XS Old Crustacean
12 oz bottle 2002 vintage with 120 IBUs stated on the label. Consumed 01/15/07. Pours a murky amber to brown with almost no head. The aroma is of sweet booze soaked plums and cherries along with a hint of pine hoppiness. Smooth flavor of dried shriveled plums, dates, cherries and a couple of raisins. There are also smooth and rich roasted malts, caramel malts, some toffee, a bit of roasted coffee beans and alcohol warmth. There is a nice pine hoppiness that takes hold about midway and builds some to the finish. 2005 vintage consumed 5/11/06. Pour out very dark out of a very dark ceramic bottle. Mmmm. This is going to be good. The aroma was assertive with roasted malt, chocolate malts, citrus hops and as the temperature rose so did the alcohol aroma. Very inviting aroma. The taste is both hop flavor and chocolate malt competing for dominance. I think it is very well balanced throughout the flavor profile. Near the end of the taste (moments before the next is to begin) I get both lingering bittering hops, roasted chocolate malts and the warmth of the alcohol. I love the taste. Scratching me right where I itch.