J.T. Whitneys Dark Belgian Ale

Formerly brewed at J.T. Whitneys Pub & Brewery
Style: Sour Ale
Madison, Wisconsin USA

Name: Belgian Dark Ale
Date: 08/09/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub, Madison

Appearance: clear dark ruby red amber, fine beige head, drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet dark caramel malt aroma with a nice fruity character,
Flavor: sweet dark caramel malt flavor, tart fruity character comes in to balance the caramel sweetness,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

On tap at the brewpub 8/9/08: Pours a transparent dark copper with a thin ring of off-white head. Aroma of lightly sweet dark caramel and tart light fruity cherry notes. Body starts effervescent and cherry fruity sweet and tart before a drier finish. A decent Belgian dark with ok tartness and fruity balance.

Served on draught at the Wisconsin Micro-brewers Beerfest in Chilton, Wisconsin. Pours a semi-hazy light brown amber brew with a fast dissipating off-white head that dissolves to a thin off-white ring. Aroma of tart fruity character, some yeast, a touch of barnyard funk and some brown sugar. Taste is slightly spritzy, medium bodied with flavors of tart berry with caramel malt, a touch of herbal spice and yeast. Finish has a mild tart berry aftertaste that lingers slowly to a thin caramel taste. Not too overpowering, but just right to my liking. I am happy to see another Wisconsin brewery producing a Brown Sour to attract the neglected sourheads in the beer drinking culture. Most excellent!

Growler courtesy of Skyview. Dark brown color with a medium head. Aroma of sour cherries and molasses. Strong and malty body. Lots of dark cherries. Moderate tartness and a bit of sour. An almost oaky finish. Really great surprise!

GTMW ’08. Poured a hazy dark brown color with an off white head. Smelled of toffee, vanilla, and a bit of booze. Medium bodied and slightly sweet with mild acidity (about 2 out of 10). Tasted mostly of brown sugar and toffee with a splash of white wine vinegar. The malt bill was much larger than I had anticipated and the acidity much milder.

Thanks to Skyview for this one. Sweet, with vinegar in the aroma. Brown in color, and at first taste, very much a Flemish brown. Some sugar and malt, as well as balsamic, caramel, and a little fruit. A success for sure and it is great to see a small brewpub attempting, and achieving, in this uncommon style.

Hard to peg this one. The malts are indeed really driving this--molasses in the aroma and a kind of malt complexity that to me suggests a barleywine foundation, but the sourness is also present. I tend to think that it tastes more like a ’’mistake’’ than a deliberate brew, though it has some attraction and is certainly drinkable, if not especially awesome. (growler shared by Skyview)

Pours a cloudy dark brown colour with a full, forever rising tan head. Aroma is nutty, raisins, toast, milk chocolate on the nose. Taste is slightly sour, otherwise pleasent, well carbonated with notes of spice.