Bass No 1 / King's Ale

Cask & bottle: Occasional.
Abv has varied between 9.0% and 10.5%.
This is the very first Barley Wine to ever be mass produced. It is named after the brewery in which it was first brewed. This beer started a tradition in British brewing in which all brewers produced a barley wine. This beer is only produced occasionally and as such is very hard to find.

Bass King’s Ale is a batch of Bass No. 1 which was started by Edward VII during a visit to the brewery in 1902.

3.7

155 reviews

Burton-on-Trent, England

Community reviews

3.4 Bottle at Craig’s. Pours dark brown with no head. Aromas of Christmas cake, raisins, booze, brandy. Taste is cardboard, dried fruit. Thin texture, medium body. Interesting again, cheers Craig!

4.2 Dark purpelly brown, no head but clear and stern body. Nutty ruffled raisin nose, oddly tart and woody. Very nice tea like and softly softly tinge of bitterness. Rusty and rustic. Bright and tart. Very engaging finish, smooth sweet finish. Bottle, Tasting by Numbers Tasting, Cheers to Craig and his hand bottling skills.

3.9 Bottle, thanks Craig. Dark brown with little tan head. Slightly oxidised aroma, dark fruits, chocolate. Taste of dark fruits, prunes, raisins, chocolate. Sweet and bitter. Privelaged to have tried this

3.7 Bottle at Craig’s. Pours dark brown, nose is sherry, fruits, caramel, taste is sweet, syrupy, oxidised, dry, raisins.

3.5 1978 vintage Princess Ale. Pours a slightly murky dull rusty brown color. Lots of leather, Madeira wine, burnt sugar, cardboard, raisin, wet wood, cured meat, decomposed leaves.

3.5 Bottle. Vintage 1902. Hazy brown liquid with small off-white head. Still carbonated! Taste of raw sugar, leather, toffee, acetone, wood, vanilla, port wine, bread and light cardboard. Taste is light to medium sweet with notes of raw sugar, port wine, toffee, dried fruit, toffee and wood. Really good for the age. Medium bodied with low carbonation. Impressive that there’s still carbonation left. Tastes good after 111 years.

3.4 Bottle shared at my 5K tasting at Bruce’s pad, big thanks to our Kenneth for bring along this 1977 swing top antique, 13/11/13. Opaque dark mahogony brown with thin tan edgeing. Nose is oxidised to the hilt, sweaty socks, dark toffee, rubbery, charred wood, dates, Xmas cake, dark fruit mash, plenty billowing about beneath the oxidised layering. Taste comprises Xmas cake, spice, nutty, woody, a dark fructis epiphany, raisens, stewed dates, brown bread, Soreen malt loaf. Medium bodied, flat, no carbonation, light bread mix in the finale. Ok for a 36 year old beer and still plenty to offer below the oxidised skin.

3.7 Ken is a legend. Great hand bottle. 1977 version. A dirty brown pour with a decent khaki head. Still has enough carbonation despite the hand bottle. Has been kept well. Nose is very wet wood, black cherries, plummy tartness, rum and brandy oiliness and undertones. Taste shows heavy plum, blood orange tanginess, mild oak. Really quite woody and dirty. Works nicely. Good alcohol warmth. Nice stuff!

4.2 Massive thanks to richthevillan for sharing this historic beer with me and roberto. 1977 bottling year of my birth. Bottle@richies hop palace, birmingham suburbia. Very dark brown still beer with a golden oil rim around the glass. Aroma is strong, soy sauce, some vinegar and old leather jock straps. Taste is fortified mediera wine, soy sauce, leather and salt. A beer like no other I have tasted before. Excellent.

4.2 Dark brown ruby red pour with zero head, Big soy sauce aroma on pour with a hint of vinegar, salt, tobacco, old smoking jacket, titanic’s bathroom, salt, wet chesterfield sofa, salty, fortified wine. At one stage I tasted a bubble of carbonation. Amazing beer event shared with Sarkynortherner and the beer legend Roberto.

3.5 Bottle issued 1911, brewed 1902. Intense aroma, like a leather sofa from a tobacco infused British men’s club. Fun but maybe not the best in taste.

4.0 Pintsize från 22 feb 1902. Provdatum: 3e september 2013 Närvarande, från väster: Johan W, Hasse N, Johan L, Egil M, Tobias H, Marcus S.B. (anländer senare), Mattias W och Staffan H. Nästan svartoxiderad blyförseglad kork. Bra skick och nästan helt läsbar etikett. Väl omhändertagen de senaste 28 åren. Dessförinnan finns ingen info. En trade (thanks Kaufmanised!) mot ett lass blandade rariteter. Nervöst bara att öppna paketet när det kom på posten. Sedimentrester ses längs ena sidan. Den har således förvarats liggande någon gång de senaste 111 åren. Hur mycket kan en öl oxidera? Kan det nå ett oxidationsmaximum? och vad händer i så fall efter det? det är bara några av de frågor jag legat sömnlös över dagarna före provning. Blyförseglingen avlägsnas försiktigt och tämligen enkelt med skalpell och kirurgisk precision. Börjar bra. Korken är lurig. Knarrar och gör oss alla nervösa. Glider ganska lätt ur men ca 1/5 blir kvar i flashalsen. korken ser ut att vara i bra skick. Hinner bara nudda vid resterande bit när den åker ner i flaskan. Det får vi leva med helt enkel, men det känns inte som det gjorde något. (lärdom till nästa gång att skruva igenom hela korken eller anväda gasöppnare). Utseende: Inte det minsta grumlig. Mahogny. Doft: Läder och piptobak har aldrig varit så tydligt förr. Första tanken är också något syrligt, typ oud bruin. Plommon och russin, även inslag av portvin får jag för mig. Fantastiskt. Helt klart över förväntan. Som en gammal inrökt chesterfieldsoffa från en Engelsk herrkubb säger Johan W. Ja jag förstår honom. (doftar direkt från flaskan dagen efter och då finns även bigarå med i bilden) Smak: Samma som doftbilden men syrligheten är tydlig. Infekterad kan den ju knappast vara eftersom bakterier inte var upptäckt 1902. Något mindre kropp än väntat men smaken sitter i hyffsat länge. Finns där möjligen lite sötma som döljs av syran? Senast jag drack en gammal bira (Thomas Hardys -79) smakade det gammal garderob och kärringavdelningen på en secondhand-butik. Det gör verkligen inte den här. Visst, nog kan man hitta inslag av damm i smakbilden om man vill och man behöver inte anstränga sig speciellt hårt heller. Men för mig var det ganska enkelt att bortse från det och bara njuta. Kolsyran är naturligtvis obefintlig. Härlig stämning och ett minne för livet. En objektiv rate på den här är ju naturligtvis helt omöjligt. Raritetsnivån är ju i princip maximal och dessutom var den så oerhört mycket bättre än väntat. Jag var mentalt förberedd på att det skulle ramla ut en dyig sjöbotten ur flaskan eller något liknande. Tack för en trevlig afton alla som var med denna kväll!

3.4 Sampled from 1977 bottle which had been opened two years earlier. Can’t be good anymore but hey, why not just try it? So here we go. Appearance is ok. No head but a nice dark red color. Aroma is alcoholic and moldy. Taste isn’t that bad. Still barley wine there mixed with some sourness. A bit moldy and lightly cardboard as well but quite surprising that this is still drinkable. Wonder what it was like when it was fresh. Interesting experience.

5.0 rating #5000 first off, massive thanks to Ken (madmitch76) for trading this to me when i was in London, amazingly generous bloke and a nice guy too. Long cork in very good condition, label showed some wear too but looks amazing for the age .. . Pours a deep ruby brown .. minor spots of foam but the beer was still . . -wow, shockingly complex beer- just in total amazement- an amazing beer!! Rich and boozy, --lots of cognac, sherry, leather, mild oxidization, touch of soy and dark fruit. .. beautifully silky mouth feel too- i was blown away by this beer. taking into account the history of this beer, the path it took for me to get it, to share it with some good friends, and finally open it and it be so complex and tasty- easily the most interesting beer experiences of my life. .. .. . I’d consider watching NASCAR if all the drivers had to pound about 15 beers before each race.

4.1 1902 bottle thanks to Graeme-great job and appreciation for bringing this to our 5/4/13 Houston tasting. Lead sealed!! Cork was a bit worn but still moist and musty like old shoe leather. Flat. Tastes like Slim Jim. Sweetish, chewy, some sherry/port notes. Reminders of Sam Adams triple bock. Still freaking drinkable for a beer made before my grandparents were born!! Points for coolness and still holding up after 111 years!!

4.3 1902 bottle that Doug somehow tracked down like a hunting dog on a scent and we ended up trading some beers for it. Thanks for the legwork in getting this! Appearance: Lead capped. Poured clear brown with some bubbles and some legs in the glass Aroma: Brown sugar, raisins, leathery with very mild cardboard Taste: Honey, brown sugar, port wine, salty with a dry finish Wow, can’t believe this is 111 years old and held up this good. We were all stunned on how good it was. Enjoyable and unforgettable!

4.1 1902 bottle Thank you Douglas88! Excited to try this. Brown-copper, clear, no head. Aroma is complex--bready, nutty, raisins, plums, soy, some leather, port-like notes, some toffee sweetness as well. Flavor is malty, nutty, toffee, soy, raisins, leather and tobacco. It has a silky, oily mouthfeel and has a warming alcohol character. Finishes with a toffee sweetness. Unbelievable how well this has held up over 111 years. I’m stunned.

4.3 Poured from the 111yr old bottle. The cork was a fight to remove. Poured with slight carbonation and brilliant clarity. Very vinous, grape, malty, chocolate, leathery, toffee, raisin, fig. Very rich and an amazing beer to try. Sticky and oily mouth feel. Thanks Doug for this one.

3.0 Bottle (as 1929 Prince’s Ale) @ THE Others Tasting. Massive thanks to Ken for bringing this along! This is by far the oldest beer I’ve ever tried. The pour’s a hazy, murky brown color with no head. It pours like meat stock. The nose is red berry, hints of sherry and tart red wine vinegar. Dried cork, concentrated balsamic vinegar and wood. The taste is mildly tart raspberry jam, sherry-soaked wood. Mildly molded red grape. General umami flavors, a hint of salt. Thick mouthfeel, plenty of mineral. Mild sourness that doesn’t dominate. Overall, considering the advanced age of this beer, it’s actually pretty impressive (as in, not offensive). There’s some interesting port/sherry notes to this. Cool stuff! Thanks, Ken!

3.5 Bottle (1929 Prince’s Ale) at THE others tasting, massive thanks to Ken. It pours murky deep brown with a purplish hue. The nose is wet wood, dark fruit, faint tartness, musty, light spice, mould and cherry. The taste is red grape, dark berry, wet wood, earth, jam, sherry, mustiness and leather with a dry, earthy finish. Medium body, limited carbonation and chewy mouth-feel. Smooth and interesting drinking. A real treat to try something this old, which actually remains drinkable!

4.0 Bottle (Vintage 1929 Prince’s Ale) at The Others Tasting, London - huge thanks to Kenneth for hanging on to this beer for so long. Pours murky brown with no head. Some tangy, semi-dark fruits on the nose, lots of wet wood. Medium to big sweet flavor with a prominent wood character, cork, sherry, oxidised malts, tangy berries, some caramel. Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation and a chewy mouthfeel (although, that could be cork). Lightly warming on the finish with more wet wood, lightly dried berries, leathery fruits, straight leather, mellow toffee. Quite good, especially given the age. For some reason I was compelled to slam to my face the dregs of this bottle, which meant I spent a few minutes picking cork from my teeth. Totally worth it, though! Big thanks to Ken for sharing this one. Honestly, it’s pretty cool to get to try beers like this. (4.0) Bottle of the 1977 Kings Ale shared at Bruce’s in London - big thanks to Kenny. Pours clear amber-brown with a faint, bubbly tan head. The aroma holds loads of wet wood, dark and well ripened berries. Medium sweet flavor, a bit of dried caramel, further wood, tangy fruits. Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation. Finishes fairly sweet with loads of ripe, tangy fruits, further wood, mild alcohol warmth. Has aged impressively. (4.0)

2.1 Princess Ale, bottled 1978. Huge thanks to trapissed (Alan) for getting to try this novelty - interesting to drink a bottle brewed before I was born. After chipping off the wax and being a little worried about getting the cork out in one piece it ended up sliding out fairly easily with absolutely no pop. Poured very carefully into a duvel glass, ruby black with no head as its completely flat. A quite offensive odour that I hoped would get better with some time to air out but it didn’t really happen - soy, vinous, vinegar, wet cardboard, some funk and sourness with sherry/alcohol. Flat, odd body, some sherry and funk along with what I can best describe as just plain old. Happy to have tried this but would not seek out this again (at this age).

4.0 1902 Vintage decanted at Eb’s 8/23/2012 Wow a 110 year old bottle of beer I’m stoked fro the opportunity to try this, Thanks a million Chris! Pours into the glass a murky headless red brown liquor with faint legs when swirled. Wow that nose is rank. Musty cellar fumes mixed with sherry, wet cardboard and band aids. there a hint of caramel sweetness in there as well, but its hard to find under the other aromas. The flavor is more funk and earth with lots of sherry and dark fruit notes. A bit more funk and some plastic phenols round out the flavor. Medium body with a non existent level of carbonation and a harsh acidic sherry mouthfeel. How the hell do I rate this? Its clearly an oxidized mess, but the novelty alone makes me glad I got to try it.

3.6 Bottle. Thanks to Nightfall!! Pours hazy deep amber with no head. The aroma is quite oxidated with notes of plum and toasted malt. The flavour is bit acidic with heavy oxidation and ripe fruit. This is OLD! But still quite a joy!

3.8 Bottle @ fonefan tasting. Courtesy of Nightfall. As Bass Kings Ale vintage 1977. hazy brown without head. aroma is sweet, malty, caramel, dried fruit and oxidated. Flavor is quite sweet and light bitter. Sweet finish with warming alcohol. 180812

4.1 The ultimate barley wine? It is not subtle by any means, as this ale does grab you by the throat and gives you a good shaking down. Sampled at the Winter Beer Festival in Glasgow, November 1997. Cask, gravity dispense. Mahogany black in colour with a thin head quickly disappearing! Aroma - practically pure ethanol with a hint of sweet sherry and pear drops present. Thck syrupy smooth mouthfeel and no lacing at all. Dark malts deliver a very, very strong catalogue of flavours, booming richly in the mouth. Thick syrupy mouthfeel with fruit sweetness consisting of gaia melon, peach, cherries, mangos and pears. Notes of caramelised dates at the end as the warmth spreads down the throat like sweet alcoholic cough medicine. No hops detected in aroma or the aftertaste. Malty finish is potent as warmth spreads like wildfire with strong alcoholic notes of sweet sherry, port and plum brandy mug the mouth. An amazing taste experience which threatens to overwhelm the taste buds. You really need to try this in cask and see for yourself.

4.0 Bottle at DSG 2011 vintage 1977. Dark brown colour with no head. Aroma is alcohol, malt, dried fruit, cellar, caramel. Flavour is alcohol, dried fruits, oxidation, fruit, grapes, cellar notes, caramel. Nice beer.

4.2 Bottle @ Danish Summer Gathering, Ulfborg 2011. Official 1977 Rebottling, Quart size. The wax was a bit broken but the cork looked in good shape (at least externally). We placed it on a geuze basket and carefully poured to the glasses. Very dark brown with no head. Aroam of very ripe fruit, caramel, port, oxidization is very faint and it becomes a bit more evident in the flavour. Tastes of very riep fruit, port, sherry ,caramel. has held remarkably well.

4.3 Kings Ale #1, Brewed 2/22/1902, Tasted 6/11/2011. A huge thanks to Brad for sharing this piece of history. It is incredible to think of how the world has changed since this beer was brewed. This beer has a strong aroma of sherry. Some vinous character, in both the flavor and aroma. There is burnt sugar, soy sauce, old basement, caramel, and dry oak. A thick, rich beer with a great palate. No carbonation. It has lasted surprisingly well, even with a cork that was falling apart. Brad had to decant and strain the beer. What a great experience to try this.

3.4 I finally found my "long lost" notes for this beer! Had to clean out a closet that had water damage from Hurricane Irene and found my notes from my 2003 Belgium trip. My notes list this as "81 Kings Ale Bass". Bottle from Kulminator in Antwerp on 5-14-03. Vintage is 1981. Deep brown pour. Slight brown head. Nose is chocolate and medicinal notes with alcohol. Strong chocolate and caramel taste. Thin bodied. Ends with more caramel. I seem to recall back in 2003 this beer was not in the database. I though I’d lost the notes.....