 Mes_and_Sim (4495), Highgate, Greater London, England
Mar 8, 2007
A Mes rate:
33cl bottle from the Kulminator. Dirk himself told me to have this next, who was I to disagree. Caramel, toffee, burnt sugar, apples, bananas and other stuff in what is a pretty much perfect and very complex aroma. Thick blonde colour with a great rocky head that settled to a thick, almost solid film that left plenty of lace in its wake. To swill and watch the bubbles settle is truely a sight to behold. Obvious alcohol. Strong malt and hops are totally apparent and give sublime balance. Burnt sugar comes and goes sandwiched somewhere along the line by ice cream and lightly done brown toast with lots of butter on. Prickly, almost sour and dry finish but also with creamy and bitter hops. About as full bodied as beer can be. Certainly there could not be a better balanced brew. Will no doubt be too sweet for some but for me, this sets the benchmark. So hard to do this rate with out pouring out expletives. It really is that good. As Dirk pointed out afterwards, "it’s just not beer".
douglas88 (831), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Oct 12, 2008 Bottle thanks to hopdog. Pours a bright orange color with a large white head. The aroma is very strong; loads of woody and sweet notes. Some sour wood, sweet and rich malts, and lots of yeast. The flavor is very nice; initially a very sweet mix of malts, candies, and some fruit. Later the more sour barrel-aged nature stands out. Lots of yeast throughout. Some spices and apples too. Very mellow for the ABV. Vinous and fairly dry. Very nice. A full carbonated and fizzy mouthfeel.
CharlesDarwin (1413), State College, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 9, 2008 33cl Bottle. Very unique nose filled with a combination of sub-tropical
fruit flesh, spice character and plenty of really syrupy rich
vinous character. Unique and a bit musty. It just has that
really good aged malt character, blended in with some smooth
yeast. Heavenly honey drips through with sweet blasts of
caramel, maple syrup and almonds. A really warm inviting
decadent aroma. Pours a brillianty hazed golden-orange with a
soft rim of white and plenty of carbonation. On the tongue,
quickly to carbonation. Then a fury of fighting flavors.
Alcohol is rather forward, at 13%, I’m not surprised. But
there’s great white fig, tawny port, and sweet candy nose. This
beer has an interesting reaction with my body. It starts
explosively, foaming on the palate and spreading throughout. It
then offers a little flavor and then heat, right up into the
nose, with maybe a touch of acetone. Finally, a rather brash
and distasteful old hop character. I’m not so sure about this
one as it warms and works into my palate. The alcohol is always
hot, there’s always a nip of acetone in my sinuses and the old
hop dust is strong and unbalancing. Lots of spice, yeast and
golden raisins, but it comes a little muddled. Hmm. Not
flowering as much as I’d like. I’m going to let this breathe
for a little while. Still about the same, except the 13% is kicking in and I’m a little more numb to this beer’s brash edges. Thanks Jeremy!
Madsnp (145), Odense C, Denmark
Oct 9, 2008 Bottle. Pours a noisy and lively golden coloured brew with a nice white head, which leaves nice lacings on my glass as it slowly turns into a small white film. The beer is silent now.. Aromas are raisins, nuts, caramel, spice and yeast. The flavour is very fruity with notes of oranges, spicy pepper, calvados, caramel and is ended by a dry woody finish.
Illini08 (519), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Oct 4, 2008 Thanks to Todd for sharing this bottle at the Carolina Crew tasting last month! Cloudy yellow pour. Woody, funky, yeasty, fruity, spicy flavor and aroma. Very complex and the 13% abv was well hidden.
nightrider (244), encinitas, California, USA
Sep 25, 2008 Poured from the bottle from Kulminator Antwerp. Orange yellow hazy color with thick white head. Thick and rich in your mouth. Fruity sweetness with some alcohol up front. Complex lingering flavor. Very nice.
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