Livery Anniversary Ale (Belgian IPA)

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

Date: 08/09/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewfest, Great Taste

Appearance: opaque burnt orange, wispy beige head,
Aroma: sweet crystal and caramel malt aroma with lots of spicy hops,
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, lots of spicy hops add balance and a long bitter finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

(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.

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.

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.

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 2008: Hazy deep amber with a small head. The aroma has notes of grassy and herbal hops, caramel and biscuity malts, and a hint of Merlot. The taste is spicy and earthy with a mild bitterness supported by lot of Belgian yeast characteristics. The mouth feel is soft and oily with a metallic finish. A very good hybrid that I look forward to drink more of this weekend.

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.

Handbottle from BBB63, thanks Mike. I lost my Three Philosiphers Chalice on this one, oh well. That’s one way to thin the collection, shared with my girlfirend Cyn. Pours orange with a tan ring. Nose is very nice with lots of big floral notes and citrus. The taste is also full of citrus and is overall very very flavorful. Lots of character and overall quite good.