Pour is a simple affair with a noticable chunky ending. Yes, this was bottle conditioned. It's a very dark brown with reddish hints. The head leaves a bullseye in the middle of the top of the beer and the usual bubbles gripping the sides. The aroma is deep and sweet malts - almost like a wine. I can detect some earthiness to it as well, and that would be very similar to the red label I had yesterday. Honestly, this aroma is like a giant symphony of smells - rasin, cherry, clove, wheat, and baked bread.First sip is surprisingly mild. It tastes of alcohol more than anything. It's 9% by volume, so I guess that makes sense, but I get a lot more than alcohol in my sip. It also has a bit of caramel and the sweet malt. I get very little of the hops that I expected to be in here.
A proper beer deserves a proper swig. Tip-in is simple, playful. It lets a bit of the sweet malt and a bit of rasins or prune flow across the tongue with some carbonation tickling the outsides. There's a harsh buzz of carbonation at the roof of the mouth when you start to swallow, but it's surrounded by an earthy, fruity taste that is exceptionally pleasing. Then the finish brings the heavy alcohol taste with a hint of chocolate and cherry. As it dissipates, a sweetness on the lips remains.
This beer is sensational. When I had the red label, I had high expectations that were mostly met. With this beer, they were surpassed.
5.0/5
