HeBrew Jewbelation Twelve

Shmaltz Brewing Company
Brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: American Strong Ale
San Francisco, California USA

Man was I impressed with this one. Almost no sound at all when I popped the cap, which made me worry it was a bad bottle. At first, the pour didnt seem to have any carbonation - I was sure the seal had been broken, so I gave it a high center pour to be sure. Then the dense, thick head began forming on top - the beer is so thick it took a good few seconds for the head to form. Pours black with ruby accents, and a head the color of the crema on top of an espresso shot. Beautiful. Nose is a bit funky at first, but moves through many different flavors. A bit of smoke, and certainly some chocolate (there are definitely notes of a stout in here), but mostly dark fruits - figs, dates and raisins, and a bit of caramel. MAN is this a thick beer. Mouthfeel is unbelievably thick - I wish it had a bit more carbonation to offset that, but it coats your mouth beautifully and just bursts with flavor. Takes the flavor notes from a Belgian quad - figs, raisins, caramel and even a bit of apple - and adds some of the deep, smokey qualities of an American stout. Far better than the eleven - this is very good stuff. </br></br>RERATE 10/28/09: This is even better than I remember it. Just fantastic. Some great slightly tart apple notes countering the sweetness of all those malts, not unlike the HotD Matt. Utterly fantastic balance in here, especially for this much flavor. Not a trace of that 12% - though that could be the extra year of age it has on it. Delicious.

650ml bottle from Bev4less. Dark brown with a medium tan had that diminished. The aroma is distinctly fruity with dates, figs, peaches and raisins. The flavor like the aroma is also loaded with fruits, but there is a good roasted malt character and nice bittering. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy the finish is long with lingering biter raisins. Overall: A very tasty winter warmer, liked this one a bit more than the Eleven.

Bottle rating. Pour is black with a thin tan head. Aroma of fig, raisin, cocoa, and light hops. Very nice warming flavor. Licorice noticed while sipping. I was pleasantly surprised with this brew.

Bottle… <b>This beer rocks!</b>… Pours a very dark, very clear crimson (when held up to light) with a small, creamy, beige head. Decent retention. Dark, fruity aroma - berries, nuts, cocoa and caramel. The high abv is not at all evident in the nose. Reminiscent of cookies baked with chocolate chips and pecans. Full-bodied and creamy with tingly carbonation. Leans slightly on the sweet side of balance. Tons of chocolate and roasty, nutty notes. Hints of coffee and berries. Deeply roasted, bittersweet finish. Kick ass imperial brown ale – at least that’s my stab at guessing the style.

Color is black with light carbonation and a very thin head. Aroma is roasted malt and fruit. Taste is rich and sharp. Starting with a full body it goes down sharp with a sweet feel. Finish has some dried fruit, caramel and toasted malt then a nice bitterness. After taste is more bitterness and a hint of alcohol. Good brew very interesting and complex, but there eleven was better. I am very impressed with how well it hides the alcohol, you get a little on the end but not as much as you would think with it being 12%.

Pours a murky dull chocolate color with a very fine beige froth. I really like the aroma, strong bourbon-like notes, chocolate, rye bread, raisins, munich malts, brown sugar, caramel, hint of dark fruits, really interesting and well integrated. First taste is very rich chocolate complimented well by some light grassy hops, adds a nice sharpness, some figs and roasted rye bread. Sweet cloying finish that dries out into something yeasty and nutty that is quite Belgianlike. Really nice when it warms. Very viscous mouthful, syrupy with very soft but fine sizzling carbonation. This is definitely a sipper, huge chocolate.

on tap City beer. 12 malts,12hops, whats not to like. Great hops aroma, nice dark malt color and flavor. The high ABV is not noticable. Malty goodness.

22oz bottle. Opaque black color with a chalky thin head. Toffee cognac Barleywine aroma. Taste is similar, but surprisingly smooth and creamy for a beer of 12%. Really seems like a Dark Barleywine, which I find to be a unique uncredited sub-category. Rich, full of flavor, and palatable. Worth a try.