Beer 270 - Frederic Robinson Old Tom Original Strong Ale (4 stars out of 5)

Brewed and bottled by Frederic Robinson, Stockport, UK.  Bought by Stephen and drunk at Nicola and Stephen's house in Bathgate, Scotland as an aperitif before dinner.

the brewery web site: http://www.frederic-robinson.co.uk/beers/oldtom.html

the web site and the bottle say "

Robinson’s Old Tom has been crowned as the Worlds Best Ale.

Old Tom is almost as old as the brewery itself. Over the years it has won some of the industries most prestigious awards and is now recognised as one of the most famous strong ales brewed both nationally and internationally.
The award came at the third annual World Beer Awards in which an international panel of judges tasted hundreds of beers of different styles from around the world. Style winners then went through to a blind tasting where top UK brewers voted Old Tom as the World’s Best Ale.
During the multi-stage competition Old Tom also secured recognition as the World’s Best Dark Ale, The World’s Best Strong Ale and the Worlds Best Barley Wine.
The competition was run by Beers of the World, the international consumer beer magazine. The well deserved title is the latest accolade for the 8.5% abv strong ale, which has aromas of dark fruit and a palate booming with ripe malt and hops followed by a deep port wine finish.
In recent years Robinson’s Old Tom has also been named by CAMRA as Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain no less than three times at the National Winter Ales Festival.

Superior dark, rich and warming strong ale with a cherry brandy like colour and character.
Booming balance of ripe malt, and peppery hops combine with roasted nut and chocolate flavours with a smoky richness.
Distinctive deep port wine finish with bitter hops balance complemented by heady, vinous aromas of dark fruit."

A very nice beer, full bodied and with lots of flavor.  Pleasant to drink with the cold and the rain outside.