TAR (2011), Boulder Co., Colorado, USA Dec 5, 2006 <i>Draft</i>: Virtually opaque lemon. Foam quickly diminishes and struggles to retain a tight halo. Spice-laden nose boasts notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, bread dough, and glazed mint leaves. Restrained malt lends a light dustiness. Hard and acidic bite of carbonation. Slippery body. Initially grainy and raspy, but beefy and chewy with malt- and potato-derived starches which bolster the body and neutralize some of the graininess. Dab of acidity gently slices through the hefty malt spine, which possess a toasted dough and honeyed hay quality as they blossom, just as the spices provide accentuation and length. Hops aren’t much of a factor, but do help temper the spices with a floral softness. Tardy notes of cinnamon-induced warmth complement the cakey malts which thicken as it reaches room temperature. Finishes cleanly and well-structured, with a mellow but satisfying combo of starches and toasted bread dough along with waning but ever present sprinkles of cinnamon and nutmeg. Aromatically speaking, this isn’t all that interesting, as the spices outweigh the potential subtleties that might be lurking. However, the flavor profile features some lovely malt elements to accompany the spices. Such a fun beer in which to partake. jhumphries69 (571), Tyrone, Georgia, USA Nov 13, 2006 Pours a very cloudy/hazy straw with a white head. The aroma has lots of ginger and nutmeg. The flavor also has ginger and nutmeg - and cinnamon. There are also some malts in this beer’s flavor - though not as much as you might expect from seeing the beer’s strength. One of the better and more interesting beers here.
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