Dogs of War: Stanlius Caesar 2023
Torrside Brewing

Blind-tasted ex name/style/ABV%.
L- The cap lifts with a sigh vs a hiss. Pours seriously black. No head at all until pour raised then only minor very dark tan foam patch.
S- Heavily charred and a smoke note. I'm happier *not* getting a blast of whisky.
T- Smokey, charred into sudden mega-pungent bitter and roasted depths. A heavy lick of deep bitter hops rises from the major barrel oak note. This is a big beast. I don't get an outright whisky note, which suits me fine.
F- They've done a great job on masking the thumping ABV%, that's how pungent this beer it. One negative is that it has no discernable dissolved CO2 - if feels flat. But 10% and barrel ageing tends to lead that way. The balancing brightness comes from a dose of bright and loud hops.
O- A big and bold statement. As dark as a stomping Icelandic stout. It is probably more on the bitter side of the mid-point, that has richness/sweetness on the other. Complex. The 750ml bottle really merits sharing, it's a slow-sipping beer.

From Trembling Madness in York. 750ml bottle £12.50 BB: 9/4/34 Bottle# 47/100.

Bottled in a big old 750ml bomber of bottle conditioned barrel aged bottle
Pours a jet black bottle with good thick tight tan head
Aroma is smokey coffee
Flavour is treacle and peaty whisky