Pours near black, thick, and minimal head. More chocolate than vanilla on the nose. Vanilla much more prominent in taste. Really bringing the s'mores profile. Big body and minimal carbonation.

Great plum coming through. Another big winner from Vista.

Plum still very present. Excellent ale!

Fruit very prominent. Mild cheesiness, works very well with the sourness. Very old school.

Enjoyed at Mustang Island State Park with wonderful cheeses. Had that drying coffee notes with decent above normal body. Very good!

Poker at Jason's. Ages very well and enjoyed by all. Good wood and molasses flavors.

Loved it on Mustang Island. Suble pear on nose and taste. Lemon and citrus notes otherwise. Easy drinking and very good for warmer weather.

HCBS #19. Very good but not as great as the last one. Finish not top notch

Amazing. No signs of decay. Big coffee and chocolate notes. Fantastic from beginning to end.

Perfection in a bottle

Amazing level of coffee. Stout might be fading a touch.

Wonderful body and taste

Great coffee abound. Love it still.

Wow, this is fantastic. Not a huge body stout but plenty good. Coffee and chocolate blend fantastically with the rye and wood. I have renewed appreciation for this stout.

Enjoyed at HCBS #13. Great barrel aged stout. Love the coffee notes with the booziness. Not as full bodied as some.

Great flavors, body trying to keep up with the booze.

HCBS #13 beer. Loved by all at 10 years. Smokey, peaty scotch coming through as an excellent compliment to the ale.

Simply fantastic! Black Gap WMA

Drank well. Flavors good, oxidation low. Enjoyed

2016 bottle consumed Mar 2023. Thick black with minimal carbonation, minimal beige head with low retention. Nose a bit muted, mineral. Taste definitely getting chocolate, some spice hidden in there. Finish comes through the same as drinking black coffee.

Disappointed with this one. Over 5 years old, and did not hold up. Still, touch of oxidation, some small complexities in flavor, but not worth the price.

At least 2.5 years old. Great barleywine overall, but the barrel is muted. Not getting much more than the standard here.

Enjoyed at Blast n Cast. Drinking incredibly well. Nose is perfect, very minor oxidation on taste. Great molasses booziness. Finish is slightly flawed.

Enjoyed in pool. Loved it.

Falling in flavor with some improvement with air time.

HCBS #21 12 year vertical. Worst of show, boozy.

After some air it drank amazingly. Big body, very minor difference from new. Boozy and delicious.

Enjoyed at HCBS #17 before a 2022. Wow, this one continues to hold up great! Was the favorite of the two hands-down. Bigger body and more complex.

A bit disappointed on this one. Heavy mold on the cap but no infiltration on seal. Good flavor up front but finish not as good as others in this year.

Somerset dove camp. Great with some signs of oxidation.

At Gulpha Gorge campground fireside. Simply wonderful as usual.

Nose: chocolate, fig, dark cherry. Taste: Boozy, brighter flavors. Body: Much smoother, more carb.

Nose: chocolate, fig, dark cherry. Taste: Boozy, brighter flavors. Body: Much smoother, more carb.

Needed air for 10 min then spectacular

Great ale at Black Gap WMA

A bit medicinal, hot, boozy. Very good but not the best bottle in this vintage.

Another great bottle. I have to search for oxidation. Tremendous!

Doing great

HCBS #21 12 year vertical - stood the test of time but not consensus

HCBS #21 12 year vertical. Stood the test of time but not consensus

Accidentally drank, no more 12 year vertical this year. Started a bit green pepper and later became ok. Still pretty great for an old stout.

Wow, this one was very good. Great body, expected flavors, not much degradation.

Nose: bourbon barrel, molasses, fig. Taste: boozy, some oxidation, bourbon, sherry, sawdust. Toffee, Body: rich, light carb.

Nose: bourbon barrel, molasses, fig. Taste: boozy, some oxidation, bourbon, sherry, sawdust. Toffee, Body: rich, light carb.

Super awesome.

Wow, continues to be amazing. Boozy, rich, big cocoa note, Can't find a flaw.

Still amazing. Showing signs of oxidation.

Starting to go over the hill. Enjoyed at HSBC 12.

HCBS 12. Surprised everyone with the amount of peach. Very good, on the sour side.