Date: 06/21/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: cloudy dark red, fine beige head,
Aroma: huge sweet crystal and dark caramel aroma with a fruity sweetness and lots of earthyness, touch of pine,
Flavor: sweet hot crystal malt flavor, tons of earthy and floral hops, long bitter finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: ***/4

Objectively speaking: A thick, chewy monster of an ale that forgets finesse at times
I like: Bright copper colour. Interesting spicy notes emanate from both the hops and yeast. Strong cereal concentration is impressive if you look for sheer impact. Smooth carbonation, thick, but with no rough edges besides the alcohol and smoothly rounded.
I dislike: Stronger and stronger alcohol as it warms, quickly evoking vodka with its potato basis. Very sweet and not in the best way, it has a raw sugar feel to it that borders beets.

Pours a hazy copper orange with a frothy, well-lacing off-white head. Aroma of fresh grapefruity hops and some sweet toasty caramel notes with nice light fruity complexity. Body starts with good fullness and rich caramel sweetness balanced with an assertive citrusy hop flavor and a slightly warming, complex finish. A very nice IIPA.

750ml bottle shared courtesy of TomDecapolis. Batch E!006. Poured a deeper and cloudy amberish color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of pine, citrus, caramel, toffee, and floral hops. Tastes of toffee, citrus, caramel, and some dark fruits. Light alcohol in the finish but overall well hidden.

Bottle... RBSG ‘08... Hazy orange ale with a mid-sized, creamy, off-white head. Excellent retention. Sweaty, earthy nose with a metallic undertone. Full-bodied with fizzy carbonation. The flavor is actually leaning on the sweet side of balance for me. Lengthy bittersweet finish.