 boboski (1095), USA
Jul 24, 2007
Caramel and mahogany pour, deep and refined color scheme. A tall, very slowly receding beige head forms, creamy and rockier with each diminishing millimeter. Thick arcs of lacing are left behind. Gorgeous, just as I expect from Alesmith. The aroma is caramel dominated, with a looming hop presence and a touch of sherry-like base character without cardboard oxidation that typically accompanies such an experience. Burned sugars accentuate the caramel and the piney/citric hops resemble tightly wound structures of citrus skins with an earthy shellac. Alcohol is at a minimum, semi-sweet and totally unintrusive. Mild raisin and undefined dark fruits fill the gaps in the nose. Balance is pretty good for this red ale/old ale/shell of a former hop-bomb. The flavor is incredibly fruity, but not nearly as bitter as I’d anticipated during nosing. Grapefruit pith, pine sap, orange pulp and lemon/lime juice poke through a heavy malt backbone. Sweetness is medium-high and is kept at a relative bay by all of this fruit and a glimmer of random acidity. Finishes sweet, lightly warming, piney, very lengthy and leaves fresh fruit and caramel soda behind. The palate is full bodied, effervescent deep down underneath and separated from leaving sticky residue by what seems like relatively high acidity now, as well as plenty of hop bitterness.
fonefan (5363), Ulfborg, Denmark
Nov 18, 2008 <b>Bottle 75cl. @ TFODRBSG 2008, Ulfborg, Denmark</b><br />Light unclear medium to dark red amber color with a average to large, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, light beige head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, caramel, heavy hoppy, grass, orange. Flavor is moderate to heavey sweet and bitter with a long to average duration. Body is medium to full, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. Very nice ;0)) (230808)
yngwie (3695), Kristiansand, Norway
Oct 27, 2008 Bottle, thx to Dedollewaitor. It pours an unclear, amber body under a dense beige head. Sugary-sweet on the nose, with beefstock and piney, resiny and tropical-fruity hops. The flavor is sweet and malty too, with beefstock, some spicyness and piney hops giving decent bitterness. Full-bodied, almost sticky, slightly warming and effervescent. Bitter end. A lovely and demanding beer combining sweetness, warmth and bitterness nicely. (080823)
Pastor (293), Maine, USA
Oct 25, 2008 Bottle poured into a Maudite snifter produced a finger worth of off white head that goes to a thick lace. All this is on top of a blood read body ale
The aromas are very malt forward the hops are all but gone now from the nose. What is left is a lot of dark fruits and spice in the aromas
The flavor of sweet malt and dark fruits bust right out of this one. A great smooth sipper really enjoyable
I drink this again if it was around but I don’t expect to see it anymore. great drinking experience all around
yobdoog (414), Montclair NJ - Woodridge NY, New York, USA
Oct 19, 2008 Shared between two. By the time we got to the bottom, oh man. So good but very strong. Had a hint of wood funky almost sour but more on the sweet fruity side. Rich body with hints of vanilla and brown sugar. Taste also has a pleasant almond taste. I really enjoyed this one.
mcbackus (677), Merritt Island, Florida, USA
Oct 19, 2008 bottle from VAC: pours a very dark dirty brown, huge off white head good lacing. aroma is very nice full of good fruits both dark and fresh great cherry and funky yeast. flavour are a little bit of old hops and lots of sugary candy malts tast not as good as the nose.
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