I have had this beer in the stash for a while - at least before it won a CAMRA prize - and privately fretted over it. I was sure I had left it too long for its 4.5%, that when I poured it would be nothing but fouled water and black cottage cheese. How wrong I was. As rich and stiff a foaming head as ever I saw over deepest black mahogany ale. The aroma is double cream, burnt toast, licorice and dark chocolate. In the mouth there is pungency of ash tray, Dutch unsweetened licorice, burnt black malt and a bit of minty hopping all over a slightly sour yeast. Fabulous and certainly a challenger to the title of greatest stout I have ever had. I wish I had a rib steak to grill over charcoal to go with it. I wish I had a dozen more. The label carries a code of "10 10 9" so maybe I am within the intended life span. Great BAer respect.