Kuhnhenn Aldebaran

Brewed by Kuhnhenn Brewing
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Warren, Michigan USA

Hand bottled yesterday from a growler by iowaherkeye. Thanks Joey. Poured a slightly hazy orange-amber color. The head was light tan and left some lace behind at the end. Very attractive aroma. I love that mix of clove and grapefruity hop smells you get from some of these Belgian-ish IPA’s. There was also some malty toffee and it sometimes reminded me of how new black rubber tires smell. Delicate sugars were kept in check by a mild to moderate hop bitterness that peaked at 4-5 out of 10. The alcohol flavor and warmth reflected every bit of the billed 8.5% AbV. The alcohol blended well with light candy/flower blossom sweetness, citrsuy hop, toffee, and clove flavors. Grapefruit and clove. Mmmm. This is a good one.

A- Pours a nice auburn hue with a pillowy 2 finger head. Lots of visible carbonation. S- Smell is absolutely excellent. Hops hit the nose first, followed by sweet caramely malt, followed by just a hint of belgian funk. T- Wow, this is where it’s at. Very sweet, waves of slight fruitiness and deep caramel wash across the tongue with a bit of hop biterness lingering at the end that fades into malty goodness. Phenomenal. It’s hard to put a finger on what style this is but whatever it is, I like it. M- Thick with quite a bit of carbonation. D- I can honestly say that if I had access to this often, I would drink it at least once a week. One of the best Kuhnhenn brews I have tasted to date. I love this brewery!

12oz hand bottle from a growler. Clear darkish orange with reddish highlights and a small beige head, fair retention. Tangerine, pineapple, spicy rye (I’d forgotten it had rye in it until I smelled it), caramel malts, Belgian yeast with a tinge of banana round out the aroma. Very nice so far. Flavor was every bit as fruity with plenty of rye and bittersweet caramel to go around. A slight amount of raw alcohol, but with all the flavors going around it doesn’t detract. Dry finish with some green leafy hops and bitterness peaking at a 6 or so. Light carbonation with a full body. The hops came across in this every bit as bright as in a fresh Dreadnaught, and throwing in rye and Belgian yeast made a great complex and flavorful brew. Totally rocked. I also added a point in the overall that should actually have been in the appearance, but since it’s a hand bottle I adjusted accordingly.

12 oz Bottle. Flickr(http://www.flickr.com/photos/26049401@N0 Cracks with a light spritz and then immediately builds a nose of well-aged caramels. Some subtle Belgian esters sweep through and join a faint lemongrass hop nose. Nice complexity, character and depth. A good beginning. Pours a clear ruddied caramel, pale. A silky, soapy, lacing rim in off-white slides to the corners of the glass. Flavor develops slowly. First a run of nice creamy, Belgian malt and then a whiff of strong alcohol. Drying phenols, not overpowering, climb up the back of the throat. Then, a rather brisk and forward play of hops, in grassy Euro tones. Alcohol is a little forward for me, but the body is light, the yeast is good, and the malt is well-integrated. I appreciate the extra hops, since they don’t come out as too celery-like or aged. The alcohol brings forth some interesting spiced notes in the beer that add a level of depth. A touch hot. But, a nice beer! Thanks much Sean!

what a differant beer this is.. In the good way. poured a nice amber with a light tan head. aroma mild hops with honey mixed in nice sweet malts. flavor and mouth feel. the flavor is a nice mixture of Ipa and belgian beers, you get the best of both worlds. This is one of those beers you drink all day long

Bottled. Pours a lightly hazy ruby red-garnet color. A foamy, beige colored head shows good retention and leaves sticky ribbon and jagged lines of lacing behind. Aromas are big but well balanced. Grapefruit and orange hops are countered with sweet, caramelized biscuit and toasted rye bread. The Belgian yeast funk is supremely integrated, helped along by a touch of lactic creaminess in the nose. Flavors exhibit the same well-balanced profile. Caramel sweetness is accompanied by darkly toasted biscuit, followed soon after by a rush of bitter orange and grapefruit. The creaminess is there again, with the yeast imparting a soft spiciness on the finish. The body is quite substantial, with moderate carbonation levels lending to the creamy palate. Overall, this is a very nice and unique brew. Definitely must be consumed fresh, as this one will taper off quickly. Great beer.

On tap. Pours a dark copper color with a medium tan colored head. Arom a is big citrus, floral hops, fruity esters, light caramel. Flavor is again huge blast of floral hops, citrus, caramel, light fruits. Palate is medium bodied, medium carbonation, finished bitter. Very Nice. Right between IPA and Belgian Strong.

On tap at the brewery. Poured a reddish color. Smell is inviting. Nothing overpowering, but still you get some floral hops as well as a nice sweetness. Flavor is much the same. Very drinkable but still tasty. Mild flowery hops with a nice belgian sweetness. Well done.