 GarrettB (417), Seattle, Washington, USA
Aug 4, 2008
First, I love the label art here. What art style is this? Ah, but I mustn’t let googly eyes for pretty packaging get in the way of fair beer reviewing. The centimeter of caked, tan head sits atop a dark auburn body, with a creamy, woody and vegetative aroma poking through. I find this aroma soft and smooth, even calm, though fairly dry. It’s something of a beer sedative, and makes for a great drink at the end of an unnecessarily stressful day. The flavor is curious, and later, incredibly drinkable. A dry woodiness combines with a dark chocolate flavor and a mild tweak of alcohol to give an addictivley sippable buzz. The star quality here is the wood flavors. The flavors here lend themselves to food pairings simply because they are plain, though tasty, but drinking this with good conversation will make it just as satisfying.
DruncanVeasey (1802), No. 46, Leicestershire, Belgium
Nov 20, 2008 Wow. At first sniff I just know this is heading straight into my top…100? Gritty, pithy grapefruit rind citrus, tangy blackcurrant, distant charred smokiness, chocolate. Smoke and alpha resins in perfect lip-smacking equilibrium. Ripe inviting Cascade and Galena. Pulls together the brazenness and big hop ripeness of America with the gentle cigar smokiness and chocolate of an English stout or mild…pumped up with American hops, of course. This is just all over the place, and I love it. The body’s light and liquid, but it totally suits the flavours. Drinks like Titanic, Tunnel, Castle Rock…can’t remember the names I’m getting so carried away. Something dark and probably listed as a mild on RB but really nothing like it because of those blatant citrussy, blackcurranty hops. Post modern, kick-ass silky Belgian dark Mild with American hop-soul. This is beer that defies categorisation, or demands a new one. APA, GA, Real English Stout, Mild, tipped in the same pint pot and cranked up to an unnoticeable 8% ABV. World beer. Totally lean and unsugared G&T dryness and citrus, smoked. Castle Rock Black Gold, Rogue Shakespeare Stout, Belgian silk. Chocolate and faint burnt toast in there for balance. Just won’t shut up with lingering soft smokiness, KP Dry Roasted, cocoa powder. Nothing like 8%. Dangerous, dangerous, sexy, modern ale. Magnificent.
fordest (1836), Santee/San Diego, California, USA
Nov 18, 2008 750 ml bottle shared at Nertz party. Dark pour with a big head. Aromas of chocolate and sweet malts. Flavor fell off quite a bit with still some sweet caramel and touches of coffee, but some cardboard and hints of bandage. Maybe a bit old?
Ungstrup (11570), Frederiksberg, Denmark
Oct 26, 2008 Draft at Kerstbierfestival 2007. A very dark brown beer with a lazing tan head. The aroma is sweet with strong notes of spice - especially cloves and coriander and a light acidic note of coffee. The flavor is sweet with notes of coffee, malt, and caramel, leading to a dry roasted malty finish. Lovely.
Gar4016 (16), , Iowa, USA
Oct 23, 2008 Smooth head that lingers in a faint layer along the surface. Color is a dark chocolate amber. Smells a little fruity with some floral, maybe chocolate. Taste is quite nice, roasted malts, coffee, spices, and some good hop bitterness at the end. I’d think this would make it too bitter, but it’s quite balanced between the two. Very roasty and hoppy for a belgian, good alcohol degree that is covered up quite well. This seems very drinkable for me!
omhper (10901), Stockholm, Sweden
Oct 17, 2008 <i>Bottled at Akkurat, Stockholm. </i> Mahogany colour, rocky head. Perfumy floral nose with candy sugar and prunes. Bittersweet with clean mouthfeel and medium-full body. Realy hoppy with bitter almond and marzipan, salty bitter finish. Elegance is lost in the quest for power.
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