Old Chimneys Good King Henry Special Reserve

Bottle; Unfiltered.

Special Reserve is a stronger version of our Good King Henry Imperial Stout. Good King Henry Special Reserve is an annual brew, oak aged in cask then bottled and stored until two years have elapsed from brewing to release.

4.2

480 reviews

Diss, England

Community reviews

4.2 275ml bottle. Thanks cgarvieuk! Pours pitch black. Aroma has plums, raisins, almonds, sweetness, marzipan. Flavor has sweetness, roastedness, plums. Very balanced. Lingering, slightly warm. Woody. Again, balanced. Wow.

4.0 (Bottle, 0.33 l - 2015 vintage, thanks cgarvieuk, 20181020) The beer black. Its head was medium sized and lightly brown. Aroma had dark chocolate, vanilla, burnt malts and sweetness. Palate was full bodied with low carbonation. Flavours were burnt malts, vanilla, dried plums, dark chocolate, ash, cocoa powder and bitterness. Aftertaste had burnt malts, vanilla and bitterness. A pleasant balanced imperial stout with wood notes.

3.9 Bottle at Helsinki. Thanks to CGarvieUK! Vintage 2015. Colour is almost black with very small brown head. Aromas and flavors: Dryness , some red vineous elements, coffee, dark chocolate, wood and roasted malts. Soft and heavy.

4.2 330ml bottle. Special Reserve 2015. Big thanks, cgarveiuk! Pours dark brown colour. Moderate beige. Dark fruits, plums, nutiness, mellow alcochol, chocolate, some spicy notes in the aroma. Chocolate, spices, mellow alcochol. Cocoa, notes of burnt caramel. Chocolate and cocoa in the end. Lots of dark chocolate in the aftertaste. Silky texture. Really complex. Very nice, well balanced brew.

4.1 Bottle at cgarvieuk's, vintage 2015 vs vintage 2009. Pours black. Aroma is toffee, caramel, barrel, nuts, coffee. Much more oak in the younger one. Body is heavy, strong but not super boozy, barrel, little carbonated sourness, intense, but mostly diabetes. Rich for sure, but also not as gracefully balanced as the GKH 2009 I just had. Still a very good beer, of course. Older gets better, but the flatness ruins some of the experience. Maybe there is a sweet spot in between?

4.2 Bottle at Craigs, many thanks, very little head, opaque dark brown color, aroma of dark bread, waffle, rich chocolate and some oakiness, lots of dark chocolate in flavor with prunes, soya and oakiness enveloping it all, strong but extremely mellow sweetness. Balanced and really really good.

3.8 Bottle. Color dark brown wirh medium head. Aroma roasted, alcohol, burnt, chocolate. Taste malt, roasted, chocolate, alcohol, caramel.

4.0 Earlier Rating: 6/27/2018 Total Score: 5

4.4 Bottle. Pours Black with a tan head. Aroma of caramel, toffee, foral molasses alike, some extremly good wood aroma, licorice, subtle smoke alike. Heavy sweet, loads of licorice and caramel, crazy Woody flavour - hint of cherry, slight fruity. Balanced smooth and just drinkable.

4.0 275ml bottle, 2015 vintage, shared by Phil, thanks! Dark brown beer, no head to speak of. Nose is banana skins, roast, molasses, dried plums, touch of vanilla, feels thick. Flavor is banana, roast, vanilla, plums, hazelnuts. Dry and woody finish, a smidge of petrochemicals. Complex, subtle, and ecen the petrochemicals fit this.

3.9 275ml bottle (thanks FatPhil). 2015. Pitch black colour. No head. Sweet, caramel, raisins, chocolate, very ripe banana in aroma. Sweet, ski tar, very ripe dried banana slices, oak and dusty in taste. Ski tar, banana slices, sweet in aftertaste. Alcohol is there. Very nice sipper.

4.0 Bottle (thanks fatphil). Pours black. Aroma is roast, malt, banana, tar. Flavor is sweet and bitter, malt, roast, banana, sticky, petroleum, malt. Finish has some warmth. Overall: great.

4.8 Bottle from a trade. Many thanks LazyPyro! Dark brown/black colour, dark brown foam. Very complex nose of dried fruit (plums), berries, caramel, chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, cocoa. Wow, this is a fantastic beer!

4.8 Bottle, 250 ml, courtesy of Craig (thanks!). Shared with JFK10000 and Max. 2015. Dark brown with brownish head. Oily. Roasted malts, huge chocolate, cocoa, sweet, light sourish, grapes, dark fruit. Easy drinkable. Full bodied. Loved the chocolate and fruit combo and so drinkable. Fantastic.

4.7 275ml bottle, 2015 vintage. Pours thick black with a small tan head. Aroma of dark fruits, chocolate, leather, roast malts, plum, liquorice. Taste is the same, sweet chocolatey, roast malts, dark fruits, plum, leather, liquorice, simply sublime, warming finish, doesn't seem like 11%. Full bodied, luxuriously smooth, probably the thickest beer I've ever had, fine carbonation. Wonderful.

4.1 Pours black with low brown head. Aromas of roasted malts, chocolate, lactose, hazelnut, brown sugar, vanilla. Taste has notes of roasted malts, brown sugar, chocolate, vinous fruits

4.1 Pours black with a low tan head. Aromas of dark chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, roasted malt, oak. Taste is chocolatey and roasted with vanilla and caramel notes and barrel character. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

4.4 no w końcu udało sie dorwać - dzięki Ben! Vintage 2012. W aromacie czuć, że będzie gęsto i konkretnie - spalone drewno z ogniska, lekki torf, lekka wanilia- no jest charakter whisky, do tego czekolada i trochę ciemnych owoców. Super aromat! Smak: wędzona śliwka to pierwsze co mnie uderzyło, wow bardzo przyjemne odczucie, słodka czekolada z ciemnymi owocami, lukrecja, kawa, dębina, wanilia, troszkę ziemiste, ciało średnie, w kierunku bardziej gęstego, fenomenalnie ukryty alkohol. Zdecydowanie GHKSR zasługuje na miejsce w Top50, jest to piwo nieprzeciętne, świetnie zbalansowane i oferuje masę doznań.

4.2 Wow. The hype. When I first got in a position to realistically get this, it sold out in 2 minutes flat online, and I was left feeling empty. Said and done, rented a car, took the family on a road trip, and visited the brewery. So glad I did because Alan is an amazing guy. Super friendly, super kind and so relaxed. Now... the beer... well, it pours black with a low tan head. looks good enough, but not top marks. Aroma is a different story. chocolate, coffee, and more importantly, whisky notes. Vanilla, bourbon, Scottish whisky, dark dried berries... complex and brilliant. Taste is incredibly smooth and velvety, but also too rich in muscovado and dried fruit for top marks. Super sweet, super smooth, super rich...! Body is rich and creamy, velvety, smooth, with soft carbonation.

4.4 2014 bottle, many thanks to cgarvieuk for this one! Beautiful pitch black color with a large creamy beige head. Aroma is burnt wood, burnt sugar, vanilla, a touch ash, espresso, roasted, molasses, coconut, leathery, soy sauce, a bit of peat smoke even. Taste is sweet vanilla, soy sauce, meaty, berry jam, leathery, vanilla ice cream, chocolate, prunes, again a bit of peat smoke. Thick oily mouthfeel with low carbonation and a huge vanilla and burnt wood finish that is just a tiny bit too sweet for me, even considering the character of the beer. Much sweeter than the regular version, the oak character in this one is really unique, to the point that it almost gets confusing. Different than expected, but surely a fantastic beer. Vertical of 2008, 2011, 2014, 2016 at cgarvieuk's place in March 2019, many thanks! 2008: Super rich, oily, vanilla, coconut, well-balanced. Very oaky, very rich. 2011: Aroma is more tobacco and leather, earthy, a touch more soy sauce too though. A bit below the 2008. 2014: Just like I remember it, more tobacco, leather and ash in aroma than 2008, but keeps the oaky vanilla character of it. Lovely! 2016: More fudge and very sweet, maybe a bit too sweet for me.

3.4 [2015 Backlog] Bottle shared by Leighton at the Half Marathon tasting. Pours a deep blackish brown body with khaki colored lacing. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with notes of smoked wood, bitter chocolate, lots of earthy roast, tobacco and sweet cocoa.

4.5 Bottle shared at Chris & Ruth´s House. 2009 Version. A black beer with a small most good lasting tan head. Aroma of dark roasted malt, vanilla, toffee, rich chocolate, coffee. Taste of dark roasted malt, toffee, vanilla, wood, some red fruits, coffee, delicious!

4.1 Refrigerated 275 ml brown bottle 2013 label poured into a glass. Black with small light brown head. Aroma is rich oak, thick body, medium/low carbonation, and good small-bubble lacing. Taste is chocolate and oak.

4.6 Jest to także najlepsze piwo jakie kiedykolwiek uwarzono w Anglii (No 1 na RB). Wyprzedza w rankingu najlepsze wypusty z Cloudwater Brew Co, The Kernel Brewery, Buxton Brewery Company czy Magic Rock Brewing. Limited edition oak matured Imperial Stout. Alkohol: 11% obj. Butelka: 275 ml Data butelkowania: 17.11.2014 Data ważności: 17.11.2024 Kolor: Smoliście czarny, nieprzejrzysty. Piana: Niewielka, ale coś tam jednak jest. Ciemno beżowa, drobniuteńka. Wąski paseczek pojawił się tuż nad piwem. Na szkle pozostały punktowe kropeczki. Zapach: Aromat jest słodki, bourbonowy, cholernie przyjemny. Czuć dębowe drewno i leciutką wanilię. Dużą rolę w bukiecie zapachowym odgrywają akcenty karmelu, cukru trzcinowego i pralinek belgijskich wraz ze szlachetnym alkoholem w środku. Pod czarną kopułą kryją się również nutki ciemnych owoców (wiśnie, śliwki, ciemne winogrona). Smak: Oh My God! Oh My Good King Henry! Niesamowicie bogate i wielowymiarowe piwo. W pierwszym łyku pojawiała się silna owocowość trunku. Na języku można było wyczuć nuty ciemnych winogron i śliwek. Po przełknięciu ponownie śliwki lekko podwędzane i mnóstwo czekolady. Dalej sporo wiśniowych nut. Jest intensywna słodycz kawy z mlekiem, kamelu, lukrecji, wanilii. Piwo ma mnóstwo dębowych detali. Po większym ogrzaniu pojawia się masa krówkowa, kajmak. Mikroskopijne wysycenie potęguje odczucie gładkości. Nieprawdopodobnie ułożony alkohol. Kremowe, jedwabiste odczucie w ustach. Fenomenalne! Wysycenie: Minimalne, praktycznie zerowe. Podsumowanie: Browar Old Chimneys Brewery znajduje się na totalnym odludziu. Stoi w szczerym polu w małej wiosce Market Weston w południowo-wschodniej Anglii. To właśnie tam powstało najlepsze craftowe piwo w całej Anglii. Zdobycie buteleczki nie jest łatwe. Pojawiało się w każdym roku zaledwie kilkaset egzemplarzy. Dzięki uprzejmości kolegi z grupy piwnych wymian udało mi się wymienić buteleczkę za Bubę Extreme. Nie żałuje nawet przez chwilę tej decyzji. Piwo rozkłada na łopatki swoją głębią doznań. Jest nieprawodopodonie złożone, bogate, wielowymiarowe. Dębowa beczka nadaje mu drewnianych nut. Leżakowanie sprawiło, że pojawiała się cała plejada owocowych detali (od śliwki, przez winogrona, a na wiśniach skończywszy. Piwo jest słodkie, wykleja usta i podniebienie. Procenty zamaskowane, a wysycenie minimalne. Jeżeli kiedykolwiek będziecie mieli okazje je zdobyć to mocno zachęcam. Warte jest swojego fejmu.

4.3 Bottle at home thanks to Cloin. Pours black with a dirty tan head. Aroma is booze, vanilla, coconut a little cocoa and dried fruits. Taste is a big chocolate hit with vanilla, leather, a little coconut and finishes with a little boozy hit and sweetness lingering. Really nice and smooth. Lovely stuff

4.1 275ml bottle @ Alex’s. 2009 Vintage Pours a dark mostly opaque brown with no head. Nose has dark fruits, huge wood(oak), and some sweet malts. Flavour is in rich molasses, with a leather character, and some dark fruits. It is medium bodied with a smooth rich and complexity. Tasty stuff.

4.2 275ml bottle (thx, Alex!) at Alex’s in honor of my birthday and CPA PREP finish. Vintage 2009. Pours a very dark brown with almost no head. Aroma is dark fruits, molasses, liquorice. Same taste with woody notes. Very rich and nice. P.S. My rating is #444 for this beer, hehe.

4.8 For my historical ratings see my wifes account sgarvieUK and chrisgarvie This really is one of my FAV beersBottle at home ... 2012 vintage ... july 7th 2016 ... Dark Black ... thin tan head .. dark oaky chocolate roast... soft toffee chocolate nose .. carbonation on this one a bit light...dark chocolate .. very berries roast malt .. rich chocolate .. massive oak roast 4.4 ..this bottle just doesnt seem tohave held up as well as last weeks 2012Bottles at fins August 201605 - dark black.. Thin tan lacing... Dark rich chocolate roast malts nose... Dark soya... Rich chocolate... Light thin.. Soft fruits bitter odd thin body 3.8 06 - dark black.. No lacing... Rich sweet chocolate roast malts nose meaty chocolate roast malts.. Smother roast.. Dark chocolate fruit malts ..Light oak 4.309 - dark black... Thin tan lacing... Soft woody.. Dark Berries plum fruit nose... Rich dark fruit.. Big oak.. Woody chocolate roast malts.. Heavy roast .. Way more oak than 11.. Big molasis... 4.511 - dark black.. Small tan head.. Only one with real head... Dark chocolate. Big sweet oak.. Rich chocolate roast.. Plums figs nose... Dark rich.. Sweet rich chocolate roast 4.713 - dark black... Thick tan head.. Dark rich chocolate roast malts ... Dark chocolate roast dry roast malts nose rich chocolate.. Thich rich body.. Rich chocolate heavy chocolate roast.. Thick rich heavy chocolate 4.6, Bottle at home .. my first 2014 ... dark black ... small tan head ...d ark chocolate ... soft woody oak malt nose ... rich sweet chocolate malts nose ... dark roast .. big sweet oaky chocolate .. massive chocolate ,.. rich soft chocolate orats ... light chocolate oakyness pretty awsome ... 4.8 bottle at home... 2014... Bottle 2... Dark black... Thin tan lacing.. Dark chocolate. Msoft oak.. Light chocolate roast malts nose... Dark chocolate roast.. Soft malts.. Mellow malts.. Light sweet mellow chocolate malts... Big oakbottle at home Christmas eve 2016...2013 bottle.. Arrrg was meant to be a 2014... Dark black.. Thin tan head.. Soft sweet chocolate roast malts nose... Dark rich chocolate roast.. Heavy oak.. Smooth chocolate.. Big soft smooth chocolate.. Light woody oak malts... Smooth..soft easy chocolate roast 4.8 bottle at home ,,, 2014 bottle Drunk Jan 2017 ... dark black ... thin tan lacing ... dark oak chocolate roast malts nose .. heavy rich roast malts nose .. sweet chocolate .. massive rich roast ... heavy roast .. swet chocolate .. massive oak .. long soft oak .. rich smooth chocolate .. woody roats .. 4.7 bottle at home 2014 vintage Drunk March 2017 ... dark black .. small tan head ... massive oaky woody .. ligth sweet cholate roast malt nose .. dark viscous chocolate malts .. heavy sweet chocolate .. big oaky vanilla ... sweet chcolate .. dark oaky plums and chocolate ... long long lomng oak finish 4.3 bottle at home 2015 vintage drunk October 2nd 2017 ... guess what .. dark black ... with smalll dark brown tan head .. meaty oaky woody chocolate roast malts nose ... rich plums figs and oaky chocolate .. soft sweet malts .. tiny soya ... light saltyness ... soft smooth oaky chocolate 4.7 Bottle at home 2015 version drunk Jan 2018... Dark black ... thick tan head ... soft oaky woody chocolate roast malt nose .. dark sweet rich chocoolate malts.. heavy sweet roast ... woody chocoalate ... big oak woody malts .. 4.7Bottle at home .. 2014... drunk aug 2018 ... dark black ... thin tan lacing ... soft sweet chocolate .. big oak .. wooody malts .. soft chocolate .. heavy sweet oak .. dark oak malts .. heavy wood .. rich chocolate ... 4.8Bottle at home oct 2018 ... 2015 vintage ... dark black ... thin tan lacing .. soft woody soft oak .. dark chcolate roast malts nose .. heavy wooody chocolate malts .. heavy sweet chocolate .. rich sweet oily toffee chcolate ... thcik chcolate .. rich malts .. long oak .. dark fig chocolet 4.7Bottle at home oct 2018 same day ... 2009 Vinatge ... Dark black .. thin tan lacing .. ligh dry fruit .. soft dark sweet chocolte .. light dry oak .. its lost the sweetness of the oak and become dry oak .. soft woody toffee .. dark dry chocolate.. softy chocolate roast malts ... heavy malts .. id say this has gone for me... 3.8Bottle on the streets of Helsinki... Dark black.. Thin white lacing... Soft chocolate.. Massive woody oak roast malts nose... Soft woody chocolate roast malts nose... Soft woody oak chocolate roast malts.. Soft mellow 4.5 Cask at dark city Friday ... 2010(1/3) and 2018(2/3) special reserve... Dark black.. Thin tan lacing.. Soft sweet chocolate.. Heavy sweet oak.. Dark chocolate roast malts... Heavy sweet chocolate.. Big vanilla chocolate roast... Soft sweet chocolate.. Figs.. Oh wow.. Wow wow... And end of session one... Dark black.. Thin tan lacing.. Soft sweet oaky chocolate roast malts.... Dark sweet chocolate roast.. Dark malts dark chocolate.. Soft sweet vanilla chocolate roast 4.8Cask at dark city.. Saturday... Dark black.. Thin tan lacing.. Soft sweet vanilla.. Rich figs.. Dark chocolate roast malts nose.. Heavy rich oaky vanilla.. Soft chocolate.. Rich dark chocolate roast 4.8 Bottle at neils 2017 version Feb 2019... Dark black.. Thin tan lacing.. Heavy sweet chocolate roast malts nose.. Heavy chocolate roast malts.. Dark chocolate roast malts... Soft sweet chocolate.. Oaky woody roast.. 4.7 Bottle at home .. 23 March 2019 ... 2008 vintage ... dark black .. thin tan lacing ... dark black ... dry roast .. heavy malts .. big dry oak.. woody chocoate ... soft sweet chocolate ... rich malts ... soft sweet malts ... dark sweet malts ... big soft woody choclate .. soft malts .. 4.4 Bottle at home .. 23 March 2019 ... 2011 vintage ... dark black ... thin tan lacing ... soft tofffee malts .. tobacco lethery .. dark fruits ... soft roast nose .. soft chocolate .. roast .. sweet malts .. rich ... sweet dark fruits ... big oaky wood 4.6 Bottle at home .. 23 March 2019 ... 2014 vintage ...Dark black ... thin tan lacing ... darrk black ... thin tan lacing ... woody oak .. soft malt .. dark roast .. heavy oak ... woody roast nose .. dark roast ... sweet chocolate malts .. dark sweet malts ... big woody malts .. massive sweet 4.7 Bottle at home .. 23 March 2019 ... 2016 vintage ...dark black ... thin tan lacing ... soft sweet oak .. woody malts .. soft choclalte roats .. dark fruit .. dark chocolate .. soft malts dark swet malts .. woody chocolate .. big fresj oak .. dark chocolate .. heavy sweet oak .. dark fruit ... dark dry roast .. bug big sweet malts 4.5 Bottle at home 2017 Nov 2019... dark black ... thin tan lacing .. soft dark roast ... soft malts .. dark dry chocolate malts ... soft oak .. light chcolate malts .. heavhy sweet malts .. dark dry chcocolate malts ... soft dry woody oaky ... ligth bitter .. soft roast dry .. very oaky malts .. dry malts .. little green yet id say 4.0 Bottle at montirs.. November 2019... 2016 vintage... Dark black.. Thin tan lacing... Soft sweet caramel oak chocolate roast malts nose... Soft sweet fruits.. Light oak.. Tiny coconut. 4.3 bottle at home march 2020 quarantine #SaveTheDay... dark black.. thin tan lacing.. soft sweet figgy chocolate roast malts nose.. dark sweet chocolate roast.. soft mellow rich oak malts.. Woody raisins.. dark malts.. superb 4.5 bottle at home April 2020... 2017 bottle.. dark black.. thin tan lacing.. soft sweet almost nutty chocolate.. soft sweet caramel chocolate roast malts nose.. soft sweet.. woody malts.. soft oak... rich chocolate... dark malts.. Mellow sweet rich oaky woidy malts 4.6 bottle at home April 2020.. same day... dark black.. thin tan lacing.. soft sweet oak nose.. dark chocolate roast malts... dark rich chocolate roast malts.. soft oak.. Mellow chocolate roast malts 4.4 ***Bottle at home part of 50 years of beer for my 50th...2017 vintage... dark black.. thin tan lacing.... dark roast. sweet oak ... dark rich sweet chocolate Roast malts nose.. dark dry chocolate Roast malts. heavy mskts.. big oak.. odfly little fizz.. dark rich roast 4.3 bottle at home Oct 2020... 2017 vintage... dark black.. thin tan lacing... soft rich dark chocolate roast malts.. Light oak roast malts nose... heavy rich chocolate.. woody oak mslts... figs.. raisin... Light bitter roast 4.4 bottle at home.. October 2020... dark black.. small tan head... dark rich chocolate.. roast malts... big oak nose... dark roast.. dark sweet woody oak malts... massive oak.. heavy mslts 4.4 Dec 24 2020... 2013 vintage... deep black... no head (no pop on opening) soft sweet dates.. rich chocolate roast malts nose... Mellow okay chocolate.. rich deep chocolate... lightest soya.... dark roast... bitter chocolate... chocolate figs 4.7 2015 vintage.. deep black... thin brown head... (light hiss on opening) soft chocolate roast malts nose... heavy rich roast... Light dry oak... light fizz (you know i preferred the flatter one) very oaky.. dark chocolate 4.2.. 2017 vintage... dark black.. thick ran brown head... soft sweet nutty figgy chocolate roast malts nose... dark rich chocolate roast malts... lightest oak... soft chocolate... dark roast 4.2 bottle at home... March 23 2021.... 2017 vintage... dark black.. thin tan head.. soft meaty roast dates and plums.. heavy big soft oak... plums dark fruits... sweet chocolate 4.4 bottle at home... may 2021... 2016 bottle... dark black.. thin tan lacing.. big fruity blackcurrant.. rich chocolate blackcurrant nose... soft sweet fruity mslts... Light osk... sweet fruity chocolate... this one's oaky and fruity... 4.6..loving this bottle at ashs... dark black.. thin tan lacing... soft sweet oak chocolate roast malts nose... dark sweet chocolate roast.. big malts.. rich chocolate roast malts.. heavy fig malts.. dark sweet chocolate roast malts 4.4 bottle at norries mid-early ish 2021.. dark black.. small tan head... soft chocolate roast... big oak... soft chocolate roast malts.. woody chocolate roast.. heavy malts.. bug oak.l..woody chocolate roast.. dry chocolate Roast 4.4 bottle at home 2021... oh ffs no characters left.

4.3 Thanks JC. 2012 version. Lovely aroma, bit meaty, bit of smoke, treacle. Great taste, rich, bit of caramel, some kind of marker pen, meaty too, shiitake? Very nice.

3.8 2012 Bottle poured into a taster showing caramel foam lacing and thin translucent rims with a black center. The nose shows a mix of soy sauce, roasted malts, smoky and a light vanilla background. The palate is full bodied and moderately carbonated with a foamy mouthfeel and strong alcoholic spice. Flavors of dark roasted malts, light vanilla sweetness and a very light latte bitterness. Finish shows more vanilla and bourbon resurging on the finish.