Capitol City Biere de Garde

Brewed by Capitol City Brewing Company
Style: Bière de Garde
Washington, Washington DC USA

on tap at the brewpub. pours a rich gold /light copper with a thin white head. tasted earthy, like peat. almonds and hazelnuts. when it grows up, it wants to be a single malt scotch. a fine sweet aroma. this is a really good beer.

Clear and coppery, white fizzy head. Real interseting and somewhat complex nose of ginger, toast, caramel, grass, and black pepper. Flavor was similar with up front tones of more ginger and black pepper that balance on a bed of grassy hops. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, spicy finish. 7.5% ABV here for those that need to know. I like it for the fact that it was unique, not the same boring staple beers they always brew. A good effort...

Somewhat spicy, wafty on the nostrils. Hefty in appearance. One will probably do for this beer.

Draft, Cap City Downtown RBSG 2006. Clear copper with a white head. Caramel, some grass, and light spice in the nose. Flavor has notes of spiciness, pepper, a touch of flowers and caramel. Medium bodied with a smooth texture and moderate carbonation. Solid, drinkable stuff.

Draft at the Downtown location during the RBSG DC Pub Crawl. Rusty amber. Nose is spicy, fruity and flowery. Lots of peppery spices in the taste, light caramel, soft ginger, grass, and fruit. Body is medium and smooth with moderate carbonation. Finishes peppery, fruity and yeasty with more malt and flowers.

Clear copper with very little head. Possibly because it just came on line today. The rest have been excellent in all areas of appearance. The aroma is a little bit floral, a little bit musty and a little bit of pear fruitiness. The flavor is full of the spiced stewed pear fruit. A bit sweet. Interesting, but not really all that complex.

Clear light orangey amber, gently covered by a creamy off-white head. Combining husks and esters form soft apricot, banana and mango nuances that complement the honeyed cereals and biscuity caramel malts. I couldn’t figure if it was yeast work or additions, but the spiciness emerging from this nose is most appealing, ringing bells of cumin, pepper and ginger. Somehow, the mellow butteriness never disturbs, as the global smoothness of the malt and unexciting hops procure a sense of plain balance. Medium airy body full of small bubbles. Not a bad take, finishing a bit short perhaps.

GABF 2005. Clear, deep golden body with a medium foamy off-white head. Mild aroma of citrus, floral esters, and light malt. Sweet honey-like flavor with some fruity esters and low bitterness. Too sweet and sticky. A lackluster Biere de Garde. I was very surprised to see this beer win a gold medal minutes after I sampled it.