2006 Vintage, Showcase Beverage, Carrollton, GA, USA, a great price at $8.99 a four pack.

This is listed at 13.25% ABV, bigger than previous vintages so I am a bit confused as to why this is not listed as a different beer in the database (surely the recipe must have changed). Anyway, just like all the other vintages this is pure marzipan, with a delicious coke like appearance and sweet, smooth and warming. Fairly obviously, the alcohol is still way too hot and in a couple of years this will be spectacular. For now, lay it down

2003 Vintage, Jax, Sandy Springs, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Wow! I was ready to be disappointed by this because on the whole, I find brews with this much alcohol have a very hard time pulling off the balance flavors. This was excpetional.

Nothing spectacular to look at (the standard flat appearance for a 11-12% ABV brew) so the first thing that hits you is the aroma. To me it’s ALL marzipan. Delicious. The whole experience is warming, smooth as silk and everything seems in perfect balance. Unusual for such a high ABV in my experience.

This was exceptional to me because I don’t usually enjoy these very high alcohol beers, but this one worked where so many others have failed.

Balanced and smooth in a way that is fairly uncommon.