Barley Island Sinister Minister Belgian Black Ale

Brewed by Barley Island Brewing
Style: Traditional Ale
Noblesville, Indiana USA

22oz bottle, Thanks to jcwattsrugger at Richmond Summer Gathering @ Williamsburg. Pours dark brown in color with tan head. Aroma roasted malt and chocolate. Taste of roasted malt, dark chocolate and light licorice with dry finish.

Deep brown pour with tan head and lace. A dark brown sugar and toasted malt aroma. A toasted malt and hints of dried fruit. A bit thin and watery. Not much above average but very drinkable.

Bomber from Crown. Herbal nose with heather and some tire air. Pours the deep brown of a porter, with a short light brown head. Taste is dry and roasty but still has those herbal notes (which endure into the aftertaste, where they approach juniper and give a slightly chalky residue) and flashes of fruity sweetness. Dark chocolate, loads of anise, licorice, but very little of the latter. Body is watery and a bit foamy, slightly tangy but without acidity. Refreshing and dangerously easy to drink! Smooth and subtle, a good bridge between new and old, one of the more interesting finds of this year!

This bottled brew from Indianapolis poured a small sized head of fine to medium sized foamy with a frothy top tan colored mostly lasting bubbles that left behind a transparent but very dark brown colored typically carbonated body. The aroma was of mile brown and dark malts. The mouth feel was tingly from start to finish. The flavor contained notes of dark malts and hops.

Bottle 2007 from Keg Liqour. Poured a hazy brown color with an average off-white head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Good aroma of roasted dark chocolate malt. Medium body with smooth dry texture. Good roasted bittersweet flavor with a complex bittersweet finish of medium duration. Interesting complex brew.

Sampled at Noog4. Dark Chestnut pour with a light head. Bright and bubbly aroma with Belgian funk and a touch of roasted grain. Nice. Very drinkable. It’s light with a well balanced combination of grain, hay, funk, and roasted grain. Carbonated to the point that it exaggerates its refreshing properties. Light-medium body. This is an easy drinker.

I got this one in Indianapolis. The body was dark brown. The aroma was caramel and chocolate with some pancakes. The taste was pancakes with coffee and chocolate. Well made, but a little boring.

Name: Sinister Minister
Date: 05/31/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Noog Four-O

Appearance: black, wispy tan head,
Aroma: roased malt aroma with sweet fruity esters,
Flavor: rich roasted and dark chocolate flavor, lots of sweet fruity esters, light balancing bitterness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4