Livery Anniversary Ale (Belgian IPA)

Formerly brewed at The Livery
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Benton Harbor, Michigan USA

On tap at the Great Taste of the Midwest (8/9/08): Pours a hazy dark copper orange with a spotty-lacing white head. Aroma of fresh grapefruity hops and some sweet caramely pale malt. Body starts with a great fresh grapefruity hoppy flavor and sweet toasty caramel malts before a smooth bittersweet finish with a hint of vinous oak. A very well-balanced unique brew.

Hazy golden pour. The nose is a very prominent slap of PNW and European hoppiness, and fruity Belgian esters. Big sweet caramel and toffee bottom, supporting the equally big melange of citrus, herbal, earthy hops. Underneath it all is a spicy/fruity Belgian yeast profile to liven things up. Very creamy texture and very refreshing.

Objectively speaking: A Belgian IPA that came more yeasty than Belgian.,
I like: Delicious biscuity maltiness, toasty, rich, deep, though they add more sweetness than I’d like. Luckily, the hops and their strong resinous side manage to counterbalance most of it. Not too citrusy, this remains focused and that’s something I quite enjoy and rarely encounter.
I dislike: While not syrupy, it feels quite thick with that low a carbonation, especially with Belgianesque flavours. Soapy undertones in the finish, not necessarily unpleasant. The yeastiness just seems the same that is globally present in The Livery’s other beers, though the fermentation temperature may have been cramped up because there are a few extra esters.

(Draught) Pours a hazy yellow body with a small white head. Aroma of caramel, citrus, grass, and herbs. Flavor of mild hops (herbal, earthy, citrus, floral), Belgian yeast, and light spices.

On tap at the brewery. This hazy golden ale poured with almost no head. There is a sweet caramel malt start with a sour bitter finish that is surprisingly very pleasant. Some banana esters were noted.

Draft @ the Livery. Pours a clear, bright honey-orange color; white head with fine-bubbled lacing. Solid, oily Belgian ester character coupled to a mineral / piney hop bitterness in the aroma; resiny, dry, with touches of vanilla. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: nice Belgian hybrid presence in the mouth: chewy, resiny pine and mineral hop bitterness coupled to a honey-laden and sweet, ester-filled core; tasty, dense, nicely balanced Belgian hybrid presence in the mouth; very drinkable, touches of red wine notes (very slight), and very light tannins throughout; excellent blended beer, with very light vinous notes. Lengthy finish: toastiness, esters, honey, and soft piney bitterness; the barrel presence, throughout, is very slight.

Draft at The Livery. Poured a hazy copper color with an average frothy white head that mostly lasted with excellent lacing. Moderate to heavy complex yeasty hoppy aroma. Medium body with slick texture. Medium to heavy bittersweet flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate to long duration. This is a good brew.

GTMW ’08. Poured a hazy medium orange color with a white head. Attractive aroma of citrus fruits, flower blossom, and sweet/pastry-ish malt. Medium bodied and delicately sweet with modest carbonation and mild bitterness. I tasted citrus fruits (especially orange), flower blossom, and a hint of clove. Delicious stuff.