Flying Fish Grand Cru Winter Reserve

Brewed by Flying Fish Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Ale
Cherry Hill, New Jersey USA

From BA Riggsy, as part of the Secret Santa 2005 trade, my first Flying Fish beer, arrived in a 12 oz. bottle. Poured into the oversized wine glass, the beer looked strikingly clear with a golden pale body. The clarity was surprising considering the bottle conditioned description on the label. The carbonation was actively spirited, but never did amount to a large foamy head.

The smell highlighted the Belgian yeast character, with an abundance of banana, and pear, and a zesty spice backing of coriander and orange peel. The taste was sweet and citric, with bananas, lemongrass, and black peppers flavoring the swallow. The carbonation was airy and prickly, and mouthfeel quite light. Although well made, there was also a strange feeling of emptiness and artificiality to this beer. This may have been the result of sugar derived alcohol, or might have been due to a relative lack of complexity. Whatever it was, the beer started out quite well, and fizzled out near the end.

Draught. Amber with a good white head that lasts and leaves nice lacing. Aroma: fruit basket - apples, bananas. Tastes like sweet apple-banana-pear punch, and has the mouthfeel almost of juice, very minimally carbonated, and almost no alcohol flavor. At the same time, it’s so easily drinkable, that this could easily end up knocking you on yuor ass without noticing what you’d done. Enjoyable, wish it was a little more beery, but it’s kind of unique in how completely the alcohol is hidden and how strong the fruits are. Contra the description, I taste almost no malt when it comes off the tap, maybe it is different bottled.

Cask. Pours a golden color with a long lasting big head. Scents of flowers and herbs on the nose. This has a very unique flavor of lavender/rosemary and some not offensive medicinal flavors. Unsual and enjoyable.

Draft Pours a clear golden. Very good aroma of hops, and a fruity purfume. A nice sweet taste with a good aftertaste. A very drinkable beer.

(Draught, The Drafting Room) Pours a clear yellow body with a moderate white head. Aroma of florals and fruit. Flavor of mild yeast and light fruitiness.

Bottle: Courtesy of Secret Santa. Aroma of banana, apple, and light yeast. Pours a transparent gold with a small off-white head that quikcly diminishes to a ring. Very sweet up front with lots of sugar, banana and light apple. Very spicey finish (clove and other spices) with moderate flowery bitterness. To sugary sweet for my preferences.

Bottle. Golden color, very hazy appearance, with a small head. Strong yeasty aroma, fruity. Flavor is similar, this is a lot like a tripel with slightly less alcohol. Nice dry finish, with good aftertaste of fruit and alcohol.

Amazing, fragrant hop aromas and lots of esters. Perfume, lilac and lily; rosemary bread. Rich golden color on the beer and lots of medium-bead head. Taste reflects the flowers and perfume of the aroma, with the addition of a healthy alcohol backing. Light enough on the palate, dry on the finish. Unlike any winter reserve, and pretty interesting.