12oz bottle as part of the mixed LONGSHOT sixer, $6.49 @ Cheers, Carrollton, GA, USA. The LONGSHOT six-pack just made it to GA in the last few days. Notched label suggests Best Before June 2007.

If I had to blind taste this I would have described it as an English/American Barleywie hybrid. It certainly has the big malt character that the Old Ale style should show, but it also shows an interesting mild hop bitterness. Plenty of caramel and some dark fruits – figs and other Christmas type tastes.

Nice noisy pour with some frothy head and a little lacing. Suprising clarity and some good carbonation considering the ABV. In fact for a beer close to 11%, it definitely has some life beyond what one would expect. Bags of sweet malt upfront in the nose and the taste, and a touch of alcohol in the aroma.

Again sweet malts dominate the taste, but there is very mild bitterness in the short finish in addition to some liuor like character.

Very nice beer, and reminiscent of the Double Bock from BBC.