Additional notes: 09/20/2022

Astonishing effect of the light on the beer (pictured) that causes the red color through the dark brown body.

My notes below don’t do this beer justice, and I like it much better these days. In particular I feel a real richness about the beer which belies my final paragraph. Here I find rich malts, a depth of flavor that I obviously didn’t see 16 years ago, and a nice, woody bitterness that I did note but seems prominent in way it wasn’t previously.

Some toffee, burned bits as well – also noted below. Excellent, delicious. A palate change? A maturity? A fresher bottle? Certainly the first two, maybe all three, I don’t know, but whatever the reason the stark difference between my thoughts then and now are mildly alarming!

Original notes: 01/15/2006

500 mL, tall tapered bottle.

Pours with good, dark brown, varnished wood appearance, a small head and a little lacing. The color certainly suggests a serious malt bomb.

Aroma is malt, with some smoke and wood character.

Tastes are light malts and light alcohol with a tiny bit of bitterness in the finish, but just fail to come up to scratch for me.

Mouthfeel is light and a little thin. I’d like much more body, and as such it leaves me wanting a little more.

Drinkability is OK, but it just feels like there is something missing. Needs body, alcohol, malt or something, but all in all leaves me a little dissatisfied.