12
ounce bottle poured into a tulip. 10.2%
ABV. Stored and served at 55F. Label stamped with “10/30/14 C” (not sure if
that’s a bottle on or enjoy by date, but in late 2017 who cares).
Appearance: Beautiful mahogany brown. It would be brilliantly clear, but this
bottle has been sitting on its side for a couple of years and my stupid,
aggressive pour kicked up the sediment and now it’s all floating around in the glass. After a few minutes most of it sunk to the
bottom. It’s almost completely flat with
nearly no bubbles or head (4/5).
Aroma: Damn… this is what Old Ales should smell
like. Dried pitted fruit and
molasses. A deep pull grabs a little bit
of port wine and old leather. Smells
like something old guys in smoking jackets would enjoy. The bottle exploded with aroma upon opening,
but after a few minutes in the glass most of the fragrances have floated away,
leaving me to continue hunting them down (5/5).
Taste: Malty but not sweet. Nutty and dark fruit jam. Think walnuts covered in blackberry
preserves. And don’t forget the walnut
skin. That super-bitter stuff that falls
out of the shell once you pull the meat out.
Not of a lot of it, but definitely a pleasant helping. Also, I’m not sure if this beer has ever seen
a barrel, but I feel like I’m getting a hint of oak as well. Perhaps it’s just mature malt character (5/5).
Mouthfeel: Medium body, light carbonation (4.5/5).
Overall: If beer came in piles, I would drink a pile
of this. It’s exceptional. The bottle I am drinking is a couple three
years old, but I can’t imagine that this wouldn’t be amazing fresh. The twelve ounce bottle is the perfect
serving size for the 10.2% ABV. And then
you make it affordable on top of that?
Thank you, Bell’s (5/5).
-Matt
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