Brooklyn Grand Cru

Brewed by Brooklyn Brewery
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Brooklyn, New York USA

2008-12-06. Murky pastel gold body (Freshly tapped?) with a modest white head. (3+) Sweetish aroma, light yeast and esters over sweet malt. (7+) Sweetish flavour, light alcohol, sweet fruity esters with a touch of banana that may be my imagination. (7+) Smooth average plus palate. Pretty decent. <i>On tap at Coles, Buffalo</i>

Pint pour at Mugs. Looks very hazy and thick glowing golden with little clarity. Aroma first starts with spiky esters which are very earthy and herbal lemon-esquw. Maybe its mixing with coriander, or it is coriander or the esters are mimicking coriander, not sure. Though I understand if people interpreted as solvent-like but I enjoyed it. Taste is some banana esters and again some coriander. This is accompanied by a thicker body with a good strong carbonation. I was surprised by this beer, a light yeast doughiness is present throughout. Basically, a tart, twangy, sweet, Belgian mix.

Tap at Mug’s Ale House - turbid gold beer, with a lasting head - this beer had a really nice mix of subdued honey sweetness, tart/tangy orange peel and wheat, coriander, and earthy yeast character - a little bit of banana and tropical fruits - ends with strong tartness, bordering on sourness, with lingering orange peel and lemon character - quite refreshing for the abv - residual honey sweetness once the tartness leaves the palate, though - a nice bsa.

Funky aroma with a nice yeast. Orange with a white head and big lacing. A little aggressive carbonation. Taste is yeasty, corriander, and the mouthfeel of wheat - it rolls off the tongue. A great Belgian, lovely.Cole’s with Mike.

On tap at Cole’s. Aroma of soft malt, yeast and citrus, golden amber, zero head. Taste begins with a dizzying spritzy malt, followed by orange/lemon. Medium bodied, quite balanced, fine tongue tingle. Great example.

Sometimes there are certain breweries where I just don’t think I give them enough credit. Brooklyn Brewery is one of those, and it’s not so much a matter of not appreciating their various beers, yearly and seasonal, but my rather limited access to them. Even at work, I only have a couple three of their yearly beers while keeping a couple spots open for seasonals and such, but that is all. Brooklyn Brewing is also known for their special limited release keg only beers, and it was with much lip-smacking pleasure that I enjoyed the Brooklyn Grand Cru at a favorite semi-local beer haunt of mine. Served to me in a very cool custom Brooklyn snifter, I had to savor a few moments of pure bliss before digging out the tasting book and getting to work.
Technically speaking, the Brooklyn Grand Cru was a Strong Ale in true Belgian fashion and what a fine beauty of a lass she was. Wide in girth, full in sprit, and robust with personality, every single moment I spent with her was Belgian bliss. She came to me that evening with a light haze to her otherwise brilliantly golden body, a soft top-hat of cream-hued foam which faded into a scattered array on top. As our eyes met, I was immediately smitten with her tart yeasty sour-dough, freshly cut golden hay, orange zest, sweet summer melons, and pink bubblegum notes. Our lips meet... Viscous and mouth-coating, an effervescent delight of tart yeasts, sourdough, peppers, melon, and bubblegum assault my tastebuds first, and how sweet it is. As she warms, the orange zest comes to play along with some peach, adding to our fresh summer fruits profile as she grows ever chewier with yeast and dough. Amazingly enough, her finish is rather clean, and as our lips part I am left with a pleasant warmth and faint esters of pepper and spice. Truly delicious and truly delightful; may I have another, please.
It is a shame that the Brooklyn Grand Cru of 2008 was a draft-only offering for she is definitely a keeper. Fearing I would have to search long and hard for this special offering, I am glad it was only a short-drive away. My eternal thanks to the brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewing for bringing her into my life.

on tap at coles kinda a cloudy yellow color. nose is yeasty with some Banana, spicey. flavor was tangy, yeasty and sweet, intresting but not a fav

Tap at Barcade: Pours a hazy golden with a dense white ring of head. The aroma has a nice Belgian yeastiness- light banana note, sugary orange peel and a hint of wheat. Creamy feel with tight carbonation. The flavor has some sweet honey, citrus, fresh banana (not estery banana), peppery phenols as well with residual Belgian malt sweetness. A bit sweet but remains drinkable with a touch of chalky dryness in the finish.