Karl Strauss Belgian Abbey Red

Brewed by Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
San Diego, California USA

On tap at Carslbad location. Much like a Chimay Red, maybe better. Dark brown red color. Classis banana Belgian yeast aroma. Light sweetness. Light booziness. Good.

From tap at the brewpub. Pours dark orange with a small white head. Aroma is light butterish, caramelish and vague yeasty. Caramelish to toffee flavoured. Slight phenolic and malty flavoured finish.

On tap. Slightly hazy reddish amber with a small off-white head. Aroma of overripe fruit and yeast with some alcohol. Quite full-bodied, fruit yeast and phenols. Alcohol in the finish combined with a light bitterness. A solid take on a strong Belgian. 070709

Draft at KS Carlsbad. Nose of candi sugar, caramel, yeast, and a touch of prunes. Hazy brown with a big lightly lacing, beige head. Flavor is lightly sweet, yeast, caramel, and very light alcohol.

On tap at Karl Strauss at Universal Studios in LA. Pours a darker copper amber, mostly clear body with an inch thick, pinkish white head that dissipates slowly and leaves a moderate lacing. Aroma is sweet and heavily malted. Lots of darker caramels and toffees. Big on the dark fruits, such as plums, raisins, and prunes, but has a soft citrus in there as well. A touch of Belgian yeast. Flavor is similar in that there are lots of darker toffees and fruits. More of a bready body giving it a fig newton kind of taste with a touch of Belgian yeast strain fruitiness in there too. Slightly sugary with a soft spicing to finish with a long, malty, raisin aftertaste. Medium bodied, chewy, and slightly dry. Overall, not a bad beer. Pretty enjoyeable for not expecting much.

Tap @ Karl Strauss. Pours a beautiful, mostly clear reddish copper color with a one finger thick off white head that left some spotty lacing. Nice nose of dark fruits, a touch of Belgian yeast and light hops. Flavor of this brew was much like the nose, maybe a little added sweetness.

On tap from K.S. Sorrento Valley. Dark amber hue. Medium body. Flavors of sweet dark fruit and bready yeast. Pleasant finish. Not too memorable but pretty easy to drink. Not bad.

(11/2/08) Draught sample at the brewpub in downtown San Diego. Dark reddish-brown color. Aroma of dark fruits (plums, raisin, a bit of figs), malt and caramel. Sweet flavor with malt, some sugariness, dark fruit and a strange slightly spicy and bitter finish with alcohol hints. Medium-bodied. The finish ruins it for me.