 SilkTork (3882), Rochester, Kent, England
Apr 6, 2007
ChrisFest Aroma is a bit cardboard and lacks fresh fragrance - something I have noticed with other beers strongly dosed with American or citric hops: an intensity of such hops can result in cardboard notes. The beer is warm and relaxed with a growing burn in the mouth. Malt and hops are agreeably balanced and though strong are not offensive. Enjoyable. Buttery and bitter.
NomDeBeer (150), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Sep 7, 2008 Aroma is very sweet and fruity, not as hoppy as Arrogant Bastard. Alcohol aroma becomes more evident as it warms. Pours a hazy reddish-brown with no head; really not very attractive looking. Taste is sweet fruits, caramel, perhaps a bit of peat. Hoppy finish with an after taste dominated by caramel, but also a little smokiness. Alcohol is well-hidden in the flavor.
EricE (233), Beltsville, New Jersey, USA
Aug 30, 2008 Number three in my bastard tasting, and by far the best. Orange-red pour, very hazy. Thing tan had with nice lacing on the glass. A sugary sweet alcohol aroma with lots of hops. Hints of raisin and caramel. Sweet malty flavor with raisin and caramel. Hops hit you like a punch in the face. Very fruity with citrus and grapefruit. A bit on the harsh side, but a good beer.
yngwie (3529), Kristiansand, Norway
Aug 29, 2008 Bottle, 22oz. A reddish golden beer with a slight haze. Dense, beige head of low height. Quite intense aroma with lots of sweetish maltyness, beefstock, caramel, piney and resiny hops, and some alcohol. Maybe a bit too sweet on the palate, with a lasting alcohol warmth, but there’s enough hops to justice it. Piney, resiny bitterness with a citrusy touch. Sweet and bitter finish. A big, bold beer, but very satisfying. (080811)
ewestern (87), Ohio, USA
Aug 26, 2008 Somewhat cloudy amber color with a thin light tan head. Sweet aroma with notes of honey, alcohol and hopes. Some citrus flavor but mostly hops with a little bit of malt taste coming though with maybe a bit of caramel. Finishes with a piney-alcoholy bitterness that hung around. A more bitter and hoppy version of the regular that I think they could have done more with.
JoeinUccle (667), Brussels, Belgium
Aug 26, 2008 Surprising red fruit-punch color. Incredible nose of berries, citrus, passion fruit, faint chocolate, and hop. Flavor goes a bit flat after that nose while showing no subtlety. There is a mildly sweet and fruity start before the wave of bitterness hits and sticks for long finish. Not much betwixt. Not well balanced IMO, even compared to other Stone beers. The result is interesting but smells much better than it tastes.
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