 tiggmtl (4181), Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Oct 24, 2006 Updated: Aug 12, 2008
Rerate: Orange citrus and sweet malts are grounded pleasantly by grainy caereal notes in the nose. A touch of alcohol is also apparent. Clear dark brown body is topped by a generous and lasting tan, fine bubbled, dense head that laces well and lasts throughout. Tangy citrus character keeps the big round sweetness of the malts from becoming cloying. Bread dough like yeast character and some hints of alcohol especially in the finish. Medium full body with strong effervescence that stops just short of becoming sharp. A lesson in contrasts and a definite improvement over the last time i sampled it. Tulip glass. Cellar temperature. Bottle (Rahman, Jun-08).
Original Rating (7-2-6-2-12=2.9): Strong bitter orange and coriander spiciness greet the nose along with some round, sweet malt character. Plenty of chunky yeast in suspension in the otherwise fairly clear, deep brown body that is topped by a low, large bubbled, partial cover of tan head. Strong chocolate and orange flavours with spices that battle the mild bitterness. Sweetness is somewhat cloying and alcohol is fairly notable. Medium body with doughy texture and somewhat low carbonation. Bottle sampled at the post-Mondial tasting 2006.
Flamojune (29), Québec, Quebec, Canada
Sep 2, 2008 Un cas unique. Le nez est exceptionnel. Pas réussi a identifier les aromes...Sambucca...épices...corriande...Tout comme le gout d’ailleurs! L’ alchol se fait plutot discret. Un must pour les amateurs de produits high class.
shintriad (680), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jul 11, 2008 Humongo-head, dark brown body, spicy scent.Huge sweetness, enough to be distinctive and not disgusting, balanced by impressive hop finish. Somewhat oily texture. Massive notes of Blue Curacao, brandy, Grand Marnier and some spiciness (from the yeast?). Sheets of lacing left on the glass. Very complex and interesting.
doubleo (751), San Diego, California, USA
Jun 19, 2008 500ml bottle from glouglouburp. Pours dark brown with a good sized, crisp off-white head. Smells nice, mellow dark fruity, yeasty, not overly sweet. Tastes dark fruity raisiny, malty as well and bready yeasty. It has kind of marshmallowy sugary sweetness, slight chocolate. Medium body, vibrant carbonation.
Stine (1335), St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Jun 19, 2008 Robust mahogany glow and a brimming cap of beige, succulent and full. Aroma of baked pears and apple fritters dappled in tarragon, cloves, mint and cinnamon. Vibrant yeasts. Doughy malts linger with a caramelly, dense sweetness beneath a quaint floral dusting of rose or lavender. A bit of anise, pit fruits, and brown sugar. The intrigue is infatuating here, as this dusky-herbal sensation of leafy spice and flowers brings it to a fairytale world of fresh meadow springtime. But it’s distant, not immediate, and that’s what makes it irresistable.
Flavor seems a mite sweeter, polishing that anise note into a fuller chewiness of licorice amidst a lot of brown sugar, raisin bread and fig. Mexican chocolate, mostly bitter, black tea leaves, pear skins, bubblegum; complexity on a delirious parade. Mid palate bittersweetness of pear skins and a return of that floral-herbal essence tempers the tendency toward oversweetness rather nicely, with little room to spare. Duskiness of dry, earthy hot spice toward the end. Somewhat reminiscent of curry in a strange and pleasing way.
Body is medium to full and briskly carbonated, but never airy, which really fits my taste for this style perfectly. Finishes with some deep fruitiness of fig and melon, then lingers on a musty, sweet molasses and licorice flavor, quite richly. Lasting impression is of a very slightly overexcited sweetness, though the moments of brilliance in this fine example are uniquely memorable and fulfilling. Thanks Dany!
hopscotch (4477), Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Jun 10, 2008 Bottle… Cloudy, dark, almost impenetrable, brown ale (nice copper hue when held up to the sun) with a huge, frothy, beige head. Incredible retention. Yeasty nose with touches of licorice and mint. Full-bodied, but a touch thin, with fizzy carbonation. Sweet and a smidge on the hot side. Otherwise, dark fruits, licorice, molasses and winter spice. Moderately bitter, lightly sweet, mildly acidic, licorice finish. Kudos to glouglouburp for floating this one my way!
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