 cquiroga (370), Sylmar, California, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 15/20 |
Jul 24, 2007
7/23/07. Poured out of 750 mL bottle, purchased at Red Carpet Wine in Glendale, CA 7/23/07. Pours a dull dark copper-burgundy with moderate translucence. Billowy carbonation with a tightly uniform, long-lasting pillow of dense, creamy and fluffy pink-tan head. Lacing is sticky with thick ribbons after a uniform, slow crawl down the glass. Strawberries and bright fruit in the nose, with a double-layering of juicy and resinous hops and then some soggy, aged caramel malts (and rye?); some scrubby and zesty candy-spice (reminds me of hard, red Christmas candies, the name of which I can’t remember), and a little (but unfortunate) bit of metallic tinge that keeps it from being really wonderful. The flavor backs up *some* of the aroma, but not in the most flattering way one could hope for-- the zesty spice is reincarnated as an aged hop and broken-down caramel malt combo, with brown sugar and spiced cookie being a few positives to draw from the experience. Finish (if you let it sit a good while so the hop tingles fade) brings in some burnt sugar (like the crackly crust of a creme brulee) with a toasty quality that is really fun. The palate is otherwise very frustrating-- I love the fluffy, creamy carbonation and the tingling sensation as it disappears from your tongue (even the gentle alcohol singe combined with the sticky goo of brown sugar), but I hate the soggy cardboard and paper notes that are left behind in the finish after the tingling fades. I’m usually very forgiving with oxidation, but there’s just not a whole lot else going on (or not enough to make me think this will hold up to repeated tastings-- the sad part about rating a one-off beer [it’s rating will change over time in accordance with how well the beer ages, which is not entirely fair since not all beers are meant to be aged]) that can make up for the decay that has undoubtedly already begun. Good, but not a classic by any means. Still, I wouldn’t mind seeing another release of this down the road so that I could try an EXTREMELY fresh sample in all its gooey, brown sugary and sticky resinous glory.
sigma23 (217), , Maine, USA
| 3.9 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Oct 29, 2009 pours blood read/brown with large white head. aroma is citrus, light fruits, spice, and caramel. drinks sweet and fruity with a real nice malt backbone showing through. very tasty and once in a lifetime for me.
tokyogoat (507), San Diego, California, USA
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 |
Oct 4, 2009 Updated: Oct 5, 2009Poured a deep red/brown clay with a foamy eg shell head.
Nose was juicy with amarillo hops and red fruits.
Taste was very fruity, rasberry, strawberry, sweet cherry, nice clean bitterness. Big sweet caramel body, tons of non cloying sweetness, hops giving off tons of flavor that compliment the big malt body perfectly.
beerchugger (295), Colorado, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 |
Sep 27, 2009 Updated: Sep 28, 2009Pours a deep ruddy brown with a huge rocky head on top. Aromas of sweet fruit, some spice, and hops coming through as well. The flavor follows the aroma with a bit of floral and spice coming through initially. The finish is rather hoppy and spicey.
danielcurtis81 (888), San Diego, California, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 5/5 | 18/20 |
Sep 20, 2009 Served from 750 mL bottle picked up that’s been aging for a few years. Appearance is a slightly hazy deep deep red with brown edges. A huge full and frothy light brown head. The aromas are sweet cinnamon, malt, and aged hops. The flavors are sweet caramel with dashes of cinnamon (even the texture). Full and complex malt profile, white and black pepper notes, vanilla cream. The mouth if full bodied with a chewy and creamy texture. Delicious!
awiseman01 (348), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 |
Sep 20, 2009 Bottle special thanks to danielcurtis81 for having the self-control to purchase and save this for 3 years thus sharing on his wedding week. Pours a dark reddish/brown with Gigantic cake-like, foamy, bubbly head. Has a sweet, juicy fruit aroma that teases that palate. Taste is a complexion symphony. Sweet, smooth malt, fresh red fruits, marshmallow, wine like and alcohol hints. Very strong in all aspects.
Gypsy19 (625), California, USA
| 3.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 12/20 |
Sep 5, 2009 Pours a deep red-brown with a small head. Aroma is pretty alive with both hops and malt. Maybe some floral aromas as well. The flavor is of very sweet malt, also some tar underneath. The hops are still there, though subdued now. These flavors aren’t mixing well. I don’t know if it needs more age, but it seems that the flavors are clashing, not working together. Palate is full, rich, elegant. Overall, good.
petematte46 (224), Dallas, Texas, USA
| 4.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 |
Sep 5, 2009 My god let this one age. I’m sure by now you have. Malty nose with chocolate notes. Malty body, sweet, with chocolate, candy sugar, liqueurish notes. Hides alcohol well.
SuzyGreenberg (1366), Seattle, Washington, USA
| 3.8 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Sep 4, 2009 750 ml bottle - opened in Dec ’08; pours clear, reddish brown with frothy off-white head; musky, rich, almost bourbon-like nose; texture is thin, flat and soft; caramel, sweet candy malts, dank fruit and a little syrupy; almost BW-like flavors and nothing off-putting or oxidized; bready, dry and sweet; pretty tasty overall and interesting with the age on it
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