Pelican Bridal Ale

I had this beer at my college roommate’s July 4th event in Madison, WI. He’d saved this for several years until we next met. It’s was his "favorite", a vintage (2008) . I suspect it did not age well. Small head. Citrus seemed to dominate. Finish was maple and mildly peppered. I’ve enjoyed several other Bière de Gardes, but I’m ambivilent.

Bottle. 2005 Vintage. Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a small off-white head. Has a malty spicy dark fruit aroma with some yeasty hints. Fruity malty spicy caramel flavor with some hints of dark fruit with a slightly thin mouthfeel. Has a spicy malty finish with some hints of caramel.

Sampled at KLCC Microbrew festival. Nice orange colored pour with a huge bubbly head that lasts forever. Big smooth caramel malt aroma with some earthy undertones. Very smooth and creamy mouthfeel with an overly sweet taste of vanilla, caramel and yeast. My first take on this style and it was interesting if not completely to my liking.

750 ml corked and caged bottle ordered over the web directly from the brewery. 2008 Vintage. Opens with a loud pop. Pour is hazed orange, copper and beige. Fine carbonation bubbles steadily rise up to a billowing 4 inch whitish-tan head. Head is quite lasting. Decent lacing. Aroma earthy peaty caramel maltiness. Some floral vanilla in there too, very soft and pleasant nose. Taste is the caramel maltiness of the nose initially, then some nice grassy hay floral graininess. Finish has some slight citrus bitterness and yeasty spiciness. Palate is medium, nice big body though still manages to be crisp and drinkable. This was a nice beer. Thanks for doing web sales, Pelican!

750ml bottle. 2005 vintage. Very nice looking brew, Kind of a brite, deep copper. Somewhat floral and malty, some dark fruits maybe. Sweet, musty flavor, very smooth. Pretty good stuff.

2005 bottle, sampled at WeeHeavySD’s 2000th rating party, thanks Jon! Pours a hazy dark amber with a white ring. Sweet aroma, of malt, molasses, caramel, a hint of bitter sharpness, and dark fruits. Taste is very sweet, of malt, dark fruits, sugared citrus, caramel, and brown sugar. Lingering sharp sweetness. Nice carbonation. Tasty.

750 ml bottle shared at WeeHeavySD’s 2000th rate tasting. Sweet fruit on the aromas. Similar flavor with a bit more floralness to it. Not too bad

750ml bottle, 2005 Vintage from John’s Marketplace in Portland, shared at my 2000th rating tasting with Kmweaver and his wife, my girlfriend Cyn, dalekliz, fordest, toncatcher, and wetherel. Pours orange with a tan ring. Nose is sweet malty and light, nice overall. Taste is sweet malty and light with a hint of spice. Decent.