but in a one-dimensional largeness...Sweetness begins to overwhelm me as it warms, carmel comes to the fore. Ends up too sweet and flat to really turn me on, like an English barleywine w/o the hops, a bit cloying. I guess that commercial description pretty much says it all.
|