Flossmoor Station Ellas Reserve

Brewed by Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Flossmoor, Illinois USA

This is a beer? Never smelled a beer like this. Copper color with a small, off-white head and some lace that doesn’t stick to glass. Strong and rough going down like cheap bourbon. I believe it was Hopscotch who mentioned that it spent too much time in the barrel. That’s what it tasted like.

Draft...Pre-DLD06... Hazy, copper ale with a mid-sized, creamyi white head. Great retention. The aroma is heavy on the bourbon with notes of coconut and wood. The flavor is big time woodsy and bourbony. Full-bodied and creamy with medium carbonation. Finishes boozy and very warm. If I hadn’t known it was born a Belgian strong ale, I would have never guessed it. The bourbon characteristics outshone everything else.

Draft at FSRB, 4/28/06. Golden brown in color, with a healthy ring of foam. As Jackie Gleason would say, "Hmmmmmmmmmmm, that’s good BOOOOOOZE!" A big, fizzy sherry taste, brought on by bright malts, and I think a touch of patent malt. Very alcoholic and somewhat addictive as its goes down smoothly before it has a chance to whack you on the back of your head. The brewers say the last Friday of the month is when they check the progress of their barrel-aged, and then a quarter barrel is set out for all to try. So technically, this is still a work in progress.
Same batch, aged 8 more months, 12/11/06. Any Belgian character has been traded for a slight winy smell. Thin head. Color and taste are more like a B&B. But then, there’s a bit of sourness, the return of the winy touch, and the a fruity finish.

Poured a hazy copper color with a small, white collar, leaving light lacing on the glass. Aroma of citrus fruits, vanilla, some dried fruits, light smoke, caramel and bourbon. Taste was sweet and alcoholic, caramel malts, honey, bourbon, light citrus, and strong alcohol in the finish.

Pours to a hazy bronze body with a thick white head. The aroma is strong. Graham crackers, sweet Woodford Reserve bourbon. The flavor is vanilla beans, nice bourbon and blondies. Peppery. At times, the bourbon is overpowering.

Sampled at the 3rd Annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-aged Beers held at Goose Island (Wrigleyville branch), Chicago, IL. Served from tap. Belgium golden stronge ale aged in a Woodford Reserve barrel. Hazy dark brown hued ale having large long-lasting off-white head with good lacing. Intense aroma of bourbon whiskey and toffee. Medium bodied that starts with slightly sweet malt with notable bourbon and toffee hints and light hop bitterness and finishes dry with light hop bitterness. Nicely balanced. A very drinkable and enjoyable beer.

On tap: Citrusy with orange peel, caramelm and bourbon. Transparent golden-orange with a white head. Lots of citrus with peach and light orange peel. Finishes with some light citrus hops and mellow bourbon flavors.



Was not aware I had this before, but tried a second time at the Flossmoor Gathering. Really overdone with bourbon the second time. Aroma was just loaded with vanila, bourbon, and light fruit. Flavor was much the same with lots of vanilla up front with a hot bourbon finish. Bourbon is definitely overdone this time. Rated this as 9-4-6-4-13