Pours opaque black with minimal head — just a thin collar of micro-bubbles that fades quickly. Syrupy and still, with visible fill loss telling the story of eleven years before the cap comes off.
Chocolate bourbon rises first, settled and unhurried. Vanilla follows, soft and integrated — barrel character that has long since made peace with the base beer.
Chocolate bourbon carries through from nose to palate, deep and undiminished. The roast that once defined this beer has receded, leaving dessert-like richness in its place. Alcohol warmth is present and felt, but not aggressive.
Syrupy and nearly flat. Carbonation is all but gone, yet the body holds — dense and coating without being cloying.
A distinctive sweet barrel character lingers — Chocolate bourbon, waxy and warm. The heat resolves slowly. No soy, no oxidation. Just time.
Opened to clear cellar space and expected a drain pour. Instead, age softened the beer without stripping its identity. Chocolate, bourbon, and dessert-like richness outlast concerns over oxidation. A dusty cellar bottle that still drinks with purpose.