UPDATED: MAY 30, 2021 Sweet & malty with elements of barley, soy sauce, honey, caramel, pineapple, raisin, fig & molasses. Wonderfully complex. Incredibly long finish. Alcohol well controlled.

UPDATED: JAN 31, 2021 2019 vintage, no. 21924. Shared with rennat42. Pour was clear amber with no head. Aroma of plum, fig, sherry, caramel. Taste was bittersweet, mild alcohol burn, caramel, peat, raisins, brown sugar, sherry, really complex flavors, surprisingly smooth. Fun Saturday night mission to purchase this from its forgotten tomb in a grocery store office with a great friend and my son.

UPDATED: JAN 19, 2021 Bottle. 2019 Vintage - 28% A- Sherry, oak, vanilla, caramel, figs, sugared plums, subtle apple brandy. A- Dark copper color, clear liquid, no head. T- Gooey caramel, Madeira port wine, vanilla, sweet maple, raisins, subtle earl grey tea, subtle nuttiness, very subtle anise, oak, malty. P- Full body, slightly oily texture, no carbonation, complex finish. O- Had no idea I was going to have the opportunity to split a bottle of this from an unexpected grocery store trip on a random January day at the last minute. What a fantastic surprise timely with my 4,000th rating. This is definitely a liquor at least through the tasting experience side of things but hey, that's why it's loved right. Reminds me of a steroidal iced bock. I could contemplate the flavors in here all day. Many thanks to those involved in procuring this bottle. The best part was having it at a spur of the moment with good friends around a kitchen table. No fanfare, just pure enjoyment. Perhaps not as big of a whale as it once was, but still pretty damn special for me.

UPDATED: DEC 24, 2020 (Bottle, 2011 vintage, 27%) Dark brown colour, with no head. Malty, vinous, slightly roasted nose with notes of caramel, treacle, raisins, prunes, Madeira (or Port) wine and wood. Malty, vinous taste with caramel, burnt sugar, treacle, dark cherries, port wine, raisins, oak wood, toast, ashes, roasted nuts, well aged cognac, maple syrup, honey, tar, a touch of raspberry balsamic vinegar and a vinous, burnt sugar finish. Low bitterness. Full body, quite sweet. More like a brandy or a port than a beer. Despite the apparent booze presence, it's really tasty. Definitely a bit overprized, but seriously good beer. Excellent!

UPDATED: AUG 13, 2020 2015 bottle. Technically a beer, but unlike any beverage I've come across. Starts with a port-like vinous sweetness, then quickly develops a decadent middle, full of caramel, molasses, licorice, cinnamon, vanilla, and dried cherries. Grows boozy and rich, with deep notes of bourbon, cognac, baking spice, and oak, before finishing with a lengthy fruit cake and wood fade. Stunning, really, like an evolved barrel-aged barleywine, layers upon layers. Lingering alcohol never overpowers; I could sip this for days upon days. Doesn't quite pass the duck test if you're calling it a beer, but who cares. Worth the price. I'll put it back on the shelf and sample again and again. Thanks, Sam Adams.

UPDATED: JUL 7, 2020 nice sweet sticky sleek taste, brown amber clear, no foam, whisky, malty, rum, brandy, cognac, similarity to a bock or high concentrated ice-bock, no carbonation, smooth not sharp or burning,

UPDATED: FEB 18, 2020 Bottle. For my 2500 rating. It's the Utopia. Deep amber in color. Not much head. It's very complex taste. Fruit cake, cognac, a tad boozy but nice taste.

UPDATED: FEB 5, 2020 Mildly syrupy, but not overly sweet. Woody and raisiny, if that’s a real word. Not your “traditional beer” taste. Sold by the ounce at Boxelder in Miami. Very interesting to try, worth trying, but personally wouldn’t try it again, not my style.

UPDATED: JAN 4, 2020 Pours a clear burgundy color. Aroma is oaky. Hints of triple bock. Tastes of dark fruit, vanilla. Warm in the mouth. Unlike anything I’ve tasted before. Outstanding

UPDATED: JUL 29, 2019 4 cl taster (and a glass of water). Deep mahogany brown color, no head. Heavy dried fruit nose, raisins, alcohol, sherry, red port, malty, dark caramel, oak, hint of over-ripe banana. Heavy sweet taste, caramel, dried fruit, heavy alcohol, port, rich malty, vinous, oaked, complex. Full body, thick and oily texture, smooth mouthfeel, no carbonation, warming.
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