 ClarkVV (3547), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Jun 13, 2005
2004 bottle sampled 6/4/2005 at Mondial. Stumbled upon this unknowingly and was left dumbfounded. All I scribbled down on my notes was the phrase, "just so complex!". You better believe I remember the rest, though.
A warm-toned honey and apricot colored cider, with some gleaming copper and brass, and darker caramel shades in the middle. Legs are left in response to swirling the thick, limpid, liquid. Aroma of cinnamon, cloves, sweet apple skins and pulp, rich butter pie-crust with freshly baked, warm apples and a glass of brandy. Vanilla and almonds in there as well. Flavor is explosive, complex and just stupefying. Rich cinnamon-flavored iced cream, with warm cointreau-soaked apples atop. Brandy, luscious caramel and full, sweet red apples, never syrupy or cloying. Powerful finish is warming, well-spiced of clove, allspice, oranges and vanilla. Body is gentle yet strong, very impressive and easy to sip. Finish does not "make you pay for it" by dousing you with alcohol. Tremendously balanced and just pure flavor from start to finish. As David says, this one is seemingly perfect in its own right, and takes the route of the wonderfully balanced, full bodied, strong and complex Belgian Strong Ale, whereas a perfect 5 in my book would also be an ultra funky farmhouse cider, for which I have more preference. This is incredible though. Glad we discovered it.
ilovedarkbeer (766), Dallas, Texas, USA
Oct 8, 2008 Big thanks to BMan1113VR for sharing this beer with me for his milestone. Nose: Exactly like those caramel apple chips, with some honey and bay leaves. Legs are freaking glue. Looks exactly like JW Red Label Scotch. Taste is a mind blower. Super sweet and thick in the mouth with apples, caramel, bit of swiss, and even a bit of meat or bacon on the back end. There is such crazy complexity. This tastes like the month of November to me. Drinkability is above 100% seeing as you can’t put it down.
tertons (100), East Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Oct 7, 2008 Well liked by the five others who got to sample this one. The best of 4 I’ve had from La Face. Well balanced with a slightly sweet and tart combo. Served at the correct temp, but this one became better as it warmed up.
BMan1113VR (934), Los Angeles (and Dallas, TX), California, USA
Oct 7, 2008 My 900th rating shared with ilovedarkbeer. Completely worth the $60+ I spent. 2003 bottle. Pours with a orangish body similar to a nice scotch with amazingly strong and solid alcohol legs, absolutely amazing. The apple aroma fills the room, filling in with solid apples, caramel, strong alcohol, more caramel, applejax, bay leaf, and some herbs (orregeno, and many others). Super complex. Some alcohol, flowers and honey as well. A bit of swiss cheese or jarlsberg yeastiness might be there as well. Taste is soo sweet, and concertated apples, so amazing, tons of caramel over the 60+ second duration. Mouthfeel is super syrupy, with tons of alcohol, sticky like honey. This cider is absolutely brilliant, mind blowing. Every sip I take, I cannot help but smile. This is an amazing beverage!!!
Magic_dave6 (4012), London, Greater London, England
Sep 19, 2008 Bottle at home with mesandsim, from the most awsome trader ever, the cheeseman. Aroma is like super ripe apple sauce, honey straght from the hive of apples openly toasted over a fire at a german market. Taste is just a dream, its immencly sweet but the spple dryness manages to hold it back and make it possibly one of the most drinkable things iv ever tasted. A 500ml bottle is not enough for me alone, so sharing it was 3 other people was like "I SOO NEED TO GET MORE OF THIS!"
jjpm74 (3160), Stratford, CT 06614, Connecticut, USA
Sep 11, 2008 Pours yellow and oily with a nice neck. Smells of sweet apples and boozy with some excellent spicy character. Tastes sweet and well balanced with some touches of appley goodness that yields dryness, tartness and crispness at once.
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