Prince's Ale
Bass Brewers Limited

Prince's AlePrince's Ale
Beer Geek Stats
From:
Bass Brewers Limited
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Strong Ale
ABV:
11%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
4.42 | pDev: 7.47%
Reviews:
3
Ratings:
7
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 30, 2014
Added:
Mar 24, 2010
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  2
Part of the Bass Royal Ales series. Water for the mash started by David, Prince of Wales on July 23, 1929.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 4 by gory4d from Texas

May 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by chrispoint from Connecticut

Apr 09, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by HopStoopid120 from Connecticut

Dec 07, 2011
 
Rated: 4.75 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

4.29/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 5
Huge thanks to Knifestyles for opening this (and, later in the night, the 1902 King's Ale!) at his recent birthday tasting. Can you say epic?

A: The cork has shriveled so much that it's no longer touching the neck at all, but luckily there's a solid plug of wax maintaining a seal. Once the cork corpse has been safely extricated, the beer pours still, clear, bright, and orange-brown. Nice legs. Very attractive for an ancient beer.

S: Interesting. Smells more like a dry, nutty sherry than any beer I've ever had. Light acidity, pleasant musty woodiness. Clear notes of tobacco + leather are there from the start, and intensify as the beer warms. Eventually the tobacco becomes dominant, giving the beer the aroma of a fine cigar - complete with a touch of cedar. Hugely complex, old, and luxurious: it smells like a Victorian study, replete with cigars, old books, leather chairs, wood paneling, and a crackling fire. Enchanting.

T: Heavy on the must, wood, nuts, sherry, and acidity. The tobacco just doesn't come through as much as I'd like, and thus it doesn't taste quite as fascinating as it smells; still amazing for what it is, though.

M: Smooth, surprisingly thin, and completely still. I'm fine with the lack of carbonation on a vintage ale like this, but I expected more body.

O: I think my description of the smell says it all: this was a one-of-a-kind, truly memorable beer experience. If you get lucky enough to try this beer, make sure that you keep your glass around for a long time so as to enjoy the evolution of its aroma. Insane.

Cheers!
Jul 09, 2011
Photo of grub
Reviewed by grub from Canada (ON)

4.07/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
lantern corps beer summit 2010 - day 1, oct 8/2010. zach contributed this one. thanks zach!

750ml corked and waxed bottle.

pours a hazy red-brown with almost zero head. a few spots of lace manage to cling to the edges.

aroma is great. sherry, leather, caramel and toffee. sweet. hint of soy. dark fruit - raisin and date mostly. bit of sour cherry. biscuit and multi-grain bread. alcohol. bit of dark chocolate.

taste is neat. oxidation starts to show itself here. cardboard. dark and milk chocolate. peanut and almond. light alcohol. whole wheat bread. a bit grainy. biscuit. earthy and slightly herbal character. dark fruit shows itself again - raisin and date. lots of complexity and depth here. low bitterness level. the cardboard that was noticed initially fades to a nicer level as it has time to breathe.

mouthfeel is great. just over medium body. very low carbonation level works pretty well.

drinkability is great. great balance, hiding almost all of its alcohol. tons of depth and complexity. amazing to be drinking a beer that is over 80 years old!
Feb 04, 2011
Photo of Pencible
Reviewed by Pencible from Virginia

4.32/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Part of the Bass Royal Ales series. Water for the mash started by David, Prince of Wales on July 23, 1929.

Tasted on March 13, 2010. Thanks to Traquairlover for sharing!

This poured a clear reddish mahogany with no head. It smelled like strong cigar and leather and spiced rum, with some plastic and rubbing alcohol (doctor's office?) and sweet honey, and a bit of raisin and port. It tasted like smoke and leather and cigars and spiced rum, with some raisin and malt vinegar, and a bit of wild honey and port and plastic and alcohol. It was watery with no carbonation, and had a lasting sweet and sour aftertaste. Overall this is an amazing beer. It's hard to believe I drank this 81 years after it was brewed. I loved the scent and taste. Despite some odd characteristics (gym socks?), it held up extremely well. The body was a bit thin, but the scent and taste shined. Very bold and rich and complex. No other beer is comparable. Wow.
Mar 24, 2010
Prince's Ale from Bass Brewers Limited
Beer rating: 4.42 out of 5 with 7 ratings