Holy Mackerel Special Golden Ale

Brewed by Florida Beer Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Melbourne, Florida USA

Bottled at Akkurat, Stockholm. Clear amber, small head. Rich marzipan-like yeast character. Sweet and fruity, near full bodied with rounded mouthfeel, Marzipan and yeast dominates completely. Simple and heavy, but well organized.

Date: 01/25/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: clear copper, short lived fine dirty white head, drippy streaks of lace,
Aroma: aroma has lots of sweet fruity esters plus light fusel alcohol, nice spicyness balances the sweetness,
Body: big body,
Flavor: lots of sweet malt flavor, candy sweetness, light spicyness, light bitterness comes out of the spicyness to add balance,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Cloudy yellow-beige colour with no head. Sort of dull-looking. Slightly footy nose with banana and pear accents. A hint of alcohol singes the nostrils. Slighlty spicy body with an alcoholic splash. The malts are very sweet and a little bit plasticy. Finishes quite spritzy, which cuts the sweetness a bit, but it remains a little too cloying, perhaps awaiting a proper bottle refermentation with a fun yeast like Duvel or Dupont.

(12oz bottle, vintage 2007) Small white head with clear apple juice body. Aroma is medium sweet, grassy, some honey, alcohol artingency. Taste is medium sweet, honey, some cantaloupe, light grassy. Watery medium body.

12oz bottle acquired in trade with daknole (thanks!). Bottle labeled 2007. Poured a deeper and murky golden color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of fruitiness, bananas, some spiciness, and some candi sugar. Tastes of fruits, bananas, lighter spiciness, and some sugary sweetness. Alcohol content well hidden.

Clear deep golden bronze pour has a wispy-lacing white head. Aroma of sweet pale malts and Belgian yeast with some fusels and greenth. Body starts sugary sweet, but somewhat thin for the style with some light fruity esters, drying some toward a warming finish. Needs a thicker, more sustained body and authentic yeast strain, but a decent attempt at a Belgian strong.

Bottle… Mostly clear golden ale with a small, fizzy, white head. Sweet, breadsy aroma with phenols and esters of smoke, clove, Bazooka® bubblegum and banana. The well-balanced flavor is very sweet and fruity up front, but just as bitter and spicy on the backside. Full-bodied and syrupy with medium carbonation. Finishes bitter-sweet and spicy. Not at all my thing, but a quality brew nonetheless!

(12oz. bottle, 2008 vintage) Pours a hazy golden orange body with a small white head. Aroma of coriander, banana, citrus, pear, and ginger. Flavor of ginger, candi sugar, apricots, and some floral.