Limited Release 2012 Vintage Ale - George Bateman and Son Ltd. / Batemans Brewery

EmperorBevis

United Kingdom (England)

3.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Limited to sales at Aldi supermarket and old in a presentation box with plenty of glorious background text.

Poured into my Dartington Ultimate Beer Glass
the nose is treated to ginger cake, candied peel, molasses with hints of dark chocolate and just the slight suggestion of coffee.

Pours a rich brown barley sugar coloured body with decent enough thickish tight white bubbled head that only has two penny sized holes.

The taste is classic barley wine country brandy, treacle and cinnamon mixed with other rich top flavours taken into very much chewy malts and leaves the tongue sparkly bitter little kicks all carried down through a heavily booze laden river.
Tastes much stronger than it is.

Slightly higher carbonated than I thought quite a thick mouthfeel though it does seem to thin in the mouth whilst there which is slightly odd.

Very reminiscent of Dobbins Old Soporific.

Heavy going and extremely rich, rewarding and well worth the try
I think it isn't going to age greatly though with no bottle conditioning and not all that higher strength abv IMHO it is going to be at it's best in 5 years not 35 years.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 21:28:34 | More by EmperorBevis